Little Caesar (1931)

Posted on by Jeppe Kleijngeld


‘Big boss of racketeerdom. Master of men until he defied a girl in love!’

Directed by:
Mervyn LeRoy

Written by:
W.R. Burnett (novel)
Francis Edward Faragoh (screenplay)
Robert N. Lee (screenplay)

Cast:
Edward G. Robinson (Caesar Enrico ‘Rico’ Bandello), Douglas Fairbanks Jr. (Joe Massara), Glenda Farrell (Olga Stassoff), William Collier Jr. (Tony Passa), Sidney Blackmer (Big Boy), Ralph Ince (Pete Montana), Thomas E. Jackson (Sgt. Flaherty), Stanley Fields (Sam Vettori), Maurice Black (Little Arnie Lorch), George E. Stone (Otero)

Two friends, Joe Massera and Caesar Enrico ‘Rico’ Bandello, head East to work for a gang. Joe’s true dream is to be a dancer, but Rico is driven by ambition. He envies the powerful gangsters they encounter and craves the lifestyle—the women, the clothes, the respect.

During a New Year’s Eve nightclub heist, Rico impulsively shoots and kills the head of the newly formed crime commission. His boss is furious, but Rico quickly convinces the crew that he should take charge. As their leader, however, he brings the full weight of the police down on them.

Meanwhile, Joe falls in love with fellow dancer Olga and longs to leave the gang behind. Rico refuses to let him go. Though Rico proves himself a sharper and bolder leader than his predecessor, his recklessness and raw emotion expose the kind of flaws that would define countless cinematic mobsters to come.

Released just a year after The Doorway to Hell with James Cagney – a film that introduced many of the tropes later cemented in gangster cinema – Little Caesar is often considered the first fully realized entry in the genre. Edward G. Robinson, in his breakout role, is terrific as the hotheaded gangster desperate to show he fears no one.

The film’s ending – Rico’s death behind the billboard that advertises a dance performance by Joe and Olga – is extremely memorable (“Is this the end of Rico?). It has a great final shot, another hallmark of the genre. In those moments, and through Robinson’s commanding performance, Little Caesar reveals why it stands as such a landmark in gangster film history.

Rating:

Quote:
RICO BANDELLO: “I could do all the things that fella does, and more, only I never got my chance. Why, what’s there to be afraid of? And when I get in a tight spot, I shoot my way out of it. Why sure. Shoot first and argue afterwards. You know, this game ain’t for guys that’s soft!”

Trivia:
Speculation has it that a federal anti-organized crime law – The Racketeering Influence Corrupt Organization Act, or RICO – got its acronym from Edward G. Robinson’s character.

America’s Drift Toward Autocracy Not Yet Priced Into Stock Markets

Posted on by Jeppe Kleijngeld

The rate at which Trump and his fascist thugs are installing an autocratic regime in the United States is breathtaking. Federal forces are deployed in cities with the instruction to use ‘maximum force’ against Americans, every institution that is not MAGA is attacked, and brown people are kidnapped off the streets by gestapo ICE agents by the hundreds. Every American who values democracy knows this is the fight of their lives.

The economic fallout of Trump’s policies is already visible. Tourism is struggling. Farmers are hurting. Ordinary people are seeing their spending power decline. Yet the stock market has held up surprisingly well since Trump took office. Certain sectors, especially tech, have enjoyed gains, even as volatility has spiked due to trade wars, tariffs, inflation risks, and global uncertainty.

Everyone understands America is facing serious long-term risks. Markets, however, are biased toward the short term: they price in near-term, quantifiable changes like tax or regulatory shifts. Longer-term and systemic risks – climate change, for example – are notoriously underpriced because they are difficult to time or quantify.

Authoritarianism, like climate change, unfolds gradually. Its costs are diffuse, slow to appear, and thus rarely priced in until too late. America’s drift toward authoritarianism under Trump is almost certainly underestimated by investors. Over time, it will be bad for U.S. companies and markets:

● Investors demand higher returns for exposure to countries where the rule of law is undermined.

● Arbitrary executive actions (e.g., against companies critical of the regime) would raise uncertainty and financing costs.

● Independent courts, regulators, and agencies provide predictability and contract enforcement. Authoritarian consolidation erodes these safeguards.

● Without reliable institutions, companies face a higher risk of politicized regulations, favoritism, or selective enforcement.

● Global capital depends on confidence in U.S. democratic stability. Authoritarian drift could lead to capital outflows, reduced foreign direct investment, and a weaker dollar as investors seek safer jurisdictions.

● Authoritarian systems often mean policy changes on a whim, benefiting allies and punishing opponents. That increases volatility, discourages long-term business planning, and incentivizes short-termism over innovation.

