Public Enemies.. the movie farce

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Farmboy

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Being a historian by education and a lover of the era of the public enemies I looked forward to this movie so much. Bah, its worse than the old Dillinger movie starring Warren Oates. Barely any historical facts in evidence at all. Why or why do they need to do this when the true story is better than anyone can possibly write. Oh well there is always the new Bonnie and Clyde movie with Hillery Duff. Bet that one will be spot on!!

BR
 
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I just got home from watching it. I enjoyed it for what it was. I knew Hollywood would take liberties with history, they always do. I just watched it as a gangster movie with known gangsters.
 
How bad is it? Did they even have The Lady in Red? The last Bonnie and Clyde bothered me,with the way that they portrayed Frank Hamer.

That just wasn't right, even for Hollywood.

Hillary Duff is cute and sings well, but I can't see her in the same class with Faye Dunnaway, as a femme fatale

By the way, what was the name of the agent who caught Dillinger, Melvin Purvis? Going by memory. I read an article about that years ago

T-star
 
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That's hollywood for ya.

If you want history, read a book.... and even then you'll get some embellishment.

I never go to the theatre anymore. $18 for two? Bleh! I'll stop at Blockbuster and rent a dvd for $1 or $2.... the $16 extra I would have spent on the tickets can go toward some ammo!
 
I'll check it out tonight before heading to sleep. Should be done downloading in an hour or so. I usually like Depp's roles, and I didn't figure Hollyweird was going to produce a documentary anyway.
 
I would never expect any historical accuracy from a movie like this, but with Michael Mann directing it should be pretty good entertainment with decent gun play.
 
Steave said:
I would never expect any historical accuracy from a movie like this, but with Michael Mann directing it should be pretty good entertainment with decent gun play.
Click to expand...

Tommy guns and BAR's blasting away!

Hahaha, as I posted this the movie trailer was at the top of the screen.
 
The Thompson and BAR were favorites back then.

As for The Lady in Red, Anna Sage, if Michael Mann shows her in a white blouse and orange skirt, I think that's wunnerful.

I also wonder if it shows Baby Face using a Thompson in .38 Super, also a favorite of
the FBI for the Chicago Typewriter and their 1911s.

I understand the Little Bohemia clash is quite good in the movie, filmed on location at the Little Bohemia.

I noted in trailers for the film Depp jumping over high counters, something Johnny was known to do, thrilling his fans who saw him as a Robin Hood.

In an Ebert interview, Mann said his research consisted among other things working with the FBI, Byron Burroughs the author of Public Enemies and Chicago police. In the interview, he gives a lot of details behind the filming.
 
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If you are Depp fan you will enjoy this movie. I hang out at the Little Bohemia tavern in Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin where the movie and original shootout occurred.

We had a great party after the premier on Wednesday.

Movie has Baby Face Nelson been killed prior to Dillinger...wrong Baby was killed in October...Dillinger was July.

Interesting trivia...deaths of Pretty Boy Floyd, Dillinger, Baby Face and the Little Bohemia shootout all occurred on the 22nd of different months in 1934.
 
Yea, every time I see a six shooter fire 10 shots, or a AK fire 200 rounds without a reload, or tractor trailer is out of control down a mountain road I flip out and start my rant right there in the movie theater, or my living room and every time-- a voice---and a well placed pinch or poke says shut up and watch the damn movie you damn history buff. (I love you honey) The wife almost will not go to the movies with me anymore because I can find fault with even a straight forward documentary. Oh well It sucks reading about the events and some movie has to go and screw with what really took place.

Damn books, I don't know why I keep reading those correct/accurate things anyway. :rolleyes:
 
The trailer looks good.

Michael Mann's production of, "The Last of the Mohicans" was easily the best movie version of that book. Every time I see it, I think, dang, that is one movie that I wish that I had made! And I normally relate to writing books, not to movie making!

T-Star
 
I'm going to take my kid to it tonight - Tommy guns, BARs, old cars, and Fedoras are enough for me.

For historical accuracy, you can read the actual Dillinger file here:

http://foia.fbi.gov/foiaindex/dillnger.htm

Go to part three - Melvin Purvis' affidavit of the shooting starts on page 11, the shooting itself is on page 14. Purvis only ID'd Dillinger, he never fired a shot and never claimed to. Dillinger was trying to get a .380 Colt out of his pocket and was shot down by three agents - H.E. Hollis, C .O. Hurt, and C. B. Winstead. Winstead fired three times, the others once. Winstead said later he was using a .45 1911A1 he checked out of the office armory.

The picture that spawned one of the first urban legends:

dillinger_morgue.jpg
 
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