Reviews (11)

Herbie Rides Again is no good.............
This sequel to The Love Bug, lacks a good plot, and an interesting cast. Set five years after the original, this film finds Herbie now sold to an annoying old lady living in a fire house. The fire house is the only building left in the way of Alonzo Hawk's new sky scraper being built. Robert Stevenson enters the plot as Hawk's nephew and goes against his uncle to help save the fire house. This film has nothing to do with the original and loses the formula. I would pass on this movie. However, Dean Jones and Don Knots returned in Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo to give the series back it's good name.........

Just a poor re-hash of "The Love Bug"
Like many sequels, the writers of this one were unable to come up with a new plot idea, so they basically re-hashed the original. Ken Berry takes the Dean Jones role, Stephanie Powers takes the Michelle Lee role, the demise of the firehouse replaces the demise of Herbie, etc, etc. Also like many sequels, the result was poor at best. While it had its moments [the parade of Beetles], for the most part, "Herbie Rides Again" seemed to try to hard to be clever...and as a result, fails.

As for the transfer...I couldn't help but notice how "tight" all the scenes with the actors seemed to be...especially the ones inside Herbie. The reason? It appears this movie was filmed in 1.66:1 ratio...and Disney, in its usual infinite wisdom, has trimmed information from the picture to make it fit a 16x9 screen. Geez...even Disney's widescreen movies cut out part of the picture. These guy are just clueless, aren't they?

The sound seemed a little off to me as well, with the music sometimes overwhelming the dialogue.

All that being said, my recommendation is to buy "The Love Bug" [which has an overall excellent transfer, with the exception of one out-of-focus scene in Chinatown], and forget all the sequels.

Not good for little kids
My two year old loves Herbie, so we rented this to give us all a break. Now we are paying for it! The villian in this movie rants, raves, screams, and bosses everyone around conitinuously. Perhaps it is coincidence, but our mild-mannered son has become a mini-version of this tryant. After two weeks, he is finally returning to normal. I would not recommend showing this movie to suggestible children. It is difficult to find live-action, non-violent movies with good role-model characters. Stick with "The Love Bug."

A Disney favorite is back -- this time in widescreen!
Predictable, but fun Disney comedy from the 1970's and the best of the Love Bug sequels. Thanks to Disney Home Video for releasing this film in widescreen. Please release all Disney films in their original theatrical ratios and re-release The Moonspinners, Blackbeard's Ghost, and Babes in Toyland in widescreen.

The Little Car That Could is Back
Alonzo Hawk has made his fortune by destroying old buildings and putting new office buildings and shopping centers in their place. His latest project is to build the world's tallest skyscraper in San Francisco. Unfortunately for him, one widow refuses to sell the little firehouse she's lived in since the day she got married. Even more unfortunately, she's keeping Herbie for her nephew, and Herbie has decided to protect her at all costs. But what can a VW Bug do against a man who will stop at nothing to destroy the firehouse?

This was the first sequel to the huge hit, THE LOVE BUG. Released 6 years after the original, none of the human cast returned. Only the car is around to reprise his roll. Stirring clear of racecar driving completely for this go around, the plot focuses solely on the tug of war over the firehouse. The plot itself is silly, with Herbie doing such things as driving the cable of the Golden Gate Bridge and swimming. Still, if you're in the mood for improbably fun, these movies are your ticket. The cast, lead by Helen Hayes, does a fine job keeping the storyline believable fantasy. And, of course, there's the romantic sub-plot just to add a little more tension.

I was really impressed by the Special Edition treatment that THE LOVE BUG received last year and was hoping for more of the same. Unfortunately, this is a movie only edition. This movie is presented in widescreen and full surround, however. The picture looks sharp with some dust and grain debris showing it's age. It sounds nice as well, although the movie won't give your surround sound a chance to truly shine. Then again, considering when the movie came out, that's not too different from the original source.

