Johnny Dillinger is the legendary American gangster who wielded in the first half of the 30s of the XX century. He was a bank robber, the FBI even classified him as an enemy of society No. 1. During his criminal career, he robbed about 20 banks and four police departments, twice he managed to escape from prison. In addition, he was charged with the murder of a law enforcement official in Chicago. Crimes, as well as attempts by the authorities to arrest Dillinger, were actively covered in the American media of that time. The story of his life was repeatedly filmed, often became the basis of novels and theatrical productions.
Youth
Johnny Dillinger was born in 1903. He was born in Indianapolis. His father was John Wilson, and his mother was Mary Ellen Lancaster. The family had two children, John became the youngest child. When he was three years old, his mother died. He was brought up by a father who owned a grocery store.
In 1912, John Wilson married for the second time, he soon decided to sell his business and move from Indianapolis to a small town in the same state.
When John Dillinger was 16 years old, he left school, starting to work in a grocery store, he earned his living.
First violation of law
He first committed a crime in 1923, when he was only 20 years old. Johnny Dillinger hijacked a car just to show off to his girlfriend. He was quickly caught and arrested, but he managed to escape. Fearing that the police would soon find him, the hero of our article decided to go to serve in the US Navy.
Johnny Dillinger, whose history is described in this article, did not stay long in the fleet. Just five months later, unable to withstand the army drill and a strict schedule, he defected, returning to his hometown.
In 1924, an important event took place in the biography of Johnny Dillinger. He marries a 16-year-old girl, trying to build a happy family, to establish his life. However, he does not succeed. At that time, he did not have a job, his own housing, so after a few weeks he did not come up with anything better than to return to crimes again.
This time he was detained by police on charges of stealing chickens. Father stood up for him, petitioned the prosecutor, so that time the matter did not reach the court. Meanwhile, the marriage literally crumbled before our eyes, the family had serious financial difficulties that Johnny could not solve. As a result, in 1929 he divorced his wife.
Still unemployed, Dillinger and his accomplices attacked the grocery store. The robbery was successful, but the police figured them out the very next day and arrested everyone who was involved in the crime. If his comrades denied their guilt, Johnny confessed to everything almost immediately. This was convinced by his father, who insisted on sincere recognition and cooperation with the investigation. However, pleading guilty played a trick on him. Johnny Dillinger, whose photo is presented in this article, received a much more severe sentence than his partner, who did not admit his guilt. The court sentenced him to 10 years in prison. This finally convinced him of disregard for the system of American justice, he was completely disappointed in it.
Imprisonment
In prison, Dillinger met many other influential criminals, in particular, bank robbers. It was here, in this environment, his worldview and attitude to life was formed. It consisted of a categorically negative attitude towards the surrounding society as a whole. Therefore, when he was released, he decided to continue to engage in robbery, only to do everything as carefully as possible so as not to come across anymore. He did not have to serve his full term, his father constantly requested early release, and finally, it took place.
Upon his release, Johnny Dillinger, whose photo you will find in this material, after a few months committed the first bank robbery in his career. In September 1933, along with accomplices, he attacked a lending institution in Ohio. At that time, his gang also committed the killing of police officers, a daring and successful attack on the prison. As a result, he managed to free several members of his group in order to continue his dirty business together.
The Great Depression
When the Great Depression came in America, all the newspapers wrote about Dillinger. Moreover, at first his activities were evaluated ambiguously, some considered him the Robin Hood of our time.
The fact is that the gangster Johnny Dillinger exclusively looted the banks, which at that time were hated by the majority of the population, because it was in them that the cause of the financial disaster that hit the United States was. Attitudes toward credit institutions were extremely negative, they were everywhere accused of exploiting the people who found themselves in difficult conditions in difficult economic times. Such accusations could even be found on the pages of newspapers, so some even encouraged the daring crimes of the hero of our article. Now you know who this is Johnny Dillinger.
