“Crime Doesn’t Pay / Uncle Sam Accepts the Challenge of the Underworld” delivers a thick slice of Depression Era crime history, a time period known as the Public Enemy era. The film dates to the late 1930s, with the Dept. of Justice under the command of J. Edgar Hoover. It shows the life and capture of notorious crime heads including John Dillinger, Bonnie and Clyde, Richard Hauptmann, Alvin Kaufman and Baby Face Nelson. The life and character of the criminal; often tragic and tense is juxtaposed against the plight of the justice team for law and order. Dillinger was known to court the media; the press marketed his character as a Robin Hood type figure. Bonnie was considered well-dressed even in death. Clyde’s vanity is captured in his guns and how meticulously he maintained them. Pretty Boy Floyd dies in a shootout. The opening section sets the backdrop for the crime era through newspaper headlines. The kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby in March of 1932 (:18), Kansas City Massacre in June 1937 and kidnapping of Charles F. Urschel propelled the Dept. of Justice to start a sweeping drive to prosecute notorious criminals. Headlines feature Baby Face Nelson’s murder of Dillinger’s killer (1:01), his own death (1:09), the capture of Richard Hauptmann (1:26) and Alvin Karpis (1:45). William Mahan’s (1:57) mugshot appears from 1936 following the Weyerhaeuser kidnapping. Crime fighters are depicted as J. Edgar Hoover; director of the Dept. of Justice (2:13) and Melvin Purvis (2:21). Dillinger (2:38) was born in the Oak Hill section of Indianapolis (2:58). His seedy past began in Mooresville (3:31) with Ed Singleton. Indiana State Prison (3:52) and Allen County Jail held Dillinger in his early years (3:55). The Bluffton Robbery (4:09) and yearlong organization of the Indiana State prison escape (4:25) are mentioned. The entryway to the prison (4:39) and Sheriff Sarber’s son are pictured (5:11). The press snaps Dillinger’s picture (6:17). Judge William Murray (7:04) blocked Dillinger’s transfer from Crown Point to Michigan City. The fake gun Dillinger used to break out on March 3rd, 1934 appears (7:30). Little Bohemia (9:20) in Wisconsin became a temporary hideout. Machine gun riddled windows (9:43) and cars (10:04) remain following a police shootout with the Dillinger gang. W. Carter Baum (10:20) was a casualty. The North Side Chicago Theater (10:34), “Woman in Red” and Polly Hamilton led to Dillinger’s death. The alley where he was shot follows (11:12). Photographs capture his body in rigor mortis (11:25). Columbus Ohio Prison (12:34) held Pierpont (12:53), Clark (13:07) and Makley (13:01). Pretty Boy Floyd (13:43) hit Sallisaw State Bank (13:48) in 1932. Cookson Hills (14:12); riddled with underground tunnels, was a notorious hideaway for gangs. The Kansas City Massacre (15:09) is mentioned. Melvin Purvis (15:22) killed Floyd (15:39). He was buried in Akins Cemetery (16:54). Ted Hinton and Bob Alcorn (18:12) were attributed with the demise of Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow (18:17). Clyde’s criminal youth began in the Texas State Penitentiary (18:54). In April 1934, the pair shot two highway patrolmen (20:51). Bob Alcorn sighted them (22:04) prior to open firing. Footage follows from an amateur photographer following the shootout (22:23). Prentiss Oakley (25:30), Henderson Jordan (25:31), Bob Alcorn (25:38) and Ted Hinton are pictured. Words follow from “The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde.” George Machine Gun Kelly’s Kidnapping of Charles F. Urschel (27:41) began in Fort Worth in 1933. The millionaire was taken from his home in Oklahoma City (28:13). He was first held in a garage (28:21) and then transported to a farmhouse in Paradise Texas (28:35). The home of Machine Gun Kelly (29:52), Dallas County Jail (30:06) and subsequent capture by William Raney are depicted (30:36). Denver was the site of the capture of Albert Bates (31:25). Twelve convicts escaped Kansas State Penitentiary (31:40) on Memorial Day 1933. George Kelly escaped from the death cell in Dallas County jail on Labor Day (31:53). Harvey Bailey, Albert Bates and George Kelly get sentenced (33:38). Urschel enters the courtroom (33:48). George and Katherine (34:36) would be convicted at a later trial. (35:16)Sentencing including Albert Bates and RG Shannon.

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com