The Whole Town’s Talking (1935)

Although there’s plenty of films where he’s not, I always expect Edward G. Robinson to play the tough guy. Here he gets to do both as a mild mannered clerk who just happens to share the same face as a ruthless killer. There’s sometimes a bit of unevenness in his meek portrayal, particularly when he’s ‘interacting’ with the gangster, but it’s great to watch him work both sides. Jean Arthur brings her spunky best as his co-worker and love interest. The story is light and takes some inexplicable jumps (Donald Meek plays a character that only shows up in the beginning and end), but it’s worth watching Robinson act against himself.