IMDb RATING
7.3/10
3.1K
YOUR RATING
Three ex-cons buy a luggage shop to tunnel into the bank vault next door. But despite all they can do, the shop prospers...Three ex-cons buy a luggage shop to tunnel into the bank vault next door. But despite all they can do, the shop prospers...Three ex-cons buy a luggage shop to tunnel into the bank vault next door. But despite all they can do, the shop prospers...
Jackie Gleason
- Hobart
- (as Jackie C. Gleason)
Joe Downing
- Smitty
- (as Joseph Downing)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaWhen aired on Turner Classic Movies network (TCM), it airs under its original title, Larceny, Inc (1942) [Other titles used in the US are "The Night Before Christmas" and "A Night Before Christmas"].
- GoofsThe movie takes place shortly before Christmas, but the check they receive in the beginning after getting hit by a car is dated February 17.
- Quotes
Jug Martin: Weepy, I don't like the idea of going into a bank through the front door.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Public Enemies: The Golden Age of the Gangster Film (2008)
- SoundtracksFor He's a Jolly Good Fellow
Traditional
Sung a cappella by the merchants to honor Maxwell
Featured review
Little Caesar Shows a Funny Streak
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.
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.
helpful•80
- dougdoepke
- May 3, 2015
- How long is Larceny, Inc?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Runtime1 hour 35 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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