Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.

Warner Gangsters Collection - Vol 3

Warner Bros distinguished itself as the maker of action dramas showing cops and gangsters competing for urban territory paralleling the development of organized crime from the 1920s forward.  Names like Humphrey Bogart, James Cagney, Edward G Robinson, and George Raft made their names as Warner stars playing hard-boiled characters in these dramas that paved the way for film noir subsequent to 1940. 

Combined with decent storylines, excellent supporting casts, better than average sets and costumes, together with a good soundtrack and great cinematography these crime dramas make memorable viewing that you will wish they were still making.

Most of these are pre-Code films that have a little more violence and sex than the post 1934 Production Code would allow.  When you watch most of these movies you will see that Hollywood cannot duplicate these old hits no matter how much money they throw at their productions. The movies in this set are all in excellent condition and come with several extras each. If you like extra content, these WB gangster DVDs will really hit the spot.

Picture Snatcher  James Cagney is an ex con who gets a chance to shoot pictures for the local newspaper so long as he gets some exclusive photos and gets them soonest.  He also has a love who is the daughter of the police officer who locked him up so there are lots of twists and turns and wisecracks, as Jimmy Cagney was one of the top action actors.  The movie is 77 minutes in B&W and has plenty of extra content including a couple featurettes, a cartoon, a preview, and a newsreel. A recently recorded full length commentary by Jeffery Vance and Tony Maietta who offer an engaging discussion of the making of and lots of details on the various players, studios, etc., that is worth listening to.

Lady Killer  James Cagney is fired from his job as a theater usher so he takes his gambling elsewhere only to run into a gang of confidence tricksters, but once he is onto their scam he scams them right back and becomes their leader. The 76 minute B&W movie is in perfect condition and comes with a bunch of extra content including a full length commentary by Drew Casper, Merrie Melodies cartoon, newsreel, a musical short, and trailers.

Smart Money  Edward G Robinson is Nick the Barber who takes his gambling from the local gang to the big time with predictable hijinks that add to the fun. James Cagney and Boris Karloff are supporting cast as well as the usual Warner Bros characters.  The movie is pre-Production Code so it has a little racier storyline with more violence, too.  Some of the women are prostitutes and identified as such, unlike post 1934 films. The movie is B&W and has a commentary by Alain Silver and James Ursini in addition to cartoons and 1931 vintage Warner Bros shorts.

Black Legion this 1937 movie is a post-Code production so you can see that the KKK is identified by another name and the target is foreigners rather than blacks. Humphrey Bogart plays the lead in his first top-billed role.  The movie is B&W with an 86 minute running time. DVD includes the usual 1937 era WB extras plus an audio commentary by Patricia King Hanson and Anthony Slide which is worth hearing for their insight into the film and times.

Brother Orchid  Edward G Robinson stars in this comedy of the gang leader who through various vicissitudes tries to retire and then the stock market crashes ruining everybody’s money. When he tries to return to his position underling Humphrey Bogart has taken the slot and doesn’t want anything to do with Robinson.  In a one way ride Robinson somehow escapes and winds up in a rural monastery with comic developments that are worth watching. The DVD contains usual 1940 era WB extras plus a full length commentary on the main feature Brother Orchid by writers Alan L Gansberg and Eric Lax that is pretty good.

All in all if you like crime films like Warner Bros makes, this is a nice set to latch onto.

Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Better than Watching TV