Dillinger's last film, Manhattan Melodrama, was perfect movie send off

Dillinger lucked out, big time. In Manhattan Melodrama, he had action, (melo)drama, and emotion, eye candy, and a lot of food for thought, even spiritual reflection - a great send off.

From what I can gather, the era of the Wild West style bank robbery and Dillinger's outlook and modus operandi was at an end. The net was closing around Johnny Boy and he was was utterly unable or unwilling to adapt. A very long jail term or death was inevitable and Gable's Blackie Gallagher's attitude to 'life' or death was a fantastic affirmation for someone leaning towards the former as prefered option. Faced with the same choice, I'd rather fry myself.

I watched Manhattan Melodrama many years before watching Public Enemies, and loved it (far more engaging drama than Angels With Dirty Faces, which it shares quite a bit with thematically) I've just watched Manhattan again and I'm convinced that it was the perfect film for a man in Dillingers position with death looming unbeknownst to him. Watching it with Dillinger in mind was a pretty eerie experience.

Makes me wonder what my last film will be... And what my ideal final viewing would be... And why... And what other people's last films were... Or ought to have been in an ideal world...

I guess that's pretty morbid territory.





If to stand pat means to resist evil then, yes, neighbour, we wish to stand pat.