Warner Gangsters Collection, Vol. 2 (Bullets or Ballots / City for Conquest / Each Dawn I Die / G Men / San Quentin / A Slight Case of Murder)
by Anatole Litvak, Lloyd Bacon
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DVD details
Actor: Ann Sheridan, Humphrey Bogart, James Cagney, Joan Blondell, Pat O'BrienDirector: Anatole Litvak, Lloyd Bacon
Brand: Warner Brothers
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Black & White, Box set, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 519 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2008-03-25
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Product features:
- Actors: James Cagney, Pat O'Brien, Ann Sheridan, Humphrey Bogart, Joan Blondell.
- Format: Box set, Black & White, DVD, NTSC.
- Language: English.
- Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only).
- Not Rated.
DVD Reviews of Warner Gangsters Collection, Vol. 2 (Bullets or Ballots / City for Conquest / Each Dawn I Die / G Men / San Quentin / A Slight Case of Murder)
DVD Review: Volume Two;weaker films but some great extras
Summary: 4 Stars
This second in the series of Warner Brothers "Gangsters Collection",is a much weaker offering of films than the first one;one is only slightly connected to anything to do with gangsters and another is not an original print but a later re-release copy.Let's look at the roster.
"City for Conquest",released Sept/41,is the best of the bunch and rates four stars.The movie starts by showing us the three main protaganists as children(a common tool);Danny(later Cagney)who's good in a fight and protective of dance-loving Peggy(later Sheridan)and Danny's brother Eddie(later Arthur Kennedy)whose passion is music.We switch to them a few years into the future and Danny is a happy go lucky guy who could go far as a boxer if he had the ambition to do so but is quite content to be a regular guy and marry Peggy.Peggy on the other hand longs to be a dancer quite badly,while Danny's brother Eddie has the talent to be a compser/musician but can't get a break.Peggy gets her break at dancing but gets involved with a self centered no-good partner Murray(Anthony Quinn).Thinking that he should follow Peggy's example Danny agrees to box full time.In the end both Peggy and Danny's ambitions are for naught but find out contentment was always with just each other.Eddie gets the break he's always dreamed of and thanks his brother publicly when it finally comes.
Cagney's character here is instantly likable and there is a real chemistry between the three main characters.The only fly in the ointment is the periodic appearance of an "oldtimer"(Frank Craven).He's supposed to be a kind of narrator/everyman but he is more intrusive than anything and detracts from the overall flow.The only "gangster" tie-in here is an old friend who comes into Danny's life(Googi,played by Elia Kazan)who was poor at the start but is now well heeled and who eventually gets killed.A gangster movie per se'? No.
"A Slight Case of Murder",released in Feb/38(2 1/2 stars)is a disapppointing screw ball comedy that I thought should have been better than it was.It concerns the story of one Remy Marco(Edward G Robinson)who ran a beer "consortium" during prohibition but now goes legit since the Volstead Act was repealed.He has a real gang of misfits helping him run his beer empire which instead of going great guns is slowly bankrupting him.Bankers are hounding his every footstep and are on the verge of foreclosing on his debts when a windfall of money turns up at his Sarasota Springs home. Five local bandits have stolen the takings for all the local bookies and hidden in his house before his arrival.When Remy arrives with his family there is only one greedy bandit alive who tries to get out with the dough but can't.In the end the money is used to pay off his debts.
The movie tries to be funny but falls flat more often than not.A moment where Remy and his guys are standing around discussing on who's properties they should each place a body doesn't pack the comedic punch it should.Furthermore,the fact that Remy's business is not doing well is because the beer stinks but not one of his men tell him until he finds out himself late in the film;a very unlikely premise and major flaw.However,one scene with an adopted young teen,Douglas(Bobby Jordan of the Dead End Kids),is beautiful.Remy's wife asks why the "prize(Douglas)hasn't gone to b-e-d?".Douglas replies"cause I want more to e-a-t,ya c-o-w!".
