Mickey Rooney gave a great performance in the film, but I feel he was miscast. He was way too old at 37 to be playing Nelson, who died at the age of twenty-five. A much better choice would have been the late Frank Gorshin, who was small in stature, and about the right age. Oh well, what's done is done. It doesn't look like this will ever be released on DVD.
Johnboy
I couldn't judge Mickey Rooney's performance because he was given nothing to work with and nothing to do. I don't know if it was the version I saw, but the movie was horrible. I agree with you that he was too old. He was far too old. I still think C. Thomas Howell was the best Baby Face. Have you seen the 1995 Baby Face Nelson? In this version that I have of the movie all of the violence is cut out. Was the movie originally made like that or is it just the version I have? In the version I have he is about to shoot an innocent guy and they just cut it to Carolyn Jones saying, "You didn't have to kill him." It looked like bad editing of a violent movie on regular TV. Then there is a scene when they go to rob this place and a wistle goes off to make Baby Face start shooting everyone with his machine gun. Then again we get one of these bad cuts and you don't see him shoot anyone. The worst is the final scene. For me, it ruined what could've been the best part. He has that final shoot out with the G-Men in the end and when the shooting starts it cuts away. Then we see Nelson and the three agents lying there shot.
shareIt definately sounds like your copy was heavily edited for TV to me. While the film isn't as violent as today's films are, it certainly isn't that tame. I don't have a copy of the film, but Rooney's death scene was anything but tame. He ends up gutshot, holding his bloodsoaked belly (it's black and white, so there's no real blood, of course), and ends up spralled across a cemetery plot, as I recall, which was over-dramatic. While the real Baby Face Nelson did in fact get gutshot, after he died his wife and a friend rolled his body up in a blanket (or rug) and left it in the ditch next to a rode for the police to find. Guess that wasn't dramatic enough for the producers.
I have not seen the C. Thomas Howell version, but I'll do that. I like Howell, but I highly suspect that the newest version of Nelson's demise is the most accurate ever (2009 Public Enemies). Baby Face Nelson was largely a little cocky creep, with very little good to say about him. In other words, he was an a hole. Other than his love and devotion towards his family, he was worthless. I'm betting that C. Thomas Howell doesn't portray him that way.
Johnboy
bellybutton1221,
"but I highly suspect that the newest version of Nelson's demise is the most accurate ever(2009 Public Enemies)WRONG!
You must not have seen Public Enemies when you posted your message. That film shows Nelson dying in a different month, place, and way than he was. Whatever criticisms you can aim at the Mickey Rooney version, at least it is fairly accurate in that respect.
It was, I believe, in the summer of 1958, when I saw this movie with my parents. My age was ten. At that time, I had never heard of Baby Face Nelson. Because of "Baby Face" in the title, and Mickey Rooney being the star, I thought it would be a comedy. He has a talent for dramatic acting. Certainly Carolyn Jones could bring an intensity to her roles. Unfortunately, she is probably best remembered for the Addams Family sitcom.