The Gang Buster

One would think "The Gang Buster" is one of the earlier gangster pix to openly consider itself a comedy, being it was released in January, 1931 (same month as WB's "Little Caesar"). It is a gentle comedy most of the time, although a bit effectively silly now and then. I found Jack Oakie's portrayal of a naive and gentle soul to be engaging for the most part... less abrasive and obnoxious than he probably would have played it three years later.

Yes, the film is a bit creaky at times, but I enjoyed it quite well. Jean Arthur is pretty much just along as a place-holder in this one, and Wynne Gibson surprisingly makes an uncharacteristically minor impression, too. However, as one more curious example of early "talkies" finding their way into standard production in 1930, "The Gang Buster" is pleasant, unsophisticated, harmless, more shallow than deep, and yet fairly fascinating.