Despite the lack of special features, it's nice to have this fun film on DVD. I've been a fan of Herbie for as long as I can remember, and these films will always hold a special place in my heart. ... Read more

Description

After their success on Broadway, the 'Dead End Kids' were recruited by Hollywood. Eventually these young kids from the streets of New York became bonified celebrities, known as the 'Bowery Boys' and starred in over 50 films and serials. In this film the boys are accompanied by the comedy duo of Leo Gorcye and Huntz Hall. The combination of gangster melodrama and slapstick scenarios makes this Bowery Boys series a favorite for young and old alike. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Most delightful ghost picture the Bowery Boys have done.
This is the 22nd film in he Bowery Boys film series. They began with DEAD END (1937) as the Dead End Kids and then later as The East Side Kids. In 1946, they became the Bowery Boys for 48 more films from 1946-1958. We saw some of the boys, now men, grow up from teenagers in Dead End (1937) to being in their 30's. For the Bowery Boys film series, unfortunatly, their is only six films available on VHS , but rumor is that all of them will soon be available in public domain. In this review, I will list the approx. age of the main Bowery Boys cast. Leo Gorcey 36, Huntz Hall 31, William Benedict 34, David Gorcey 30. Huntz, Bill and David are interested in the supernatural. They try to hold a seance in the backroom of Louie's shop. But of course, the joke is on Huntz and David. Later, Huntz and Bill go to a United Mediums of greater New York seance. Tonight, Margo the Medium trys to summons the spirit of Leonardi. While the performance is going on, a real nice 17th Century ghost, Edgar Smith, appears to us and tells the viewer he has plans of ending this quackery. Probably the most delightful ghost picture and more enjoyable of all the gang's films.

That old gang of mine.
The Dead End Kids begot the East Side Kids. And the East Side Kids begot the Bowery Boys. This Grade B comedy from the early '50s has the charm of a bygone era. Our heroes, overage juvenile delinquent clowns in silly hats, hang around Louie's sweet shop with no visible means of support. They run up IOUs for banana splits and root beer floats. The gang's greatest talent is to find creative ways to get into trouble. In this outing Slip Mahoney (Leo Gorcey), "Sach" (Huntz Hall), and the boys try to stop a fake spirit-medium gang from bilking sweet old ladies of their money. The laughs are low brow, but what they lack in quality, they gain in quantity. Slip mangles the English language as he uses big words incorrectly. Sach rolls his eyes and has more spastic body movements than a nervous dog with active fleas. In the hierarchy of classic comics, if we place the Marx Brothers at the top and work our way down, the Bowery Boys would be on the level just below the Three Stooges. These modest little comedies are targeted at a "kiddies" audience. Although today's high-tech kids will probably look askance at the silly antics, the film will please both nostalgia fans and viewers searching for "G" type fun to share with the family. Nothing sophisticated about this little movie, just sit back and enjoy the nonsense. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Golden Turkey Award Nominee Par Excellance-:-(
Caught this lamentable, execrable, piece on TV last night-and I
can see why it BOMBED bigtime in theatrical release-1. continu-
ity stank, 2. None of the scenes made any sense-like they were
thrown together a la an amateur movie, 3. acting was at an equally dismal level, 4. Gratuitous nude scenes-ho-hum, another
bum....5.written like a tax-writeoff movie, 6.a Ken Russell oer-
vre-why this psychedelic pinheaded amateur was ever given a cam-
era or a director's job is beyond me, 7. It just plain did not
offer any biographical info, just silly scenes......in short,
save your money, and DO NOT buy this piece of crap-rent it if you absolutely MUST see it.

Positively one of the three WORST movies ever made-it reeks!!!!!
P.U. Bleagh!!!!!!

TANGOS, TRIOS, TRAVESTIES........
The is the one where Princess Margaret saw "Rudi Nudi" - for some or other reason it was selected as a Royal Performance!

Not really one of Ken's best, it's stil kinda worth seeing, if you get my drift! A fractured vision of Hollywood, circa "when it all began and when we had faces", i.e. the Silent Years, and granted Valentino was probably the first real male movie star, although today - it IS rather difficult to understand the attraction - was it the eyes? The close-up? [The other pre-Valentino male stars? Check out the make-up!]

