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.