"Bullets or Ballots",released June/36(3 1/2-4 stars),stars Edward G. as Johnny Blake,a tough street smart cop.Johnny's career is sailing along until one day he gets fired by the chief of police,after a departmental shake up.Johnny takes an offer of employment from mob boss Kruger(Barton Maclaine)who enlists him to check out all his operations.Bugs Fenner(Bogart),one of Krugers head men,doesn't like or trust Blake,and with good reason.Unbeknownst to the gang,Blake was fired as a ruse,to infiltrate the gang and break it up.In the end,and with alot of gun shots and blood,Johnny accomplishes the impossible...with his life.
The story is an involving one with Bogie as a mean-as-nails hood and Robinson doing a fine job as a tough cop.
"Each Dawn I Die",released July/39(3 1/2 -4 stars),stars Cagney as Frank Ross,a crusading newpaperman.Ross is incarcerated in the pen for murdering three people in a car accident while drunk;a total frame up by the local mob boss.Inside he meets a tough mobster by the name of Stacey(Raft).Ross saves Rafts' hide and even goes so far as to do months in the hole on a ruse so Stacy can escape and find out who,and get proof of,Ross's innocence.During the fiery conclusion a confession is made by a fellow inmate(thanks to Stacy)and Ross gets his freedom.
Cagney turns in another powerful performance with a great range of emotions,especially during his incarceration.He is well supported by Raft,Jane Bryan,George Bancroft,Maxie Rosenbloom,and many others.
"San Quentin",released Aug/37(2 1/2-3 stars),concerns the story of one Steve Jamieson(Pat O'Brien)who gets the job of head yard officer within San Quentin pen.Steve is former Army,and is hired to enact much needed discipline amongst the inmates.He falls for a local singer May(Ann Sheridan),whose brother Joe(Bogie)gets shipped off to San Quentin where he meets up with Steve;and it's not love at first or second sight.Slowly Steve's actions amongst the men,especially Joe,earn him respect.But Joe gets his head turned back and breaks out with a couple of other cons.Steve heads to Mays apartment and is shot by Joe,who is in turn shot fatally by the cops waiting outside.Joe gets away to die on the steps of San Quentin telling the attending guards Steve was right all along.
"San Quentin" is a good effort that could have been better.Bogie steals the show here while O'Brien almost sleep walks through and even Sheridan can't wake him up.
"G-Men",originally released in May/35,is the 1949 re-release version here(a cheat by Warners-3 stars).The film opens up with a /49 FBI man talking to subbordinates in a room with a projector and screen about the film that first mentioned the term "G-man".We see the projector screen light up with the Warners logo and the picture zooms in to commence the movie.The story concerns one Brick Davis(Cagney)who plays a lawyer whose fortunes aren't all that well.When a friend gets bumped off by the local mob he joins the government investigation agency(the future FBI).He vows to get revenge on them;a group run by the boss Collins(Barton MacLaine).Brick falls for his group boss Jeffs'(Robert"King Kong" Armstrong") sister Kay(Margaret Lindsay),much to Jeff's chagrin.They begin at odds but Brick and Jeff become close friends in the end.Collins ends up kidnapping Kay and it is Brick and company to the rescue.
A pretty good early Cagney effort with a good supporting cast.Watch for Lloyd Nolan in his first role.Would have rated it higher if this had been an original print.
Technically these films do show their ages but generally speaking they are crisp transfers and the contrast is very good.What gets this solid four star rating are the extras.You will find many delightful surprises here with many period shorts,an early Vitaphone short with Bob Hope,vintage cartoons,vintage newsreel clips,multi Warner stars in blooper(or "breakdowns")reels for almost every year from /35-/40,multiple featurettes,commentaries and theatrical trailers.
In conclusion though the films here are not on a par with their predecessors in Volume#1,there are still alot of things to delight and discover not only in the films but more so in the extras.I wouldn't rate "City for Conquest" as a gangster film(but it's the best of the bunch!) and "G-Men" was a re-release print.But I still recommend it for all film buffs.
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