The Last Gangster

The Last Gangster (also called Another Public Enemy) is a 1937 American crime drama film directed by Edward Ludwig and starring Edward G. Robinson and James Stewart.[1][2] The supporting cast features Rose Stradner, Lionel Stander and John Carradine.

The Last Gangster
1937 theatrical poster
Directed byEdward Ludwig
Written byJohn Lee Mahin
Story byRobert Carson
Produced byLou L. Ostrow
StarringEdward G. Robinson
James Stewart
Rose Stradner
CinematographyWilliam H. Daniels
Edited byBen Lewis
Music byEdward Ward
Production
company
Distributed byLoew's Inc.
Release date
  • November 12, 1937 (1937-11-12)
Running time
81 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Plot

During Prohibition, gangland kingpin Joe Krozac returns from Europe with a new wife, Talya, who is unaware of his criminal background. The Kile brothers have muscled in on his territory in his absence, so he orders their assassinations. Three are killed, but "Acey" Kile survives. Soon after, Talya becomes pregnant, much to Krozac's delight.

Krozac is sent to Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary for ten years for income tax evasion before their son is born. After Talya visits her husband with their child, reporter Paul North plays a dirty trick on her, putting a gun in the baby's hands for a photograph. When Talya goes to his newspaper to plead to be left alone, his editor refuses to do so, but Paul is so ashamed of himself, he quits his job and strikes up a relationship with Talya. She gets a divorce and marries Paul. They move away and change their names to start a new life.

When Krozac is released from prison, he is determined to take his son, now named Paul Jr., and punish his former wife. However, his old assistant, Curly, persuades him to take charge of his old gang first. It turns out to be a trap. Curly and the others only want to learn where Krozac hid his money before going to jail. When Krozac resists their torture, the gang kidnaps his son to apply pressure. Krozac gives in. The gang drives off with the loot (only to be killed by the police), leaving Krozac and his son on foot.

He is unable to convince the boy that he is his father, but they get along all right on the journey home. After the boy is reunited with his parents, Krozac has a change of heart and leaves without his son. However, Acey Kile is waiting for him. Acey taunts Krozac at gunpoint, saying he is going to tell the newspapers who the boy's father really is after he guns down Krozac. To stop that, Krozac rushes him and manages to kill Acey before dying.

Cast
Lobby card
Lobby card

Production

Despite the presence of Robinson and young Stewart, the picture fared poorly at the box office.

A protege of European director Max Reinhardt, Rose Stradner subsequently married writer/director Joseph L. Mankiewicz in 1939 and committed suicide in 1958 at age 45.

Reception

Time Out Film Guide noted that Edward G. Robinson was his typically edgy character and that James Stewart looked much younger than his (then) 29 years, remarking that the film was "an absorbing exercise in contrasting styles".[3]

References
  1. "Last Gangster, The - 1937 - Edward G. Robinson, James Stewart, Rose Stradner, Lionel Stander". learmedia.ca. Lear Media. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
  2. "Last Gangster, The (1937) - full review!". classicfilmguide.com. Classic Film Guide. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
  3. "The Last Gangster movie review". timeout.com. Time Out London. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
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