Bullets or Ballots (1936)

This movie was one of the Warner Bros gangster movies that really made a hit with fans but drew criticism because they glorified the gangster, as portrayed by Edward G Robinson or Jimmy Cagney and a few other actors in the early 1930s, usually based on the exploits of real-life gangsters like Al Capone, Dutch Schultz, or John Dillinger. 

To placate their critics and the Hays Office, Warner's tried to make movies emphasizing the law abiding side of the criminal equation but still with the action that would give the audience the thrills they craved. 

Bullets or Ballots was one of these latter odes to law enforcement with Edward G Robinson starring as a disgraced police detective who infiltrates the NYC mob and actually brings it down.  Oddly enough, Robinson's character Johnny Blake was based on real life NYC detective Johnny Broderick, who was featured in the pulp True Detective magazines when I was a kid. 

Broderick worked during the Roaring Twenties and into the Depression as a two-fisted cop who took no sass from thugs, many years before the Miranda decision affirmed certain rights to all persons arrested.  Broderick, who would knock a criminal down as soon as look at him, certainly was a prototype for the tough cop that finally bore its cinematic fruit in Clint Eastwood's Dirty Harry even though Harry was nowhere near as colorful, brutal, or fearless as the real McCoy.

The story concerned the time before the New York mob was finally organized under Lucky Luciano and the five families. This was when the mobs were territorially based Irish, Jewish, or Italian thugs and the Harlem gang ran by Bumpy Johnson and Madame Queen were black hoodlums.

As in most of these Warner Bros gangster movies, there was an element of truth to the screenplay but there was never enough truth to get in the way of a good story. 

The two chief gangsters are Barton MacLane and chief henchman Humphrey Bogart who was working his way speedily towards top billing that would come in 1941.

The story goes that Robinson is a top detective that gets kicked off the force for brutality - imagine!  - and goes undercover to join forces with the thugs only to bust up their gang.  Robinson is tough but has an element of sentimentality and fair play that is attractive and meant to placate the critics and allow for numerous action developments. 

The story kicks off with a news reel showing the crime spree indulged in by NY mobsters and the crusading newsman who has been warned to stop publishing material about the mobs.  Of course Humphrey Bogart's character knocks him off in spite of being told to lay off by mob boss Barton MacLane standing in for real-life Dutch Schultz. MacLane and Robinson have a history and MacLane offers him a slot in his gang which he refuses; at least until Robinson is fired in a routine police department clean up.

Robinson also is a friend to the numbers kingpin played by Joan Blondell and her assistant Nellie (Louise Beavers) who stands in for real-life Madame Queen.  MacLane and gang seize their operation and begin to take the increasing profits from the numbers game. Meanwhile, Bogart is looking for upward mobility so he slays boss MacLane and goes looking for Robinson who he never liked anyway, etc.  To Bogart's chagrin, the secret mob bosses elect Edward G Robinson as the new kingpin and Bogart begins to lie in wait for his new boss.

There are a lot of developments and Robinson makes use of the fact that he never breaks his word to break his word and bust up the mob.  I'm sure Warner Bros was laughing all the way to the bank at the irony.  There were other ironies as well like the indictment of Capitalism as the ultimate crime which was another joke on the Hays Office with typical Warner Bros tongue in cheek. Veteran director William Keighley (Robin Hood 1938) directed.

The Warner Bros DVD is in Warner Night at the Movies format with a full length commentary, short subjects, cartoon, and other materials related to the 1936 debut of Bullets or Ballots.  The movie is in excellent condition as well. This is a highly interesting movie both for new audiences and fans of the stars Edward G Robinson, Humphrey Bogart, Joan Blondell, and Barton MacLane.

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening