FEEDBACK

Kudos to Bryan Burrough for an excellent essay reviewing the cinematic portrayals of gangsters, particularly John Dillinger and Baby Face Nelson [“A Straight-Shooting Flick,” June 28].

I was surprised, however, that he missed a key movie: Mickey Rooney’s tough-guy portrayal in “Baby Face Nelson” (1957). Leo Gordon played John Dillinger, in a minor role. Rooney’s character would bark at his wife, “Sue, hand me the chopper!” (machine gun). Strangely, Nelson’s wife was named Helen. Rooney, in his 30s, was about 10 years older than Nelson was during his crime spree.

John D. Wagner

Long Beach