"Public Enemies is very timely. The Depression had people resenting the fat cats, the banks and so you've got someone like Dillinger being a hero because he was making a difference - he was getting it back for himself and so many people looked at him and romanticised that.

“The movie follows some really young guys. I mean Dillinger died at 30. My character Purvis was head of the Chicago office at 27. Phenomenal. Hoover as well was in his 20s when he became the head of the FBI! It’s incredible. It’s crazy when you think about that. It’s just an amazing era of American history.

"The whole frigging thing happened in two years. Because there came to be this little window where automobiles became affordable and the Thompson submachinegun came out and these guys had a two-year window before the FBI got their act together..."

For Bale on That Outburst, check out totalfilm.com tomorrow...

And for plenty more where this came from, buy Issue 155 of Total Film, on sale 30 April.

• Christian Bale talks to us about Terminator Salvation
• Christian Bale on Batman 3
• Christian Bale talks about *that* Outburst
• Christian Bale talks exclusively about everything

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