Larceny, Inc

Trailer—Larceny, Inc

Top-notch comedic performances are finely delivered by Edward G. Robinson, Broderick Crawford and Edward Brophy in this hilarious story about three ex-cons, who buy a Luggage Shop that is next door to a bank. The shop is used as a clever front, while they try to tunnel into the the banks vault. The comical antics are endless and the crooks soon discover selling the luggage is profitable and much easier, until the unsavoury Anthony Quinn discovers their plan, and the three are forced to resume breaking into the bank. With very funny situations and witty dialogue, all the performers mesh perfectly which helps this story to move along at a pleasing pace, creating a very rewarding comedy gem. A full synopsis cannot compare to the fulfilling enjoyment brought by watching this 1942 film, and I highly suggest the viewing is well worthwhile.

The Warner bros, was my favorite studio from the Hollywood system between 1930-45. They make social films, gangster movies, romantic melodramas, musical comedies, and sometimes robust comedies like this one. Here, the great E.G. Robinson makes funs of his bad guys role, like he will do a few years later in Brother Orchid. Dialogues are very funny and the situations, very simples, are hilarious. Good laughs!

Edward G. Robinson in a slapstick comedy??!!! Yep, and a damn funny one. E.G. parodies his bad guy image perfectly in this flick as he wants to pull of one last heist before going straight, so he buys a luggage store next to a bank to break in, but he soon learns that he can make more money in a legit business... but that's only the beginning! I can't figure out why nobody knows about this film, it's very entertaining. It is perfectly cast, with Broderick Crawford, as Robinson's flunkie is hilarious, Jackie Gleason has a cameo doing a variant of his 'born loser' routine. Even Anthony Quinn is funny! If you can find it in the video store on on TV watch it, it's worth your while.

This film never got much recognition, possibly because wartime comedies were ignored unless they had to do with the armed services or the global crisis, but it is an absolutely delightful comedy. It is reminiscent of an old Italian story called "The Crime of Don Giovanni," involving a Roman cafe owner who was jealous of a competitor next door to him, and decided to tunnel underground to steal dishes from the other restaurant's kitchen. Robinson, Crawford, and the supporting cast are superb!

This might be my favorite Edward G. Robinson picture. It concerns 3 rather dimwitted criminals who come up with a plan to rob a bank by tunneling in through the basement of the luggage shop next door. Robinson is the boss and he is supported by even more dimwitted Eddie Brophy and Broderick Crawford. Once they buy the luggage store, one of them must man the store while the others work on the tunnel. The funny thing is since they could care less IF they sell any luggage, the customers start frequenting the store in droves. After a while, they realize that despite their larcenous plan, they would become much richer if they just continued running the business. At about that time, the smarter and more nasty Anthony Quinn happens upon them and discovers their original plan--where upon he forces them to break into the bank against their wills! The film is cute and slickly paced throughout--an overlooked gem.

Pressure Maxwell (Edward G. Robinson) and his dimwitted partner Jug are released from Sing-Sing. Fellow prisoner Leo Dexter (Anthony Quinn) tries to sell him on a bank robbery but he's not buying. He's going straight by investigating in a dog track. Only he is told that the police had destroyed all of his slot machines. The bank refuses to loan him any money. With no way to get the funds, he decides to break into the bank by digging a tunnel from across the street where he has bought a luggage store. At first, I didn't realize that this is a comedy. Then it starts getting more and more hilarious. It's funny. Edward G. Robinson is banking on his past gangster roles. He's a great straight man. The other two are great idiots. It's also a fun bit that he keeps succeeding as a store owner. This is a good surprise.

Hysterical madcap fun. There may be no funnier moment in the history of film than Edward G. Robinson irritably gift wrapping a piece of luggage (all reasonably priced at $9.75) for a bothersome customer. The pacing of this movie is breathless (it's like a Bugs Bunny cartoon) and it's one of the few comedies that can legitimately claim to have a laugh virtually every minute. It's a movie that understands how funny a single door constantly opening and closing can be, provided there is a parade of zany enough characters passing through it, all of whom possess impeccable comic timing. It's also got a young, menacing Anthony Quinn to give it some edge, and an early Jackie Gleason to steal a couple scenes. Nearly as delightful as the king of screwball comedies "Bringing Up Baby".

A friend of mine had told me that this was funnier than Woody Allen's Small Time Crooks I admit I was skeptical, as too many so-called comedies from the black and white era don't get much more than a smile from me. My skepticism was rewarded with a very funny, fast-paced comedy with the kind of "crackling" dialogue they don't write anymore. Edward G. Robinson is a scream in the lead, and his supporting cast equals him. Don't miss this one. There's never a dull moment!