Watch Larceny, Inc. For Free

That was an excellent one.

How sad is this?

After playing with our expectations, this turns out to be a very different sort of film.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

When I think comedy, the name Edward G. Robinson doesn't come to mind. But he does well in this amusing caper film, expertly piloted by comedy specialist Lloyd Bacon. Ex-cons Maxwell (Robinson) and his two bumbling confederates (Brophy & Crawford) aim to crash a bank vault from their next door luggage shop. Needless to say, they encounter one screwy mishap after another along the way. And just waiting to turn up and horn in is menacing foe Leo (Quinn), who's about as humor-filled as a hungry lion.It really is a stellar cast, with Jack Carson being Jack Carson, Broderick Crawford as a dumb galoot, and Ed Brophy adding character color. Too bad that Jane Wyman has to stand around and just look pretty. Robinson, of course, is the boss giving orders hither and thither whether drilling into the vault or giving away luggage to keep up commercial appearance. Seems there may be a point to the light-hearted proceedings. Namely that the kind of drive it takes to succeed in crime may be the same kind of drive that succeeds in business. Of course, that doesn't mean commercial ends are no different from criminal ones. Instead, it means that both take a certain amount of drive to succeed in a big way. The irony here is that opportunist Maxwell adapts his skills quickly from one to the other.Anyhow, credit director Bacon with blending the elements into a highly amusing package, especially when so much could have gone wrong given the tricky premise. No doubt, I still won't think Robinson when I think comedy. But I will think Robinson when I think outstanding versatile actor.

While Warner Brothers' forte was gangster films, occasionally they went in for comedy, and "Larceny, Inc." is one of their creative spoofs of the genre. Quite coincidentally, Edward G. Robinson could turn his wise guy persona on a dime to deliver a hilarious performance here as the leader of an inept gang consisting of Broderick Crawford and Edward Brophy. You really have to keep an eye on the opening scene when Jug Martin (Crawford), on the mound for Sing Sing, gives up a homer to an opposing Dannemora Prison batter after catcher Pressure Maxwell (Robinson) tries to have him go low and away. Jug tries to convince Pressure that his finger slipped, but he's really giving Robinson the bird - and they left it in there! Two years earlier in 1940, Robinson also did a comedic turn trying to go straight in another WB flick, "Brother Orchid". In that film, it's his one liners and staccato delivery that dominate, but here he's more engaged in slapstick and son of a gun, he makes it work. You'd be hard pressed to see him in a more hilarious scene than the one where he wraps a customer's bag in deadpan earnestness while blowing him off at the same time. No wonder they called him the luggage czar of Sixth Avenue.One of the surprise appearances in the picture for me was a young Jackie Gleason doing a soda jerk routine, and it was amazing to see him using the mannerisms that would be perfected by Ralph Kramden in "The Honeymooners" and the Born Loser character of the Jackie Gleason Show. The only downside was that his time in the picture was so short.Also on hand is a very pretty Jane Wyman as Denny Costello, sort of an adopted daughter to Robinson's character. She was Mrs. Ronald Reagan at the time, who along with Crawford and Anthony Quinn, were all just starting out and trying to make a name for themselves in the business.The picture pretty much moves at a mile a minute pace with plenty of amusing situations. It's one of those stories where every attempt at lemons turns into lemonade for Robinson and his larcenous pals; they never get a chance to be the bad guys they thought they were.

This film is real hard , not just to get, but hardly ever's shown on t.v. The last time I saw it was about 15 years ago, man,I miss it,It's a shame, because this film will have you rolling in laughter for at least 3/4 of it. The Late Robinson and Crawford took their tough guys characters and turned them into the funniest you've ever seen ! This movie was made when entertainment WAS entertainment. There are no nude scenes, no foul or vulgar language. There is some shooting action, but the main story line here, is the chemistry between Robinson & Crawford. Around the 6th minute after the movie starts, when Robinson's telling Crawford that the warden's neck tie was the hardest to get from him , is hysterical , not to mention when their playing baseball in the prison's yard, or when they're digging a hole in the basement of the luggage store. This is pure clean comedy !

Last night I had a good time with a ginger ale and a movie recommended by a brilliant poster, our own misspaddylee. It was worth the watch...Oh uh, what was it? Why "Larceny Inc." (1942) of course. A great little comedy of crime with humor that moved fast and furious.2 crooks, J. Chalmers 'Pressure' Maxwell (Edward G. Robinson) and Jug Martin (Broderick Crawford), are released from prison. They enter the Warden's office for their 'stay out of trouble' pep talk and the Warden (Joseph Crehan) loses his suit to 'Pressure'. (Ya gotta see it to believe it. He is one smooth talker.) They are greeted, on the outside, by Maxwell's niece (and the apple of Jug's eye) Denny (Jane Wyman). On their lips are promises to go straight...it's too bad it's NOT written on their hearts.Oh yes, they do purchase a Luggage Shop from Horace Bigelow (Harry Davenport). That looks to be a positive move even if the shop is located next door to a bank with a full vault. Meanwhile Denny and new boyfriend Jeff (Jack Carson) get the real business moving by using Jeff's promotional know-how. This is to help the 'good guys' out. That's when real bad guy Leo Dexter (Anthony Quinn) escapes from jail, shows up at the shop and moves in for the take...from the bank not the luggage shop. From there the humor moves faster and more furiously. The crooks play off of each other. The dialog keeps you laughing.Seeing Jack Carson in a romantic lead seemed strange. Seeing Jack Carson in a romantic lead with Jane Wyman as the girl he adored seemed even stranger. But it added to the humor. And there are many other memorable roles, too. For example these played by Edward Brophy as Weepy Davis the gang member turned luggage salesman. John Qualen is Sam Bachrach a nosy shop owner. Barbara Jo Allen plays Mademoiselle Gloria who develops an instant interest in J. Chalmers Maxwell. Grant Mitchell as Mr. Aspinwall, the vault owner, ah I mean banker next door. And a certain Jackie Gleason does a short, memorable part as Hobart the lunch counter man. You have got to see those facial expressions...each and every facial expression.Stormy