Disappearing Funds

Movies: Public Enemies

Public Enemies is the story of legendary Depression-era outlaw John Dillinger whose lightning raids made him the number one target of J. Edgar Hoover’s fledgling FBI, and a folk hero to much of the downtrodden public. No one could stop Dillinger and his gang. No jail could hold him. His charm and audacious jailbreaks endeared him to almost everyone—from his girlfriend Billie Frechette to an American public who had no sympathy for the banks that had plunged the country into the Depression. But while the adventures of Dillinger’s gang thrilled many, Hoover hit on the idea of exploiting the outlaw’s capture as a way to elevate his Bureau of Investigation into the national police force that became the FBI. He made Dillinger America’s first Public Enemy Number One and sent in his top agent, the dashing “Clark Gable of the FBI.’’ However, Dillinger and his gang outwitted and outgunned Hoover’s men in wild chases and shootouts. Only after importing a crew of Western ex-lawmen and orchestrating epic betrayals—from the infamous “Lady in Red’’ to the Chicago crime boss Frank Nitti—were the FBI and their new crew of gunfighters able to close in on Dillinger.  Public Enemies is directed by Michael Mann (Collateral, Ali) and stars Johnny Depp (Pirates of the Caribbean, Finding Neverland), Christian Bale (The Dark Knight, Rescue Dawn), Billy Crudup (Almost Famous, Watchmen) and Marion Cotillard (Big Fish).