I thought he was too old for Purvis, he was 54 and the real Purvis was meant to be 30-31 at the time of the great depression era, I always thought that Jack Nicholson would had been a great choice, he may have been pricey but he would have done a great job than Johnson

Ben Johnson was a great actor and was excellent in this movie even though he was actually much taller than the real Melvin Purvis. But I guess there is generally a tolerance in movies between the real thing and the reel thing.

I generally like Ben Johnson, don't care at all for his Melvin Purvis in
Duillinger
. Maybe this is the director's fault. He comes off as smug, lacks authority. Mr. Johnson could steal scenes with the best of 'em in supporting roles but in
Dillinger
, where director John Milius "hands over" several scenes to Johnson, he doesn't seem up to the job.

After rewatching today I definitely agree, although I don't think it was limited to Johnson. It looked like all the guys playing FBI agents needed some practice with their weapons.
"PLEASE DON'T DATE ME! I PROMISE I'LL WORK HARDER!"

I liked fast-paced epics like Godfather better.
The Godfather
fast-paced! Hardy har.
"
if that was off, I'd be whoopin' your ass up and down this street.
" ~ an irate Tarantino

Johnson is great. Johnson and Oates together: all we need. I need to re-watch this; saw it many years ago, when I was into the gangster genre, but at that time, I liked slow-paced epics like Godfather better.

Ive done some work and used a few thompsons,especially the 1928s as used in the movie.They usually go straight up.the kick isnt really to bad,its the muzzle climb that is the killer.In some situations with the gun you wouldnt need to be accurate.Just use it to get a shotgun effect. One thing I did like about the movie,most of the scenes using the guns were believeable,its a bit hard to tell they are using blanks.

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I agree completely about the realistic aspect. It's logical to assume that Mr.Purvis wouldn't have used a Tommy Gun on any kind of regular basis.
"Yessir, Officer Obie, I cannot tell a lie. I put that envelope under that garbage."

Nobody brought up Public Enemies but you CJ.
"PLEASE DON'T DATE ME! I PROMISE I'LL WORK HARDER!"

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However, I take into consideration that Johnson's character Melvin Purvis was an old school law enforcement officer, having been born in the 1800's, so a Tommy Gon would be a "newfangled gizmo" to him.
Actually, Melvin Purvis was born in 1903, and was a former lawyer, who had joined the Bureau of Investigation in 1927. He was most certainly NOT an "old school law enforcement officer." He was a mere 30 years old in 1933, and had only been in law enforcement for six years.

it's more realistic when actors shoot guns like humans and not like superheroes

I feel it actually adds to the film. Yes, it does look a bit ackward, especially that one burst Johnson shoots off during the Little Bohemia shootout after screaming "Get the second floor window!"
However, I take into consideration that Johnson's character Melvin Purvis was an old school law enforcement officer, having been born in the 1800's, so a Tommy Gun would be a "newfangled gizmo" to him. He wouldn't be as used to handling it as he would a handgun.

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" It also has a tendency to climb up and to the left when firing full auto"
Dont most automatic weapons have this tendency, to one degree or another, when firing on full-auto?

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