Little Caesar (1931)

7.2Not Rated79 minDirector: Mervyn LeRoy

1931 film

Little Caesar is a 1931 American pre-Code crime film distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, directed by Mervyn LeRoy, and starring Edward G. Robinson, Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and Glenda Farrell. The film tells the story of a hoodlum who ascends the ranks of organized crime until he reaches its upper echelons.

The storyline was adapted from the novel of the same name by William R. Burnett. Little Caesar was Robinson's breakthrough role and immediately made him a major film star. The film is often listed as one of the first fully-fledged gangster films and continues to be well received by critics. The Library of Congress maintains a print. Due to the film being registered for copyright late in 1930, it entered the public domain on January 1, 2026.

Plot summary adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

FAQ

What is Little Caesar about?
Little Caesar (1931) — Rico is a small-time hood who knocks off gas stations for whatever he can take. He heads east and signs up with Sam Vettori's mob. A New Year's Eve robbery at Little Arnie Lorch's casino results in the death of the new crime commissioner Alvin McClure. Rico's good friend Joe Mass
Is Little Caesar based on a true story?
See the production background and source material details on the official Wikipedia article.
Is Little Caesar scary?
Content rating: Not Rated. See the reviews tab for parental guidance and tone notes.