WB Gangsters Collection 4: 9/23/08

[NoirFan]

Courtesy of DVD Times:

Warner Home Video have announced the Region 1 DVD release of Warner Bros. Pictures Gangsters Collection Volume 4 on 23rd September 2008. This latest group of crime genre classics features five new to R1 DVD gangster films: 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 the viewer on an inside look of every aspect of the crime genre and how it came about. The six-disc collection will sell for $59.92 SRP and Kid Galahad will be available as a single title for $19.97.

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 often amusing crime drama. Claire Trevor co-stars as a savvy crime queen, and Humphrey Bogart plays Rocks Valentine, whom Dr. C. 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:
o Cinderella Meets a Fella
o 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)
The era of the bootlegger is past but liquor runner Bugs Ahearn (Edward G. Robinson) has a plan for what he’ll do now that Prohibition is history. He decides to head for California’s posh, polo-playing Santa Barbara to become part of the high society. What he finds there -- swindlers, gold diggers, great fun – makes first class entertainment in this pre-Code gem. Edward G. Robinson shows his comedic chops for the first time, paving the way for such subsequent films as A Slight Case of Murder, Brother Orchid, Larceny, Inc. and more persona-skewering frolics.

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 once more turns his gangster image on its head in a gleeful romp based on the Broadway farce penned by Laura Perelman and S.J. Perelman. Robinson plays Pressure Maxwell, who emerges from Sing Sing planning to run a dog track with 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. Now add the store’s unexpected success, a gabby traveling valise salesman (Jack Carson) and the arrival of a sour con (Anthony Quinn) who wants in on the action, and the laughs are thick as thieves.

Special Features:

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

Invisible Stripes (1939)
Parolee Chuck Martin is going straight when he gets out of jail – straight back to a life of crime. In lockup or out in the civilian world, he knows he’ll forever wear a con’s ‘Invisible Stripes.’ As Martin, Humphrey Bogart continues to battle and sneer his way to career stardom in this volatile social-conscience crime saga adapted from a book by warden Lewis E. Lawes. 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 con for help. Then, as now, he finds crime doesn’t pay.

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:
o Bars and Stripes Forever
o Hare-um Scare-um
* Theatrical trailer

Kid Galahad (1937)
This influential ring saga dramatically links professional boxing to criminal gambling. Edward G. Robinson is racketeer/fight promoter Nick Donati and tightly coiled Humphrey Bogart is Turkey Morgan. They’re rival promoters who, like fighters flinging kidney punches, end up swapping close-range bullets. Bette Davis plays the moll who has a soft spot for the bellhop (Wayne Morris) that Nick is grooming for the heavyweight title. And prolific Michael Curtiz directs this first of his six collaborations with Bogart that would include the romantic masterwork Casablanca and the sly comedy 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:
o Egghead Rides Again
o I Wanna Be a Sailor
o Porky’s Super Service
* Theatrical trailer

Public Enemies: The Golden Age of the Gangster Film -- Warner Home Video Documentary
As popular as these films were in their heyday, seminal giants like Little Caesar and Public Enemy as well as post-war gems like Key Largo and White Heat still hold power over their audiences today. Public Enemies: The Golden Age of the Gangster Film will explore the invention and development of the crime genre; the rise of Warner stars like Cagney, Bogart and Robinson; as well as directors like Walsh, Wellman and Curtiz. It will cover the films themselves and the influence they had on filmmakers all over the world; and the artistic merit that these defining classic films still warrant. Finally, the documentary will celebrate the impact that Warner Bros. Studios had in establishing the iconic Hollywood Gangster, often imitated but never equaled.

Special Features:

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

[marty888]

Not what I'd call "A-List" titles but probably all worth our attention, especially when you consider how well WB assembles these collections.

[NoirFan]

The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse sounds like a bad Harry Reems porno. Looking forward to Kid Galahad the most.

[kefrank]

I bought the Warner Gangster Collection Vol. 1 having never seen any of the films and I've enjoyed it quite a bit. Are the movies in this new volume and volumes 2 and 3 as good on average as those in volume 1?

[wm lopez]

These are great dvd collections that Warner has been putting out.
And since they are up to number 4 they must all be selling.
Hope today's youth are watching that you don't need to say "F" words to tell a violent story and be tough.

[Ethan VanSciver]

Originally Posted by kefrank

I bought the Warner Gangster Collection Vol. 1 having never seen any of the films and I've enjoyed it quite a bit. Are the movies in this new volume and volumes 2 and 3 as good on average as those in volume 1?

No, Volume 1 really gets the cream of the crop. But Volume 3 is fantastic. I ate up and enjoyed every single title, especially LADY KILLER, which is Cagney at his absolute best. It was a joy.

Speaking of which...No Cagney this time around, eh? Not so good.

I'll still buy it. WARNER NIGHT AT THE MOVIES is the best special feature ever conceived for DVD in my opinion. It really brings the history, the movie going experience home and makes it real.

[domino harvey]

Originally Posted by wm lopez

Hope today's youth are watching that you don't need to say "F" words to tell a violent story and be tough.

I didn't know my grandmother posted here

[auntiewinnie]

Originally Posted by domino harvey

I didn't know my grandmother posted here

Respect your elders.

[KillerCannibal]

I'm sure this'll be another great set like the last 3. Count me in on it.

[NoirFan]

[NoirFan]

DVDBeaver

[Sessa17]

Damn, I can't wait for this set, but as usual there is pretty much zero interest in it at this forum. So far I'm the only one getting it in the "what are you getting this week thread"

[Cameron]

I'll get it

[Ethan VanSciver]

Originally Posted by Sessa17

Damn, I can't wait for this set, but as usual there is pretty much zero interest in it at this forum. So far I'm the only one getting it in the "what are you getting this week thread"

That's because I never post on those threads, Sessa! I'm very excited for this 4th Gangster set. I loved the other ones.

But this one has no Cagney...that's sad.

[Sessa17]

Originally Posted by Ethan VanSciver

That's because I never post on those threads, Sessa! I'm very excited for this 4th Gangster set. I loved the other ones.

But this one has no Cagney...that's sad.

Yeah, that does suck, but the main reason I'm looking foward to this set is b/c I've never seen these movies, except for Kid Galahad (which is great), I love seeing this old ganster films for the first time.

And BTW, I can't wait for "Blackest Night", I use to own a comic book store in NJ, I've dug your stuff for years.