Evies Blog

“Humphrey Bogart - The Signature Collection, Vol. 2″ may be as captivating a collection of Bogart films, as he emerged as a major WB star, as you’ll ever catch. They bustle the gamut of early classic noir, espionage, action/adventure, big comedy, and morose morality narrative, each exceptional, and stamped with the distinctive Bogie ’style’.

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“The Maltese Falcon” (1941) - One of the earliest examples of the style that became known as Film Noir, John Huston’s crime classic has been described as the finest detective film ever made, and certainly deserves the title! The second teaming of the director and star (”High Sierra” had been released earlier that year), both films had a celebrated history, as George Raft ‘passed’ on both properties (not wanting to work with an ‘untested’ director), and the films would commence Bogie into the superstardom that had eluded him in the 30s.

Dashiell Hammett’s fable of amoral detective Sam Spade, the kill of his partner, and the offbeat collection of characters in pursuit of a improbable, jewel-encrusted statue, had been filmed twice by WB in the thirties, but never truly captured the ‘flavor’ of the original. Huston, with his observe for characterization, and expend of light and shadow, not only got it ‘right’, but popularized a novel genre, of beat-up, world-weary anti-heroes with their fill ‘codes of honor’, duplicitous women, and endings where things seldom kill ‘happily ever after’. While Film Noir wouldn’t become a film staple until after WWII, it seldom got better than this!

Buy,Download, Or Stream Humphrey Bogart - The Signature Collection, Vol. 2! Click Here

I could say Grand more, but this 3-Disc collection says it FAR better…it is, simply, a MUST Acquire!

“Across the Pacific” (1942) - The next teaming of Huston and Bogie may be one of the most luscious espionage comedy/dramas of WWII, made even more appealing by the film’s assist story; Huston, who wanted, desperately, to procure into WWII, managed to leave for the war after writing Bogie into ‘certain-death’ film climax, without a resolution! While the director and star plan it was hilarious, bad Vincent Sherman, called in to carry out the film, probably lost a lot of sleep tying everything up!

Re-teaming the star with “Falcon” co-stars Mary Astor and Sydney Greenstreet (who are both generous), the film, despite certain flaws, is eminently ‘watchable’, and remains one of Bogie’s most celebrated films.

“Action in the North Atlantic” (1943) - One of WB’s best wartime action/adventure films, Lloyd Bacon’s tribute to the merchant marine is a agreeable ensemble share, with broad acting compensating for determined stereotypes. Bogie isn’t the focus of the record, but a team player, on a ship commanded by Raymond Massey (in one of his warmest, most ingratiating portrayals) . This film has a celebrated back-story, as well; watching their stunt men performing a dive off a burning ship, Bogie and Massey, both a bit intoxicated (being ‘off-duty’), started making bets on which stunt-man was braver…one thing led to another, until the stars, themselves, made the dive (which must have driven Jack Warner into apoplexy!)

“All Through the Night” (1942) - Humphrey Bogart made few comedies (mostly later in his career), but this ‘Damon Runyon-Types vs. the Nazis’, filmed fair after “Falcon”, is breezy fun, if totally inferior! The chronicle of gambler/promoter Bogie, investigating (for his mother!) weird goings-on, getting framed for kill, and discovering a Nazi cell in Manhattan with wrong intentions, is so loaded with comic one-liners that you never miss the lack of logic.

Supported by a cast of Tremendous humorous actors (including William Demarest, Frank McHugh, Jackie Gleason, and Phil Silvers), hiss-able villains (headed by Conrad Veidt and Peter Lorre, who would re-team with Bogie in “Casablanca”), and attractive Kaaren Verne (the future Mrs. Peter Lorre) for romance, “All Through the Night” may not be a classic, but is Astounding fun!

“Passage to Marseille” (1944) - After the mammoth success of “Casablanca”, WB attempted to get similar vehicles for Bogie, to attempt to recapture the magic. Some would work very well (”To Have and Have Not”) ; most didn’t. This was one of the misfires, but it does offer “Casablanca” co-stars Claude Rains, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, and Helmut Dantine, in a anecdote of Devil’s Island escapees, dealing with Vichy plots, finding their ’souls’, and rejoining the fight to rid France of the Nazis. Atmospheric, if occasionally slow-moving, the film is not among Bogie’s best, but is certainly watchable, and has WB’s distinctive ‘gloss’…

Quite a collection!

Re-releasing current titles on DVD is par-for-course for most labels. Only two near abet for another release when the reason is damned fine…WB and Criterion. Unlike the other studios, only these two attach the second dip for something far better, and this gracious SIGNATURE COLLECTION VOLUME TWO contains four new-to-DVD releases, looking SENSATIONAL, but also a re-visit to THE MALTESE FALCON, which along with CASABLANCA and SIERRA MADRE, represents the very best of the world’s most beloved and timeless movie actor.

I picked up my copy today, and all I can say is WOWEE!

The fresh FALCON DVD looked very capable. It was released when WB didn’t seem to care about their older films, and the extras were paltry and the quality was reliable but not gargantuan.

The unique FALCON carries the excellence that has been the hallmark of the WB Special Editions that have become the industry standard against which others are measured. Tons of tall current extra features, and the two previous film versions of the Hammett fresh, both of which are fodder compared to the Bogart version, which looks and sounds SO Great BETTER here.

Best of all, the signature collection has taken pity on our shelving, and is packaged in sturdy slim-cases.

BRAVO, WARNER!
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