March 3 . .
One of the most audacious escapes in the annals of American crime took place on this date in 1934.
In February of 1934, the law caught up with flambouyant outlaw John Dillinger – for a
While, anyway. Charged with the murder of Chicago policeman William O’ Malley (Dillinger’s only kill), the charismatic Dillinger was extradited to Crown Point Jail in Crown Point, Indiana – where he congenially posed for waiting newspaper photographers upon his arrival, jovially draping his arm around the hapless sheriff’s shoulder. When reporters asked the criminal why he looked so nonchalant, he replied that he would be out from behind bars soon enough.
77 years ago today he made good on his word. Somehow, Dillinger managed to procure a piece of wood carved to resemble a pistol and painted with black shoe polish. It was convincing enough to allow the brazen outlaw to bluff his way through several guards and past six jailhouse doors. He then incarcerated every policeman in the building and, adding insult to injury, drove away in a police car past more than 100 guards who ringed the facilities.
The man had unquestionable style. Overnight, Crown Point Jail became known as ‘Clown Point Jail’. Understandably, the bold escape only added to the luster that was Dillinger’s in his own brief lifetime.
The escape has been memorably recreated in several flicks, most recently ‘Public Enemies’ (2009) starring Johnny Depp as Dillinger. But try the 1973 version of ‘Dillinger’, an under-rated biopic written and directed by John Milius, and starring the great Warren Oates in the title role. Milius does an even better job of bringing the ‘30s to life than Arthur Penn ('Bonnie & Clyde', 1967)– the souped-up getaway cars are a kick and the legendary escape from Little Bohemia is vividly recreated. Add to that a hyper and edgy performance by a very young and cocky Richard Dreyfuss as the whiny, murderous ‘Baby Face’ Nelson, Cloris Leachman as ‘the Lady in Red’ who betrays the outlaw, and Ben Johnson as wily and determined G-man Melvin Purvis, and you have a cinematic stew that’s a B-movie buff’s feast.
Click here to see a clip . . .
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