Under the influence of the press and their own difficult financial condition, most of the population regarded Johnny's crimes as revenge on the rich for the insults they inflicted on ordinary people. Largely because of this, the detention of Dillinger was an impossible task for law enforcement agencies, which they could not cope with for a long time. Moreover, even taking the hero of our article under arrest, most often, they did not manage to deliver him to court, as he had repeatedly escaped.
Each time he came up with a new way, one is better than the other than the public was even more inclined to himself. Perhaps his most famous escape was from a prison in Indiana's home state when Dillinger got out of the cell using a fake revolver made by him from a tree shortly before this event.
Enemy number 1
Numerous audacious bank robberies, often accompanied by the killing of police officers, led the Federal Bureau of Investigation to declare Dillinger the enemy of society number one. A special task force was created, the purpose of which was to search for and capture Johnny. To optimize the activities, the first reforms at the FBI were even carried out, which significantly improved the quality of the work of law enforcement agencies throughout America.
Police officers gradually approached Dillinger, after some time it became clear that all members of his gang were eliminated, mostly killed. But even after that, left alone, he managed to hide for about a year at once in several states - Arizona, Florida, Wisconsin and Michigan.
It all ended when the police once again overtook him, a shootout ensued, during which he was wounded. To improve his health, he had to move to his father, who was still living in a small town in Indiana. There Johnny expected to spend some time until he healed his wound.
Soon after, he arrived in Chicago, where he was again discovered by the police. It was July 1934 in the yard. The prostitute Anna Kumpanash, known as Anna Sage, told law enforcement officers about his location. She collaborated with the FBI to avoid the threat of deportation from the country. Looking ahead, it should be noted that her merits were not appreciated by the American government, in the same years she was sent to Romania.
Death
Police went on the trail of Dillinger on July 22. Around the cinema, to which he was supposed to come, an armed ambush was organized. When the film ended, Johnny left the theater, immediately found himself surrounded by law enforcement officers. FBI agents asked him to surrender, in response to this he grabbed a gun and opened fire. In response, Dillinger received three gunshot wounds. One of the shots turned out to be fatal, which came right in the face of a gangster.
Dead Johnny Dillinger lay on the pavement for about an hour, until a car came to pick him up to pick up the body. The police even had to shoot several times in the air during this time to disperse the crowd that came to look at America’s most famous robber.
There is another version of his death. If you believe her, the FBI agents opened fire on defeat as soon as the hero of our article left the cinema without even offering to surrender. This episode is described by researcher Barrow in a documentary entitled Enemies of Society. In it, he talks about the war against banditry waged by American law enforcement in the mid 30s of the 20th century.
According to him, none of the FBI agents shouted: "Stop!" or "Stop!". Everything happened literally in an instant. First, Agent Winstel fired three times in a row from a 45-gauge Colt, then Hurt fired twice and Hollis shot one more time. That's who killed Johnny Dillinger. Two bullets only hit the gangster, another wounded him in the side, and a fatal shot hit him at the base of his neck, a shell pierced his vertebra and went over his head in the right hemisphere. This is how Johnny Dillinger was killed.
Trace in the culture
Dillinger's personality turned out to be so vivid and ambiguous that it is not surprising that it attracted the attention of directors, writers and playwrights. Throughout his criminal life (and some time after his death) he did not leave the newspaper strips, the details of his biography were carefully studied and discussed.
It is interesting that for many years there was a conspiracy theological version, according to which in reality it was not Dillinger himself who was killed, but his double. Johnny, however, lay at the bottom, lived to a very old age, no longer manifesting himself. However, this assumption remained at the hypothesis level; no one was able to find any confirmation of this theory.
Dillinger was buried in Indianapolis's hometown. At the time of his death, he was 31 years old. It should be noted that his popularity remained so high that the gravestone in the cemetery had to be changed several times, as fans who admired him broke off a piece of themselves for souvenirs.
The biography of the hero of our article is reflected in numerous films, plays and novels. In honor of the gangster is called an American rock band, considered one of the pioneers in the genre of mathematical hardcore. This is the Dillinger Escape Plan team.
