Warner Gangsters Collection, Vol. 4 (2008)

The fourth collection in this series includes the films The Amazing Doctor Clitterhouse, Little Giant, Larceny Incorporated, Invisible Stripes, Kid Galahad, and a bonus disc featuring a new documentary, Public Enemies: The Golden Age of Gangster Film. Album Description

Another first -rate classic film set by Warner Home Video

The films in this edition of the Warner Gangsters are The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse, The Little Giant, Larceny, Inc., Invisible Stripes and Kid Galahad. The films contain bonus features such as rarely-seen Warner Bros. shorts, vintage newsreels and classic cartoons, plus original theatrical trailers. Also included in the collection is an all-new Warner Home Video feature-length documentary, Public Enemies: The Golden Age of the Gangster Film which takes a detailed look at the crime genre and how it came about. Kid Galahad will be available as a single title. Notably absent in this set is James Cagney, but we have just about all of his gangster films on DVD now. All that's left are his precodes that don't really fit into the gangster genre.

The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse (1938)
Dr. Clitterhouse (Edward G. Robinson) is fascinated by the study of the physical and mental states of lawbreakers, so he joins a gang of jewel thieves for a closer look in this dark comedy. Claire Trevor co-stars as a savvy crime queen, and Humphrey Bogart plays Rocks Valentine, whom Robinson calls "a magnificent specimen of pure viciousness." The movie also marks the start of one of film's most noteworthy collaborations. John Huston, who was to later direct Bogart in The Maltese Falcon, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre and The African Queen, co-wrote the screenplay of The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse.

Special Features:
Commentary by Dr. Drew Casper and Richard Jewell
Racket Busters theatrical trailer
Vintage newsreel
WB short: Night Intruder
WB cartoons:
Cinderella Meets a Fella
Count Me Out
1941 Lady Esther Screen Guild Theater Broadcast (audio only)
1944 Gulf Screen Guild Theater Broadcast (audio only)
Theatrical trailer

The Little Giant (1933)
Bootlegger Bugs Ahearn (Edward G. Robinson) has a plan for what he'll do now that Prohibition is past. He decides to head for California's posh, polo-playing Santa Barbara to become part of the high society. What he finds there - swindlers and gold diggers - are the set-up for some great precode antics. Edward G. Robinson shows his comedic talents and paves the way for such subsequent films as A Slight Case of Murder, Brother Orchid, and Larceny, Inc..

Special Features:
Commentary by Daniel Bubbeo and John McCarty
Vintage newsreel
WB short: Just Around the Corner
WB cartoon: The Dish Ran Away with the Spoon
Theatrical trailer

Larceny, Inc. (1942)
Edward G. Robinson plays Pressure Maxwell, who emerges from Sing Sing planning to run a dog track with his cronies Jug (Broderick Crawford) and Weepy (Edward Brophy). But the plan needs funding, so the group (assisted by Jane Wyman) opens a luggage shop as a front while attempting to tunnel into the bank next door. Unfortunately, the store is a success and this puts a comedic dent in Maxwell's plans.

Special Features:
Commentary by Haden Guest and Dana Polan
Vintage newsreel
The Big Shot theatrical trailer
WB short: Winning Your Wings
WB cartoons:
Porky's Pastry Pirates
The Wabbit Who Came to Supper
Theatrical trailer

Invisible Stripes (1939)
Parolee Chuck Martin (Humphrey Bogart) is going straight back to a life of crime when he is released. In lockup or out in the civilian world, he knows he'll forever wear "Invisible Stripes". Bogart often played these tormented souls in the 30's during his long apprenticeship at Warner Bros. Top-billed George Raft plays Martin's ex-Sing Sing yard mate Cliff Taylor, who vows to walk away from crime and be a role model for his kid brother (William Holden). But what awaits Taylor are suspicion, public disdain and joblessness, so he turns to a fellow ex-con for assistance.

Special Features:
Commentary by Alain Silver and James Ursini
You Can't Get Away with Murder Theatrical trailer
Vintage newsreel
WB short The Monroe Doctrine and Quiet, Please
WB cartoons:
Bars and Stripes Forever
Hare-um Scare-um
Theatrical trailer

Kid Galahad (1937)
Edward G. Robinson is racketeer/fight promoter Nick Donati and Humphrey Bogart is Turkey Morgan who is also a fight promoter and Donati's rival. Bette Davis plays the moll who has a soft spot for the bellhop (Wayne Morris) that Nick is grooming for the heavyweight title. Michael Curtiz directs this first of his six collaborations with Bogart that would include Casablanca and We're No Angels.

Special Features:
Commentary by Art Simon and Robert Sklar
It's Love I'm After theatrical trailer
Vintage newsreel
WB Shorts: Alibi Mark and Postal Union
WB Cartoons:
Egghead Rides Again
I Wanna Be a Sailor
Porky's Super Service
Theatrical trailer

Public Enemies: The Golden Age of the Gangster Film is a documentary that explores the invention and development of the crime genre and the rise of Warner stars like Cagney, Bogart and Robinson. Also discussed are directors such as Walsh, Wellman and Curtiz. It will cover the films themselves and the influence they had on filmmakers all over the world. Finally, the documentary will celebrate the impact that Warner Bros. had in establishing the gangster film.

Special Features:
Four WB Cartoons: I Like Mountain Music, She Was an Acrobat's Daughter, Racketeer Rabbit and Bugs and Thugs

You have to give credit to Warner Bros. for releasing some of the more obscure films in its catalog rather than just re-releasing in Blu-ray well-known films that are already in wide release as some other studios have been doing. I won't mention any names. June 29, 2008

no cagney

this time edward g robinson humphrey bogart and george raft no cagney.thats good and all but were in hell is doorway to hell and the widow from chicago come on warner. June 23, 2008

More from the Warner's vaults - the best source

The fourth volume in this set contains more unsung gems from Warner Brothers, the studio whose product stands up the best of all today. The reasons are simple - they had the best actors and their production environment produced dynamic economical unpretentious entertainments. This set contains 4 starring vehicles for Edward G Robinson and 3 supporting roles for Humprey Bogart.

- "The Little Giant" is a pre code 1933 vehicle, a typical smart comic melodrama with Robinson as a beer baron who mixes in society, a not dissimilar theme to the later and hilarious "A Slight Case of Murder"
- From 1937, "Kid Galahad" is an exciting prize fight melodrama. Robinson is paired with a very attractive Bette Davis as his moll and together, they tear up the screen with their magnetism. Bogart and Robinson have a great shoot out at the end of the film.
- "The Amazing Dr Clitterhouse", released in 1938, stars Robinson as a psychiatrist who infiltrates a gang to understand their mentality. The film has an unexpected twist and the supporting cast includes Claire Trevor and Bogart again.
- in 1942, "Larceny Inc" is a very funny comedy with Robinson out of jail and buying a luggage shop adjoining a bank in order to break in. Jack Carson is particularly amusing as a travelling salesman. Watch out for his sales pitch on his range of luggage - hilarious!
- the odd one out in this package is the weak "Invisible Stripes", a film rich in gangster cliches and starring the less than magnetic George Raft. Bogart is in support again and a very young William Holden appears. The film is a good example of the Hays Code strangling a potent story.

It is too early to comment on the prints and the extras but if the standard of previous packages are a guideline, then the prints will be excellent and the extras comprehensive. June 20, 2008

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