After a pretty slow start, DILLINGER erupts into a fast moving bloodbath. Warren Oates has the title role and Ben Johnson is the cigar chomping, G-man extraordinaire Melvin Purvis. It's great to see so many character actors in one film: Oates, Johnson, Geoffrey Lewis, Harry Dean Stanton, John Ryan. It's Oates who carries the film and he's excellent in a rare lead. Michelle Phillips is "introduced" even though she was already famous as a singer and had appeared in Dennis Hopper's THE LAST MOVIE. She's not bad as Oates' at first unwilling, then very willing gun-moll. Cloris Leachman makes a late and hammy appearance as the notorious "lady in red." Richard Dreyfuss is a very hot headed Baby Face Nelson.
Whether or not the facts are kept straight is debatable but DILLINGER is the best of the post-BONNIE AND CLYDE gangster films. John Milius hasn't directed a movie this good since.
Whether or not the facts are kept straight is debatable but DILLINGER is the best of the post-BONNIE AND CLYDE gangster films. John Milius hasn't directed a movie this good since.