Johnny's Passion
One of the main hobbies of the famous gangster was cars, especially he likes the Ford. He even sent a thank you note to Henry Ford, in which he noted that his high-quality cars help him successfully hide from police pursuit.
The car on which he moved in 1934 was put up for auction in 2010. As you know, he was thrown by a robber during the pursuit by the police, so the whole salon was in the blood of his accomplices, and the whole car riddled with bullets. Since then, for several decades, the car remained in the garage, passing from hand to hand.
Only in 2007, it was restored on the eve of the release of a film dedicated to Dillinger. At the auction, he was sold for 165 thousand dollars.
Adaptations
The very first film about Johnny Dillinger was released in 1945. It was called Dillinger.
In 1969, the Italian Marco Ferreri directed the drama “Dillinger is Dead,” in which the hero of our article is just a symbol. According to the plot of this tape, the main character accidentally finds a revolver wrapped in a newspaper with a photo of Johnny. The film used documentary shots dedicated to the gangster.
In 1973, John Milium removes the feature film "Dillinger," which details the last year of the life of the famous robber. The role of Johnny here is played by Warren Oates.
In 1991, the gangster film of Rupert Ainwright's The Dillinger Story was released. Here, his entire biography is described in detail, from the moment of the first bank robbery to the murder by FBI agents. The role of the robber is played by Mark Harmon.
In 1995, John Purdy released the action movie "Dillinger and Capone." According to the plot of this tape, his brother Roy was actually killed, and Johnny himself was not at the cinema that day at all. He hid, leaving the criminal life forever.
Five years later, the gangster played by Martin Sheen is shown on a farm with stepson Sam and his wife Abigal. Dillinger, whom the police believe killed, is sought after by another legendary bandit - Al Capone (actor F. Murray Abraham). Tom needed his services. The fact is that Capone recently freed himself, faced with the fact that he had completely lost his influence in the criminal world. He urgently needs to get a large sum of money. The wards of Al Capone take the Dillinger family hostage so that he fulfills this assignment. The situation is complicated by the fact that two FBI agents are following him, who, unlike everyone else, did not believe in his death, still trying to find him.
"Johnny D."
The last film about Johnny Dillinger at the moment was Michael Mann 's crime biography drama "Johnny D." It is interesting that the picture bears such a name only at the Russian box office. The fact is that the main role in the film is played by Johnny Depp. Johnny Dillinger has the same name and the initial letter of the surname that the Russian distributors beat in the name. The original name of the picture is "Enemies of the Society."
A film about Dillinger with Johnny Depp tells in detail the story of a bank robber operating in America in the 30s of the last century. Thanks to daring and bloody attacks, he became a real hero of his time. FBI agent Melvin Purvis wants to catch him, as well as his young boss John Edgar Hoover, the first director of the FBI.
Purvis is also a real historical character. In this picture he is played by Christian Bale. In fact, after the Dillinger murder, Purvis was in the limelight. At the same time, he incurred the anger and discontent of Hoover because he exaggerated his role in the elimination of the gangster. In fact, Agent John Samuel Cowley was responsible for Johnny’s case, who led him for a long time, but was mortally wounded by another gangster, Lester Gillis, known by the nickname Little Nelson.
As a result, in 1935, Purvis was forced to leave the FBI. After that, he began private detective practice, and in 1936 published memoirs in which he describes in detail his work at the FBI. In 1960, he committed suicide. According to legend, he shot himself with a pistol, from which Dillinger was also killed.
In the Johnny Dillinger film, Johnny Depp creates the image of an ideal criminal who cannot be resisted by any vault of money that can organize an escape from any prison. The entire film is based on the confrontation between Dillinger and agent Melvin Purvis, who is doing everything to catch him. Desperate shoots, unique natural charm glorified Johnny during the Great Depression in America. His gang becomes one of the most influential in the United States, as it is adjoined by the best criminals of his time - Alvin Karpis and Baby Nelson.
