The Jazz Age & Black Tuesday

On the 'Black Tuesday' of October 29, 1929, the stock market crashed. The economic declines preceding the crash, which the middle and upper classes ignored during the roaring twenties, no longer were lower class problems and simply 'out of sight, out of mind'. Thousands of Banks closed, along with tons of businesses, and those still alive had large lay offs of their own. People who invested in the stock market before the crash, even if they had money left, were certainly not going to spend it. The economy would be in a quagmire. People were shell-shocked, but not so-much because of the sudden stock market crash as it was the 'chickens coming home to roost'. The signs that something was wrong and turning worse in America during the late 1920s were maybe not as clear as Baby Face Nelson's fate hours after The Battle of Barrington on November 27, 1934 but none-the-less the same; terminal.

In Howard Zinn's "A People's History of the United States" he points to John Galbraith's "The Great Crash" for examples of pre-crash problems:
"...'the economy was fundamentally unsound.'"..."very unhealthy corporate and banking structures, an unsound foreign trade, much economic misinformation, and the 'bad distribution of income'(the highest 5% of the population received about 1/3 of all personal income)."

During the Jazz Age and roaring twenties middle and upper class America were partying as people were becoming consumers, buying various new appliances as farms were generally doing well and unemployment was improving. Air travel arrived, along with newer Cars accessible to the middle class. Appliances like the refrigerator and radios became as desirable as TVs and Laptops today (if you had the money the you had to buy it). And of course the Thompson Machine Gun aka "Tommy Gun" was becoming commercially available to those who 'needed' it.

After the crash, farmers lost their land, the crops wouldn't sell, and they couldn't even legally have a drink to ease their pains. They had a radio in the living room, a car in the barn, and a nice refrigerator to keep their meat cold, but they no longer owned their land. The bank did and I can imagine the farmer and his family were none-too-pleased with the corporate structure snatching their lives (as I'm sure employees weren't pleased to lose their jobs, and therefore their livelihoods at the hands of a crumbling Business). Why not rob a bank? They robbed us. But the big heists would come later, it was a different criminal act that would show the full power of the Tommy Gun and the dark realities of Al Capone's empire.

The Film Adaptation of "Public Enemies" coming in 2009

I was knee deep into one of my writing binges when I took a break and decided to do a little research online. You know? Check out potential books to help further my knowledge. I was working on a TV MiniSeries Script (what can I say, I like to write) covering the Life and Crimes of one John Herbert Dillinger. In my search I came across "Public Enemies" by Bryan Burrough on Amazon.com and my curiosity peaked. I ordered it immediately. Seeking to know more, I went to imdb.com to see if there were any signs of an adaptation in the air.

* You will see in this blog that I hold an enormous amount of respect for Bryan Burrough and especially "Public Enemies" which is no doubt the Essential book on the Crime Wave of 1933-34. His comprehensive research and incredible attention to detail is something I aspire towards in all of my writings.

** You can also note my own ignorance in 1) Not being aware of the book (but I was early in the script stages) and 2) Not being aware that the book had been in the works 1st as an HBO miniseries quite a few years back (which fell through), and then picked up by Michael Mann as a big budget Hollywood Film. Being a film major in college and hoping to make a career in the business, it was a reality check to discover this so 'late in the game'.

To my initial dismay Dillinger was out of my reach. Thankfully though, it would be done by Michael Mann; a director I admire, respect, and find to be the close definition of 'auteur'. I still was crushed; what I saw as my 'baby' for two years was suddenly being done by the 'big boys'. I could see that it was to be no more or at least held from being shown around to anyone for what I see as at least 15 years. I cannot imagine making such a similiar story- in structure- as Mann because I feel that "Public Enemies" is going to be a CLASSIC if not one of the best 'Cops & Robbers' film ever.

He has the pedigree; cops and robberies ("Heat") and factually based films ("Ali" and, to a degree, "The Insider"), and adaptations ("Last of the Mohicans"). Mann is, for lack of a better phrase, 'the right man for the job'.

The Cast for "Public Enemies" is A-List. Johnny Depp as John Dillinger; I always envisioned a younger Daniel Day Lewis, but in 2009 NO ONE is better suited for this role than Johnny Depp. Christian Bale as Melvin Purvis; excellent selection. Giovanni Ribvisi as Alvin Karpis (though I fear he may not play as large a role in the film- I don't think the Barkers will even be in the film); perfect look wise and given Ribvisi's range I'm expecting great things. I also should bring up Marion Cotillard as Billie Frechette; beautiful and coming right off an Oscar Win. Others; Channing Tatum, Stephen Dorff, David Wenham, Billy Crudup, and Stephen Graham as Baby Face Nelson (I'm eager to see how Graham plays Nelson- an incredible supporting character to have). See for yourself @ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1152836/

My Major Concern; Sticking to the FACTS. The only way I could envision telling John Dillinger's Story let alone the entire Crime Wave of 1933-34 was in a Miniseries; no way in a 2-3 hour Film. I'll say this now: If you want facts, go to the book. Films cannot provide a well paced, focused story-line without bending the truth. A film's Primary Responsibility when dealing with a TRUE STORY is to stay true to the characters' emotions/personality and their relationships with each other. I’m sure I will be disappointed by the fact that Mann’s “Public Enemies” loosely sticks to ALL TRUTHS but his history has shown that he knows what he’s doing. Plus, Bryan Burrough has vouched for the film (http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2008/03/bryan-burroug-2.html).