BUT, back to this movie - it's a sad re-telling of Valentino's short life, emphasizing the menage [?] between Valentino, his ex-ballet-dancing wife, now Art director Natasha Rambova/Michelle Phillips [relax, she was a local gal, an heiress, not an import, eventually banned from the Paramount lot] and the now oddly neglected, but spectacular Alla Nazimova [Leslie Caron as a lesbian? Check out the dialogue between Caron and the newly widowed Mrs. Valentino - right over the casket! Mortice is not even rigor and the two are planning a new life! Intentionally funny??? Well, Nazimlova was bisexual, and a damn good business woman too - another Hollywood casualty. She was also Tennessee Williams Muse.]

The movie does go on and on - Nureyev is too exotic, but provides the necessary eye-candy. There are hints of Valentino's bisexuality - the "Pink Powerpuff" sequences, but we don't learn much about the man. Carol Kane shines as another vapid vamp. There's even boy-boy dancing - Valentino/Nijinsky episode in New York, pre-Hollywood. Valentine worked as a dance "escort" ["Roseland?"]. The tango sequences are good, but this Ken Russell is not too memorable - good as part of your Ken Russell collection it does not quite hold its own. Costumes and art direction ARE rather superior!

Better by faris the TV version with Franco Nero and Yvette Mimeiux - much stronger casting!

Deserves to be watched and bought for you home collection
I am not gonna talk about "Valentino"'s cinematic merits or Ken Russell's ones, for that matter. Previous reviewer has done a pretty good job on that. I'll just say that I own this movie and I watch it every so often. I enjoy it, because it is full of satirical images and it DOES take me back to the Hollywood of 20's. Of course, people should not consider it a real biographical movie about RV, but rather a huge satire with terrific costumes and wonderful cast. I must say that the film looses its edge half away thru; in the beginning you are taken by it, then it becomes more of a toy for Ken Russell himself. As for Nureyev's playing Valentino, I think that was THE INGENIOUS PART OF RUSSELL'S PLAN. Yes, it was Nureyev's first role in cinema (first and the only one, buy the way). Yes, he seems stiff at times, but I believe this was part of the idea: to "ham" it up a little in order to heighten the effects of constructed set (Hollywood of 20's). Anyone who saw Nureyev on stage/in ballet/ should have no doubts about his actor skills; he did not simply dance, he ACTED. Besides, for anyone who saw movies with Rudolpho Valentino (well, I did), com'on, how much "ham" is that, especially from today's perspective?.. NOW, think about it, Valentino and Nureyev: they had the same name, they were both dancers, they were both immigrants (suffering from not ever seeing their mothers again), they were both gay, they were both surepstars, etc. I think the similarities are uncanny! Russell took full advantage of them, by constucting a surrealistic plot, where you are not always sure whether you are watching Nureyev as Valentino, Nureyev as Nureyev, or even Valentino as Nureyev. That is possibly why Nureyev would want to play this role, even though he had not done any films before. ONE SCENE ESPECIALLY PROVES MY POINT ON THIS: right in the beginning we see young Valentino, who lived in NY then, is supposedly giving tango lessons to the great Nijinsky, who was also in NY at the same time with his troop ("Russian Seasons Ballet"). No such encounter ever happened in the real life, I am sure (Valentino was young and handsome small time jiggalo...Nijinksy's each move was monitored by Sergey Diagilev, troop's director and Nijinsky's pathologically jealous lover... Diagilev would have never allowed Nijinsky to see a handsome/ gay/Italian for private lessons or any such thing). So, how fanastic was it of Russell, to put two of the 20 century's greatest ballet dancers together in a marvellous tango? I just loved it: the idea itself and the scene! Anyway, if you watch this movie, you'll see it for yourselves. This movie is well-worth watching repeatedly.

