Brother Orchid
Director: Lloyd Bacon
Year: 1943
Rating: 7.0
Peculiar little Warner Brothers gangster film of the 40's that can't quite
make up its mind as to what it wants to be - starts as a comedy, weaves into
the gangster hard boiled territory, jumps into religion, back to gangster
and finally holy redemption. But what a terrific cast it has. Leading the
parade is Edward G Robinson in full snarl for most of it, Humphrey Bogart
right before he hits it big with The Maltese Falcon as the second in command
who wants to move up, Ann Southern as the loyal ditzy girlfriend and then
a feast of character actors - Donald Crisp, Ralph Bellamy, Allen Jenkins
as the comic relief, Cecil Kellaway, Richard Lane (the inspector in all the
Boston Blackie films), Morgan Conway (Dick Tracy) and Paul Guilfoyle who
has over 130 acting credits.
Robinson decides to retire from the Protection racket and become a gentleman
but runs out of money after 5 years and wants back in. The gang doesn't want
him back in. Bogart is the cool gangster who thinks he has it all figured
out. Been wanting to watch this for a few years in my goal to see every Bogart
film. Nearly there.