Most of the films in the collection are top-notch, even though not everybody today may recognize the titles.
Among the supporting cast we have Ann Southern as the gangster's moll, and like everyone else in the film, she's perfect. The actress had just begun a string of movies as the showgirl Maisie Ravier, a series for which she became quite well known. Furthermore, fans of old movies will instantly recognize the face and voice of character actor Allen Jenkins, who usually played a humorous sidekick, an amusing acquaintance, or, as here, a comical hood. Bogart is the one character in the film who is thoroughly rotten, a kind of role Bogie would play for another year until "The Maltese Falcon" made him a bona-fide star and romantic lead. Ralph Bellamy as the cowboy always seemed to play the second-banana, the guy who never got the girl; and as the head of the monastery, we have Donald Crisp, everybody's favorite father figure.
For a guy who always looked for and worked the angles in life, Johnny Sarto doesn't take to the new life of the monastery quickly, and it takes a while for a new attitude to set in. That's rather the way the movie works, too. It grows on you and settles in.
Video:
The 1.33:1 black-and-white screen image comes up nicely in another of WB's exemplary transfers. The B&W contrasts look fresh and alive, the whites pure and the black levels deep. These contrasts enhance definition, which is quite good, and there's hardly an age spot, fleck, line, or scratch anywhere to detract the eye. You might notice a very fine film grain, natural to any picture, but it's nothing. The black-and-white photography is quite striking, actually, and quite well presented.
Audio:
The sound is monaural, done up in Dolby Digital 1.0 processing. It's a good mono, as far as that goes--clean, clear, and quiet. You won't find any wide-ranging dynamics here, roaring bass, or window-shattering impact--just smooth midrange, upper bass, and lower treble response that caresses the ear.
Extras:
All of the films in the collection contain one or more of the following: an audio commentary, a "Warner Night at the Movies," a vintage newsreel, a vintage short subject, a classic cartoon, and an original theatrical trailer. In addition, they all contain a generous number of scene selections (but no chapter insert), English as the only spoken language, English and French subtitles, and English captions for the hearing impaired.
Specific to "Brother Orchid," there are several entertaining items. First, there is an excellent commentary by Edward G. Robinson biographer Alan Gansberg and Humphrey Bogart biographer Eric Lax, whose banter is fun and informative. Next, there is a theatrical trailer for "Brother Orchid." And, lastly, there is a Warner Night at the Movies" that includes a trailer for "It All Came True"; a vintage newsreel of Robinson at the racetrack; a nine-minute vintage musical short subject, "Henry Busse and His Orchestra"; and two cartoons from 1940, "Busy Bakers," a Merrie Melodies in Technicolor, and "Slap Happy Pappy," a Looney Tunes in black-and-white with Porky Pig.
Parting Thoughts:
Although the titles Warner Bros. include in their latest series of old "Gangster" movies may not be among their most well known, they are no less good than in previous collections. Every fan will have his or her favorite, of course, but for me "Brother Orchid" in particular has weathered the test of time, and, as I've said, it comes off as humorously and as touchingly as I remember it all those years ago.
For a guy who always looked for and worked the angles in life, Johnny Sarto doesn't take to the new life of the monastery quickly, and it takes a while for a new attitude to set in. That's rather the way the movie works, too. It grows on you and settles in.
Video:
The 1.33:1 black-and-white screen image comes up nicely in another of WB's exemplary transfers. The B&W contrasts look fresh and alive, the whites pure and the black levels deep. These contrasts enhance definition, which is quite good, and there's hardly an age spot, fleck, line, or scratch anywhere to detract the eye. You might notice a very fine film grain, natural to any picture, but it's nothing. The black-and-white photography is quite striking, actually, and quite well presented.
Audio:
The sound is monaural, done up in Dolby Digital 1.0 processing. It's a good mono, as far as that goes--clean, clear, and quiet. You won't find any wide-ranging dynamics here, roaring bass, or window-shattering impact--just smooth midrange, upper bass, and lower treble response that caresses the ear.
Extras:
All of the films in the collection contain one or more of the following: an audio commentary, a "Warner Night at the Movies," a vintage newsreel, a vintage short subject, a classic cartoon, and an original theatrical trailer. In addition, they all contain a generous number of scene selections (but no chapter insert), English as the only spoken language, English and French subtitles, and English captions for the hearing impaired.
Specific to "Brother Orchid," there are several entertaining items. First, there is an excellent commentary by Edward G. Robinson biographer Alan Gansberg and Humphrey Bogart biographer Eric Lax, whose banter is fun and informative. Next, there is a theatrical trailer for "Brother Orchid." And, lastly, there is a Warner Night at the Movies" that includes a trailer for "It All Came True"; a vintage newsreel of Robinson at the racetrack; a nine-minute vintage musical short subject, "Henry Busse and His Orchestra"; and two cartoons from 1940, "Busy Bakers," a Merrie Melodies in Technicolor, and "Slap Happy Pappy," a Looney Tunes in black-and-white with Porky Pig.
Parting Thoughts:
Although the titles Warner Bros. include in their latest series of old "Gangster" movies may not be among their most well known, they are no less good than in previous collections. Every fan will have his or her favorite, of course, but for me "Brother Orchid" in particular has weathered the test of time, and, as I've said, it comes off as humorously and as touchingly as I remember it all those years ago.
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