Born in Bucharest in 1893 as Emanuel Goldenberg, screen legend Edward G. Robinson appeared in nearly 100 films between 1916 and 1973. His acting range was phenomenal, playing everything from tough guy gangsters to quiet loners. In this class, we will examine five films that exhibit the full range of his acting abilities. We’ll start with The Whole Town’s Talking, a comedy from 1935 in which Robinson plays a double role as gangster and meek office worker, directed by John Ford and co-starring Jean Arthur. We’ll next look at The Sea Wolf, a drama from 1941 with hard-hitting political overtones that elicit parallels to fascism, directed by Michael Cortiz and co-starring Ida Lupino, and John Garfield. We’ll then turn to The Woman in the Window, an atmospheric film noir from 1944, directed by Fritz Lang and co-starring Joan Bennett. Next will be Key Largo, an action-packed drama from 1948 with Robinson as a ruthless gangster, directed by John Huston and co-starring Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall and Lionel Barrymore. We’ll end with All My Sons, a searing drama based on the Arthur Miller play, directed by Irving Reis and co-starring Burt Lancaster. Note that one of Robinson’s most famous films, Double Indemnity, will be covered in the follow-up class on Barbara Stanwyck.

Participants will need to watch the films on their own before class. These movies are available on a variety of streaming services and most can be obtained from the Minuteman Library System. Details on how to watch each film will be provided a few weeks before classes begin. During class, we’ll cover some background material and look at selected clips from the film and other related movies. However, the emphasis will be on a group discussion of the film, focusing on script, acting, cinematography, and other production elements, as well as how the film relates to today’s world.

Please note that the last class is during the break week. There is no class on Thursday, September 18.