● U.S. authoritarianism could strain alliances (this is already happening), trigger retaliatory trade policies, and weaken American leadership in global standard-setting.

● U.S. competitiveness relies on being a magnet for global talent. An authoritarian shift could reduce immigration, drive skilled workers abroad (this is already happening), and create a climate of fear and censorship that stifles innovation and entrepreneurship.

● Institutional investors and consumers worldwide are increasingly guided by environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria. A U.S. move toward authoritarianism would damage its ESG profile, pushing pension funds and global asset managers to divest.

Historical Comparisons
Other countries that consolidated authoritarian rule show a clear pattern: markets initially underprice the risk, only to suffer later when the costs become undeniable.

Russia (Putin):
In the early 2000s, Russia was attractive to foreign investors. But once Putin consolidated power, arbitrary interventions like the Yukos oil seizure scared off capital. Valuations remained permanently discounted due to ‘Kremlin risk’. By 2022, geopolitical aggression fueled by authoritarian control triggered massive capital flight, sanctions, and an investment collapse.

Turkey (Erdogan):
Turkey was once an emerging-market success story. As Erdogan weakened central bank independence and concentrated power, the lira collapsed, inflation soared (up to 84%), and foreign direct investment dried up. Unpredictable regulations, cronyism, and politicized courts continue to suppress growth.

Hungary (Orban):
Orban’s erosion of rule of law and press freedom led investors to see Hungary as politically risky compared to peers like Poland or the Czech Republic. Reliance on EU subsidies deepened as private capital inflows shrank.

Venezuela (Chávez/Maduro):
An extreme case. Venezuela was once South America’s wealthiest nation. But authoritarian populism led to expropriations, collapse of the private sector, and irreversible capital flight. Markets underestimated the risks until it was too late.

Will Trump’s attempt succeed?
The jury’s still out on this one. Crucial will be the mid-term elections from next year where democrats can win back dominance in the House of Representatives and part of congress. I am personally very pessimistic about this. Trump will not allow the democrats to win and rig the election any way he can. I have a hard time seeing any other scenario than violent revolution to turn this nightmare around and undo the untold damage Trump is causing.

An Open Letter to Bob Iger (and Other CEO’s)

Posted on by Jeppe Kleijngeld

Before Donald Trump was elected president, it was predicted that he would go full dictator the second time around. In his first term, he tested the waters and experienced the barriers of executive power. In the four years out of office, he figured out how he could change the game should he get in office again – helped by the Heritage Foundation, who drafted the diabolical Project 2025, an elaborate scheme to turn America into a conservative, Christian white nationalist hellhole.

So what the Trump regime is doing now is no surprise: he is implementing the authoritarian playbook step by step.

A little more surprising to me last year was how many business leaders in the US supported Trump. I thought: really? A convicted felon, con artist, and rapist with no morals whatsoever? I guess I was still pretty naive and did not realize yet that out-of-control capitalism in the United States is really in the terminal, self-destructive phase in which unlimited greed will bring down the entire system. I was naive because I thought that at least some leaders could also be a force for good and bring positive societal change.

These leaders – if they even existed – have now completely vanished. They supported Trump because they thought he would be good for business (boy, were they wrong). The level of greed is beyond appalling.

Just as appalling is the lack of push-back since Trump started his grand demolition of the former Land of the Free. I cannot name a single CEO who took a stance against Trump from a moral or even a business standpoint. Most CEOs, like Tim Cook of Apple, have sucked up to him and capitulated in advance. The disgusting tech billionaires have declared themselves morally bankrupt and decided to join the autocracy from Day 1.

The latest example of this cowardice and reprehensible behavior is Bob Iger’s (CEO of Disney) capitulation to Trump. And this is one of the most damaging instances for the nation yet. ABC, a subsidiary of Disney Entertainment, canceled the show of comedian Jimmy Kimmel. They did this after Brendan Carr, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Trump sycophant, threatened to pull ABC’s license after Kimmel made remarks about Charlie Kirk’s killer’s political leanings (“We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it.” ) and cracked a joke about Donald Trump’s ultra short grieving process.

The canceling of a comedian on orders of the regime is really the final nail in the coffin of America’s democracy. And one man is responsible for this atrocity. I am talking about you, Bob Iger.

Iger had a good reputation, but now – with one fell swoop – he has torched it. He will go down in history as a gigantic coward who gave up to the fascists and didn’t even try to stand up to them.

And he didn’t even have to comply. The FCC doesn’t even have the power to revoke ABC’s license over their content. And besides, Kimmel hadn’t even said anything that was over the line. Compare his remarks to Fox Media Host Brian Kilmeade, who in the same week said that homeless people in the United States should get a lethal injection. A remark that has probably led to the shooting at a homeless shelter soon after. But this guy works for Fox News, which is already in Trump’s pocket, so he can get away with anything.