A cinematic fantasy that provokes and enthralls
Ken Russell's "Valentino" was released in 1977 to the condemnation of most of the critical populace as well as the Catholic Church.Most of this disapproval was due to an ignorance of Ken Russell's artistic method,his intentions,and the extreme nature of some of his work.Over twenty years later with baroque directors more common and sexual and violent imagery less outre, "Valentino" deseves to be recognized as the undeniably flawed yet vital work of art that it is. Influenced by "Citizen Kane",Valentino's narrative is presented in a series of flashbacks by the people who admired,pitied,despised and loved the silent screen superstar.Ken Russell weaves tragedy and satire together to criticize the absurdities and nightmares engendered by the pursuit of the American Dream.The film dissects the obverse and reverse of stardom with its mindless and volatile adulation on one side and jealous hatred and contempt on the other."Valentino" also depicts the ethnocentism and homophobia of the 1920's-and by implication,as in most of Ken Russell's films,depicts ours as well.The film's tone is mercurial and constantly challenges you to think about what is being depicted as you are affected by its power.It enthralls as it provokes. Yet the film is not without its flaws.Rudolph Nureyev in his first acting role displays charm,grace and sex appeal-but he is sometimes stiff and lacks emotional depth.The great actress Alla Nazimova is savaged (in a very funny performance by Leslie Caron)as a pretentious and vain phony.Natasha Rambova(a very beautiful Michelle Phillips)is depicted as a shrill,grasping shrew.The screenplay as written by Ken Russell and his co-scenarist sounds unduely influenced by films of the early 1930's(though this does give the film atmosphere,you sometimes feel as if you were watching an R-rated Lloyd Bacon picture). Yet the film's merits make it worth experiencing.One can mention its exquisite art direction and costumes,its tour de force cinematography by Peter Suschitsky.But its Ken Russell's direction of its many great setpieces -choreographed with great intensity that are the ultimate proof of its genius.Not every setpiece works-one involving an empty-headed starlet brought to orgasm through sheer fantasysing while going through the motions of having sex with Valentino falls flat.But others such as Valentino's revenge on Fatty Arbunkle or the Nijinsky photo session with Nazimova and Rambova are emblematic of Ken Russell's use of images rather than words to achieve poetic comedy.Much more disturbing are Rambova's seance turned nightmare as well as the jail sequence in which various lowlifes sexually taunt Valentino and force him to urinate on himself.It is one of the most horrifying scenes in film history. "Valentino's" faults(such as its occasional historical inaccuracies and the aforementioned depictions of Nazimova and Rambova)seem irrelevant when you begin to understand that Ken Russell's intentions were not to tell Valentino's life story but to explore satiric and tragic themes based on his and his contemporaries' lives.His method is similiar to Shakespeare's Macbeth.Macbeth's raison d'etre was to enact corruption through ambition.The biographical or "real" Macbeth is of no significance to the play.Ken Russell's method is the same.This is not to say that he willfully distorts history for distortion's sake-but that he presupposes his audience will have prior familiarity with his subjects and will be able to reference both his fidelities and his departures from fact. Is "Valentino" a great film?I think it is, despite its uneveness-though I don't think it is one of Ken Russell's best films.But other great works of English art such as "Women Beware Women","Paradise Lost" and "David Copperfield" are all admittedly uneven and hopefully one day "Valentino" will be judged upon its strengths and not weaknesses -as they are. ... Read more

Reviews (27)

"Whaddya hear? Whaddya say?"
"Angels with Dirty Faces" is one of the greatest gangster pictures of the 1930's, a decade which saw many great ones. Some people might be turned off by the old style acting (When people shoot, it seems more like they are punching). But I very much enjoyed this movie, and I'm only 14! (Some plot spoilers).

James Cagney is "Rocky" Sullivan, who as a kid was driven to a life of crime by an arrest. Cagney gives what some consider his definitive gangster performance, which was awarded by the New York Film Critics as best actor, but was not awarded by the academy. Pat O'Brien is his childhood friend Jerry Connolly, who is now a priest. He is concerned with Sullivan's involvement on a group of kids, believing that he is influencing them in a life of crime. He vows to fight organized crime, even if that means crushing his friend.

Before he was a major star, Humphrey Bogart was a supporting player who made a major impact. In here, he plays Sullivan's lawyer, who tries to knock off Rocky after his release from prison. There is also Ann Sheridan as Laury, a love interest to Sullivan, and there are also the Dead End Kids (Led by Billy Halop as "Soapy").

I will make this short and sweet. You must see this movie. If you want more, you must own this movie. Thank You.

