Bullets or Ballots
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Movie Reviews of Bullets or Ballots
Movie Review: Another good gangster film
Summary: 4 Stars
With the implementation of the Hays Code in 1934, Warner Brothers explored new ways of retaining the excitement of the pre code films while honouring the principle of not making the gangsters into heroes. The solution was to make their great stars switch sides so in this one, Edward G. Robinson is an ex-cop who infiltrates the mobs. The head of the racketeers is Barton MacLane who lacked Robinsons's star power and accordingly, the heavy is much less attractive.
The plot is more complex than most of these films with the introduction of the bankers and politicians who actually head the syndicates. Whether Robinson has turned crooked or not provides most of the suspense and he cleverly walks a fine line between good and evil. His character is a loner and the film is dominated by the relationships between the men. It is also not as fast moving as others films in the genre where actions speak louder than words.
Joan Blondell has a small part as a smart business woman who runs the "numbers game" and invests it with more depth than she was often given the opportunity to do. Her two encounters with Humphrey Bogart, typecast as a violent but very suave racketeer, are memorable. Her sidekick is Louise Beavers who transcends black stereotypes and plays a woman of resource and intelligence. The presence of Blondell implies a romance but Robinson's loner avoids a relationship with her in a couple of touching scenes.
The DVD is chock full of worthwhile extras including an interesting documentary on the immigrant in the gangster film, an amusing short film on golf with Joe E Brown, Douglas Fairbanks Junior and Edward G Robinson himself, a Vitaphone cartoon with the signature detailed drawings and rollicking music, a musical short and a very funny newsreel item. There is also one of those blooper shorts from the Warner Brothers Films of 1936. If you know your Warner's films, these are always good fun to see. The commentary attached to the film itself is analytical to the point of boredom - a bit like a university thesis on the film's plot and script. The commentator misses the opportunity to say much about the players and the sheer entertainment value of the Warners product. Incidentally, the print of the film itself is outstanding, particularly preserving the superb lighting.
The DVD is excellent value particularly if it is purchased as part of the Warner's Tough Guys Collection.
Movie Review: "I don't like guys who put their hands on me" ... Edward G. Robinson
Summary: 3 Stars
Warner Bros. Pictures presents "BULLETS OR BALLOTS" (1936) (82 min/B&W) (Fully Restored/Dolby Digitally Remastered) -- Starring
Edward G. Robinson, Joan Blondell, Barton MacLane & Humphrey Bogart
Directed by William Keighley
"Bullets or Ballots" is a taut crime drama, showcasing Edward G. Robinson some five years following his breakout performance in "Little Caesar". He and Bogart would appear in five films altogether, "Key Largo" being the most highly acclaimed, and the only film in which Bogey would get top billing over Robinson. Edward G. plays a police detective who infiltrates a crime gang. There is really no love interest in this film; it's strictly a crime story. Robinson's character of John Blake is based on real life NYPD detective John Broderick.
Director William Keighley gave this film a fresh look for this genre and era.
Robinson and Bogart in a blazing showdown and an exciting finale, an unusual ending for this period in film history, but one which Robinson fought hard to retain and it works. Though the ending is melodramatic, Bullets or Ballots holds up pretty well today
BIOS:
1 William Keighley [Director]
Date of Birth: 4 August 1889 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Date of Death: 24 June 1984 - New York City, New York
2. Edward G. Robinson [aka: Emmanuel Goldenberg]
Date of Birth: 12 December 1893 - Bucharest, Romania
Date of Death: 26 January 1973 - Hollywood, California
3. Humphrey Bogart
Date of Birth: 25 December 1899 - New York City, New York
Date of Death: 14 January 1957 - Los Angeles, California
4. Joan Blondell {aka: Rose Joan Blondell]
Date of Birth: 30 August 1906 - New York City, New York
Date of Death: 25 December 1979 - Santa Monica, California
Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 3 Stars
Performance: 4 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 3 Stars
Overall: 3 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]
Total Time: 82 min on DVD ~ Warner Bros. Pictures ~ (07/18/2006)
Movie Review: William Keighley directed the film with a firm and fresh efficiency...
Summary: 3 Stars
Following his brutal portrayal in "The Petrified Forest," Bogart became a much more articulate and calculating killer in "Bullets or Ballots," a gangster thriller starring Edward G. Robinson as a crusading crime-buster, modeled after true-life cop Johnny Broderick, known as "the toughest cop on Broadway," who pretended to be thrown off the police force in order to infiltrate Bogart's gang and get the evidence to bring him to justice...
Bogart revealed no emotion whatever as he goes about his gun-happy chores of shooting a respected newspaperman as well as his partner-in-crime, Barton MacLane, in his characteristic double-cross...
The exciting finale found both Bogart and Robinson in a blazing showdown, an unusual ending for this period in film history, but one which Robinson had fought hard to retain...
William Keighley directed the film with a firm and fresh efficiency...
Movie Review: Don't Mess With Eddie Robinson!
Summary: 3 Stars
"Bullets or Ballots" (1936) features Edward G. Robinson in one of his best tough-guy roles as an undercover cop who infiltrates the New York rackets. This solid Warner crime drama also serves as a good vehicle for Humphrey Bogart as the untrusting, trigger-happy gangster. Not much action, per se, but director William Keighley keeps the pot boiling - climaxed by a memorable confrontation between Eddie G. and Bogey. The DVD includes a "Breakdowns of 1936" blooper reel with outtakes from "Bullets or Ballots" (watch for the brief moment in which Robinson needs technical support to handle a gun).