Bob Iger presumably did it because he wants to make deals (mergers and acquisitions), and he needs the FCC’s approval for that. So it was a cold and calculated business decision, as though morals, rules, and common decency don’t count anymore.

The irony is that Disney is the company that delivers America’s democracy this deathblow. Disney, with its classic movies about good versus evil. Disney, which was a stern advocate for inclusion and diversity. Now we know what these values really mean to them: jack shit.

Earlier this year, Disney released the second and final season of the Star Wars show Andor, the ultimate series about how to stand up to tyranny. The answer is that it takes thousands of actions by thousands of different heroes to defeat an authoritarian regime. Did you even watch that show, Bob? Then you might have picked up lines like: “The Empire cannot win. You will never be right unless you’re doing what you can to stop them.”

I think Iger, and these other gutless business leaders, made the wrong decision. For several reasons. First of all, you should never ever capitulate to a fascist leader unless perhaps your family is at risk. Otherwise, it is even better to be thrown in jail than to capitulate. Because when you do that, you’re corrupting your soul and enabling evil by which you make life more difficult for millions of people.

Secondly, if your bottom line is all you care about, this will suffer as well. Not only is Disney getting boycotted, but also Trump is wrecking the US economy. You might think authoritarianism is good for business, but only look at Vladimir Putin’s Russia to see that this is not the case. All right, the oligarchs might do okay for a while, but when things go south, they tend to start flying out of windows fast.

Thirdly, you may think that Trump is for sale, and sometimes he is, but as soon as you meet the demands of a bully he will always come back for more. With Trump, we have seen this countless times. Eventually, he will take you for everything you’ve got.

In other words, you fucked it up, Iger. Why don’t you grow a pair and go on television and tell Brendan Carr to go fuck himself and that Disney supports freedom and will resist authoritarianism in every type, shape, or form? The people will love you for it, and your bottom line will grow. Yes, you will probably lose your job, but at least you will be remembered as somebody who used his prominent position to stand up to the fascists.

Same goes for all the other CEOs out there… Shame on you for remaining silent in this time of crisis.

To conclude, I’d like to share this hilarious video my countryman Lubach made about Disney’s pathetic capitulation:

Double Bill #14: Yesterday & Nowhere Boy

Posted on by Jeppe Kleijngeld

For the ultimate Beatles movie experience, we’ll have to Wait until 2028, when Sam Mendes is set to release a series of four biopics – one for each Beatle. This promises to be a magnificent, once-in-a-lifetime cinematic event. Until then, there are already some great films out there that celebrate the legacy of the Greatest Band Ever. A perfect place to start is with this Double Bill, featuring two films inspired by Beatles’ songs – one named after a John Lennon track and the other after a Paul McCartney classic. Once you’ve enjoyed these two movies, Across the Universe (2007) is another highly recommended Beatles-inspired film. For a deeper dive into their early days, Backbeat (1994) dramatizes the band’s formative years in Hamburg. But back to this Double Bill: Nowhere Boy (2009) explores John Lennon’s troubled childhood. Raised by his strict aunt Mimi after his parents couldn’t – or wouldn’t – take care of him, the film delves into his complex relationship with his biological mother Julia, beautifully played by Anne-Marie Duff, alongside Kristin Scott Thomas as Mimi. It also highlights the origins of The Quarrymen, the band that would eventually evolve into the Beatles, and Lennon’s legendary first meeting with Paul McCartney. Aaron Johnson shines as the young Lennon, perfectly capturing his wit, imagination, and artistic genius. Having read Lennon’s biography, I feel this film authentically portrays his early life and character. Mendes’ upcoming film will likely draw inspiration from Nowhere Boy, especially in its portrayal of touching moments from the band’s early days, such as their first gigs and the tragic loss of John’s mother, Julia. Yesterday (2019) takes a more fantastical approach, blending comedy and romance with a unique premise: what if the world forgot the Beatles, except for one profoundly unsuccessful singer-songwriter called Jack Malik? Malik suddenly finds himself performing these forgotten classics and skyrocketing to fame. The film delivers plenty of laughs, with witty lines like “The White Album has some diversity issues” and “A Hard Day’s Night – what does that even mean?” But it also offers deeper, more poignant moments, including a memorable scene where Jack competes in a songwriting duel with Ed Sheeran. Perhaps the film’s most touching sequence is Jack’s encounter with John Lennon, who, in this alternate reality, never became a Beatle but instead lives quietly as a fisherman, much like his father once did. It’s a beautifully imagined moment, one that makes the film much more than just a fun, nostalgic ride. Ultimately, both Nowhere Boy and Yesterday share a common message: All you need is love… and The Beatles.