Armas da Lei

"Public Hero Number 1" is a good film with an original plot and interesting twists. This is in the vein of the type of hard-hitting crime movies that Hollywood was cranking out during and shortly after prohibition. Only this one has some nice twists to it, along with a top cast of prominent actors of the day.

All of the cast give good performances, with Lionel Barrymore and Jean Arthur in superb roles. This is a more dramatic role for Arthur, but she gets to use some of her comedic charm as well -- that she shows in her later comedies. And, she plays the serious part very well. Chester Morris is very good as Jeff Crane, the fed who was willing to go to prison and sit three weeks in solitary confinement. All to bring down the Purple Gang that had been pulling big time robberies around the Middle West of the day, and often killing innocent people.

This film has some very good scenes and all around good production for its day. Here are some favorite lines.

Maria Theresa O'Reilly, "I thought you had a grin in your system somewhere."

Theresa, "You grabbed me like a seal grabs fish."

Jeff Crane, "What's your name?" Theresa, "Maria Theresa O'Reilly." Jeff, nodding, "Cook me some, too." Theresa, "That's my name and I've had enough trouble with it from wise guys. My father was Irish and my mother was Italian and it's not my fault."

Jeff, "Because, when I get around to it, I'm gonna see a lot of you. And if I started in now, you might get tired of me by that time." Theresa, "Well, that doesn't make sense. Besides, the demand's awfully big for me. I might get tied up."