Did I tell you Johnny Depp is Dillinger? I know I did, but it's perfect casting. Think of Depp in "Donnie Brasco" (not a favorite of mine but his performance is excellent), "Cry-Baby" (kidding, but you see what I mean), and "Blow" (again, not a favorite but he is damn amazing in it). I think of John Dillinger and words like charisma, charm, wit, bravado, and savy come to mind. Depp is all of these and, once more, Depp is that rare blend of humor and drama. Plus, Depp no doubt knows how to do the Dillinger 'half-grin'.

All of that said (or written as it were), I am anxious for 2009 and “Public Enemies”. I am anxious to sit in the theatre enjoying what will be a great film and avoiding the occasional turn to the person sitting next to me claiming, “That really didn’t happen” or “he never really said that”. I definitely don’t want to be ‘that guy’ so I’ll keep the criticism to myself.

Where do I begin?

Crimes in the 1930s likely went 2 ways; consensual or violent.

Consensual Crimes were no doubt violent but they were crimes primarily in the sense of criminal organizations running illegal enterprises; such as prostitution, gambling, racketeering, or selling of illegal goods. "...the only complainants are the law enforcers themselves; so long as the crime goes undetected, there is no 'victim' in the legal sense of the word, only customers"(Helmer & Mattix).

Violent Crimes is, simply put, robbery or kidnapping. Crimes that go noticed by law enforcement and cause those guilty to either run and rob another day or stay and face the legal, and often times in the 1930s, lethal retributions from The Law.

***Think Al Capone and John Gotti VS. Jesse James and John Dillinger.***

Now the question is where did IT all begin? Well, I'm of the mind that as long as Human Beings live together and are capable of Human Thought then their will always be crime. That said, maybe the question is; Why have the 1930s echoed so deep within me? It's the the grand scale of it all. Al Capone was imprisoned in 1931 leaving Frank Nitti running Chicago (with plenty of hits taken to claim the throne), Alvin Karpis as the violent crime mastermind, Dillinger escaping twice from Prison and helping his Boys do an escape of their own, Verne Miller and two others had their Kansas City Massacre, and all the while civilians had to be scared. But, given the crushing Depression, there must have been a subtle sense of empathy or even ujst envy for these crooks. The "Big Man" was getting by just fine while the regular working man was scrounging for his family's next meal. Who wouldn't want a Bank hit or a rich fella ransomed? As for 'The Syndicate' of crime bosses, 'fences', enforcers, bootleggers, and such; I have no doubt that the good people walking the streets of New York, St Paul, and Chicago were afraid of them but none-the-less intrigued.

Finally, for my first blog, I think it important to discuss the limitations of Law Enforcement in 1930 that allowed Crime to flourish. There was no FBI, at least not yet. There were no fax machines, cell phones, computers, or central finger print or wrap-shett databases. Communication between different law enforcement agencies and states was horrendous. Remember, this is after a time in the 19th century when in the west was slowly unifying with the United States as Rangers and Pinkertons were the nations law enforcers. By 1930 organized crime was booming from their power in Prohibition, among other things, and steaming with arsenals full of Guns, tons of cash, and lines long with people looking to earn a buck- any way possible. Some would join the Syndicate and some would go another way. In either case they worked in unison and, often times, together. How do you catch Crooks hidden in a tightly teathered and enormous Network? Especially when those in your own network are not working together on all cylinders. It would take Violence at an overwhelming amount to thrust the nation into the War on Crime. It would a massacres to you're own- not crooks as in the case of the St. Valentine's Day Massacre- to unify Lawmen against the Wild Ones. *I hold this last statement with much credit to Bryan Burrough who's "Public Enemies" is by far the best chronicling of this time- his focus being 1933-34. No worries; I plan not only a Review of The Book, but also a Post on the upcoming Film adaptation by Michael Mann starring Johnny Depp and Christian Bale (that's just the two top roles. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1152836/)

In 1934, imagine if you were a G-Man (FBI Agent) that just saw Baby Face Nelson drive by you. You tail him as best you can- likely with a fellow agent at your side- and you follow him to his hideout- to where Dillinger, Homer Van Meter, John Hamilton, and Tommy Carroll lay waiting. Do you stay and shoot it out- suicide- or leave, find a phone, and debrief your Superior. You call your superior and after a couple hours return to the hideout 20 agents deep. But you're too late and the Gang has fled.(just an example- nothing happen exactly like this-though they did have their run-ins)
This, along with overwhelming "leads" to follow up on with limited man Power and "Rookie" mistakes aplenty, leaves the Boys and the Syndicate holding a stacked deck; they had the experience, the man-power, the funds, and the guns to do as they willed. To take what they want by any means they deemed necessary. Like Dillinger said, "We can't all be saints"(Girardin).