* AdaptationDisplacement: The film gets a permanent mention in all accounts of film history for practically creating the whole gangster genre. What every account leaves out is that it's based on a novel by W. R. Burnett.
* AwardSnub: It received one UsefulNotes/AcademyAward nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay, but Creator/EdwardGRobinson wasn't nominated for Best Actor.
* DoNotDoThisCoolThing: The film attempts to show that hard, honest work will lead to success whilst crime does not pay. It makes the gangster cooler, more interesting, and more important than his strait-laced best friend.
* HilariousInHindsight:
** It was actually rumored for a while that the RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) Act which targets organized crime was deliberately contrived to reference this film.
** The pizza chain Little Caesars makes it even harder to take Rico and his nickname seriously.
* HoYay: It's strongly implied that Rico is gay and is in love with Joe. Also, Otero likes Rico a lot.
* SignatureLine: "Mother of mercy, is this the end of Rico?"
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