Hoover plays a key role in finding Dillinger, who decides to take this opportunity to turn the Bureau of Investigation, which he leads at the beginning of the picture, into the main law enforcement organization in the whole country. So the famous FBI is born today, and Hoover becomes its first director in history. Hoover did a lot to focus on the fact that Dillinger is America’s most dangerous criminal, and in the end, he was caught only with the participation of his law enforcement system.
Attention in the picture is given to the relationship of Johnny Dillinger and Billy Fresht. She was one of his girlfriends. She became famous in many respects due to the fact that during the arrest she announced how influential her boyfriend is, he will be able to take revenge on everyone.
Watch out for John. He's a big evil wolf, you know. You caught his girlfriend, but now he will find you all.
In the film, the image of Freshet was recreated by Marion Cotillard. In general, it should be noted that the producers, among whom were J. Mac Brown, Brian Carroll, Guzmano Cesaretti and Robert de Niro, managed to assemble a truly stellar cast.
John Edgar Hoover is played by Billy Crudup, Paulie Hamilton - Lily Sobeski, Handsome Floyd - Channing Thaum, Alvin Karpis - Giovanni Ribisi, Barbara Patzke - Emily de Ravin, Pete Peierpont - David Wenham, Homer Van Meter - Steven Dorff Katka , Anna John Hamilton, nicknamed Red - Jason Clark, Baby Nelson - Stephen Graham, Frank Nitti - Bill Camp, Samuel Cowley - Richard Short, Charles Mackley - Christian Stolt, Sheriff Lilian Holly - Lily Taylor, Special Agent Charles Winstead, Steve - Madala - Shawn Hatoshi, Clarence N Hg - Don Frye, Walter Dietrich - James Russo and Agent Carter Baum - Rory Cochrane.
An important place in the film is occupied by the final scene of the murder of Dillinger. According to another legend, before his death he managed to utter a certain phrase, but what Johnny Dillinger said before his death is a mystery shrouded in darkness. His biographers claim that the death bullet did not kill him immediately, but only paralyzed. After falling to the ground, he remained alive for another three minutes. At that moment, Winstead, one of the FBI agents who participated in his liquidation, leans over him, and he tells him something. It is claimed that later Purvis repeatedly asked what Johnny said, but Winstead each time assured that he could not make out a word. Whether this is true or whether he decided to keep the last words secret, remains unclear.
An amazing atmosphere on the screen manages to create, thanks to the music from the movie about Johnny Dillinger. To the tape "Johnny D." it was written by composer Elliot Goldenenthal. He is also known for working in the Mary Lambert horror movie “Pet Cemetery”, David Fincher’s sci-fi thriller “Alien”, Neil Jordan’s fantasy drama “Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire’s Chronicle”, Joel Schumacher’s superhero action movie “Batman Forever”, the legal thriller Joel Schumacher Schumacher's "Time to Kill", the fantastic thriller Barry Levinson's "Sphere", the drama Julie Taymor "Frida", the melodramatic musical Julia Taymor "Across the Universe", the fantasy comedy drama Julie Taymor "The Tempest". For music for the film "Frida" he received the Oscar in the nomination "Best Original Soundtrack".
It is noteworthy that the picture itself was created over several decades. The creators had their first drafts of the script back in the 70s, but then the project was shelved for a long time. An additional impetus to the creation of this tape was the opening of the archives of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which took place in the early 2000s, from where it was possible to gather a lot of new and reliable information about the protagonist. As well as the release of Brian Barrow's research book, Enemies of Society, which subtitled The Greatest Wave of Crime in America and the Birth of the FBI.
The film’s script was based on the documentary novel by Barrow, and Michael Mann, Ronan Bennett and Ann Biederman also participated in the writing. The cameraman was Dante Spinotti, known for filming Mann’s adventure film The Last of the Mohicans, Curtis Hanson’s dramatic thriller Los Angeles Secrets, and Brett Ratner’s thriller Red Dragon.
Despite the good prospects, the brilliant game of Johnny Depp in the film about Dillinger, the tape was never nominated for an Oscar.