Public Enemies.. the movie farce

[Jerry in SC]

Purvis' son co-wrote an interesting book, "The Vendetta", that detailed Hoover's jealousy of Purvis' popularity. From several accounts, Hoover made it difficult for Purvis to stay and made life miserable for him when he resigned. Melvin did make Colonel in the Army during WWII despite Hoover's "help".

I got a kick out of the telegram Mrs. Purvis sent to Hoover upon Melvin's death (Hoover didn't even send condolences).

 

[Rick Mattix]

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.

Nelson was killed on November 27, 1934, Floyd on October 22nd, Dillinger on July 22nd.

 

[Farmboy]

public enemies

Here's my gripe. I have Burroughs book; it's very good. I can't imagine him standing still for the BS shown in the movie. I addition to the time line of the deaths of the major charactors, the circumstances are all wrong also. Nelson absolutely was not shot by Melvin Purvis. He died of wounds received while killing agents Sam Cowley and Herman Hollis. The movie shows Nelson and Van Meter and John Hamilton all being killed as a result of fleeing the fight at Little Bohemia. The Warren Oates movie did this also, but at least that movie had a little more authenticity in the actual gunfights. At least the Feds were protrayed somewhat correctly in that they had no regard for the law and were quite willing to kill first and ask questions later.

BR

 

[danski]

The timeline of deaths is really meaningless, especially in a film with Dillinger as the principal. By leaving him to last (the film's star), it ties up the story. The end was the same, whether it was this month or that month. Enough to know that all three ended up dead at the hands of the agents.

Think of all the period correct street scenes, the trolley tracks running down the Chicago red-brick street center, and a thousand other things including the wide-hammered 1911A1s.

I doubt Burrough really cares or cared that Mann took license about the order of the rubouts. BUT! Why not write him, his publisher and you very well might receive a reply. It's worthy of a try.

 

[pokerdaddy]

I'm a history nut, and hate hollywood inaccuracies, especially when the general public takes whatever they see on the silver screen as cold hard facts.

That said, I'm still looking forward to seeing this movie. Johnny Depp, Michael Mann, and Dillinger are an ENTERTAINMENT trifecta for me!

 

[Rick Mattix]

Burrough's moved on to other things now and I imagine is content with selling the movie rights to his book. He did have a bit part in it, I think as a reporter running into the alley after Dillinger was shot.

I think myself they should have either called the movie Dillinger or else put more emphasis on the other Public Enemies, then they could have followed the correct timeline maybe. Or maybe not. Would be tough to cram all Burrough's book into a two-hour movie. Burrough originally planned Public Enemies not as a book but as an HBO miniseries. That might have been the way to go rather than as a movie but we probably wouldn't be talking about it now.

The best Dillinger book is Dillinger: The Untold Story by G. Russell Girardin and William J. Helmer and I think most of the Dillinger material in Burrough's book actually derives from it rather than from FBI files. On the other hand, Burrough covered all the other gangs as well and did a better job than anyone as far as communicating the fledgling FBI's baptism by fire.

I still haven't gotten around to seeing the movie but can't see Depp and Mann doing it better than the Warren Oates version. The '73 Dillinger was inaccurate too but still a fantastic movie.

Have heard that Tonya Holly, producer of the new Bonnie & Clyde movie with Hillary Duff, has lost some financial backing and that project may be shelved for now. No big deal to me. I would like to see a movie about Frank Hamer sometime tho. At one time there was supposedly one in the planning stages, with Robert Redford as Hamer and Tommy Lee Jones as Manny Gault.

 

[Jetstream]

Hilary might make a pretty decent Bonnie after all... http://images.fanpop.com/images/image_uploads/Hilary-Duff-hilary-duff-58649_800_600.jpg

http://www.freewebs.com/ultimate_duff/HilaryDuffWallpaper4.jpg

 

[lw]

Folks, if you're interested I am working on a website regarding the FBI Agents of the 30's which is located at: Home - Dusty Roads Of An FBI Era

My own observations about how inaccurate "Public Enemies" was and reader comments can be seen by linking the top "blog" link you'll see on page 1.

Stop by...enjoy it!
Larry Wack
Retired FBI

 

[The Last Standing Knight]

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

Hillary Duff in a new Bonnie and Clyde? You are joking, right? (please say yes)

Why, one might imagine "Have Gun, Will Travel" remade with Emniem (sic) as Paladin. (I feel ill, now) Richard Boone is spinning in his grave at 12,000 rpm!

BTW I'm of the opinion that the old Bonnie and Clyde movie with Faye Dunaway in it glorified a couple of no-account turds who should've gotten their just due long before Shereveport.

 

[willy]

The picture that spawned one of the first urban legends:

I guess that is where we get the phrase (stiff)?