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A few words about... Tough Guys Collection
Warner's new "Tough Guys" Collection is not only a boon to completists attempting to gather the entire works of Humphrey Bogart, James Cagney and Edward G. Robinson, but on its own a wonderful primer into the Warner's urban drama, and a perfect addition to the earlier Gangsters Collection.
WB's technical staff has returned to the finest surviving film elements, and generally the image and audio is exemplary for the era - 1935-40.
Included are three Cagney productions, "G" Men (1935), Each Dawn I Die (1939), and City for Conquest (1940), my favorite of the group, and seen here for the first time in a restored form that I'd previously only read about.
After original release, a prologue (and as I recall, the epilogue) featuring Frank Craven, appearing in a similar fashion to his narrator role in Our Town, were removed, and are now back after half a century. Ward Bond plays a police officer in the restored opening. Interestingly, and one must assume because of the cuts, that nowhere does the film appear in Mr. Bond's filmography.
The other three productions, which round out the six film set are San Quentin (1937) with Humphrey Bogart, Pat O'Brien and Ann Sheridan in the lead, A Slight Case of Murder (1938) with Edward G. Robinson, and Bullets or Ballots (1936) with Edward G. Robinson, Joan Blondell and Mr. Bogart.
Three, "G" Men, Each Dawn I Die and Bullets or Ballots, are directed by William Keighley, who is probably best known as the director of The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938).
This is yet another winner from Warner Home Video, who are continuing their superb job of mining their vaults for quality fare.
Additional extras from cartoons and shorts to commentary tracks, which have become de rigeur on WB DVDs are here joined by quality copies of films that have traveled the collector circuit for decades -- The WB Breakdown series -- the "official" studio blooper reels, which are alone worth the price of admission.
The entire set comes Highly Recommended, and what a thrill to finally see City for Conquest in its complete form!
RAH
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