The Angels: Their Dirt Washes Off
ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES is no by the numbers gangster melodrama of the 1930s. It is a penetrating insight into a number of well-known character types. Director Michael Curtiz portrays a bulls-eye of distinct personalities with Rocky Sullivan centered on ground zero. James Cagney, who plays Sullivan with the bravura performance of a long and distinguished career, absolutely dominates each scene with his tongue and flashing arms. Sullivan is a recently released convict from Brooklyn who returns to the scene of his youth and finds that the local youth gangs have elevated him to heroic stature. He takes this adulation in stride; he has business to take care of. He plans to regain money taken from him by a former cohort in crime (Humphrey Bogart), or failing that, to kill him. Yet, despite his criminal life, there is much good within him. At one time early in life, the merest of chances pushed him down the wrong path of a one way street while allowing another (Pat O'Brien) to take the right one. His life after that was predictable: reform school, the criminal life, back to jail, a hard-nosed attitude about life. Now he walks the streets, attempting to have it all, money, a good-looking dame (sweetly played by Ann Sheridan), and the respect of his peers, even if those peers are the Dead End Kids. These kids form the first outer circle around Rocky. They are both literally and emotionally around him. In Sullivan's interactions with them, he is squarely centered, tossing out bills as if they were candy bars, smacking them on the head with his fedora hat, exhorting them with words to upgrade their lives. And they, of course, tough as they are, lionize him, protecting him and his property from the common enemy--the cops--, and setting in motion the wheels to wind up just like him. In the third and final circle orbiting Sullivan lie the trio of Sullivan's girlfriend (Ann Sheridan), his crooked business partner (Bogie) and the other boy whom fate pushed down the right path to grow up to be a priest (O'Brien).
Try as hard as he can, Rocky cannot escape the bulls-eye painted plainly on his forehead. His girlfriend badgers him to go straight. The Dead End Kids are contstantly in trouble, trying to emulate their hoodlum god. Bogie has sicced both his own hoods and the cops in a vain attempt to eliminate Sullivan. And Father Jerry (O'Brien) tells Sullivan up front that he will go after him using the power of the media. It would have been easy for Sullivan to despair and act meanly, but he adheres to his own moral code that demands that all debts be paid. To his surprise, when he is arrested by the police and is ready to face the electric chair, Father Jerry reminds him of one more debt to be paid. This debt is to kids like those who idolize him and expect him to, in Rocky's own words, 'to walk up to the executioner and spit in his eye.' Father Jerry asks a great deal of him, to pretend fear and die seen as a gutless coward. Some debts, Father Jerry reminds him, are tougher to pay than others. The movie ends with the Dead End Kids emotionally flattened, their hero as just another yellow punk who could not walk that last walk unaided. ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES is a character drama that uses crime and hero worship as a backdrop against which a flavor of a decade is portrayed. The angels at the close of this movie have been convinced that one of their own had been permanently covered with the dirt of cowardice. Yet the audience knows that the dirt of crime can be washed off if the one facing his destiny can only scrub hard enough.

don't see this for Bogie
Humphrey Bogart's part is minor. ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES is a Cagney movie. Sure, it does seem dated. See it for the old boys' gymnasium, the boys playing basketball in their gym clothes, the trapezes hanging from the gymnasium ceiling above the basketball court. See it for Cagney helping the priest by refereeing a game, and punching the kids around when they commit fouls.

Cagney looks good as Rocky Sullivan, famous gangster put away for years, only to return to the streets. Doublecrossed by two former allies, he guns them down, only to be hunted down by police. Cagney's the real McCoy.

This is classic Cagney and not to be missed by fans of gangster movies. ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES: 5 stars

Good Acting but a Flawed Script
As a life-long Bogart fan, I couldn't pass up this VHS movie on the sale rack. I had seen it 25 years ago and I recalled that it was a mediocre role for Bogie. I was right about that; This is a James Cagney movie all that way. Nothing wrong with that; I became a Cagney fan watching a lot of those old Bogart movies. What really impressed me about this movie is the beginning. Cagney plays a character named Rocky Sullivan but the movie opens with Rocky as a teenager played by Frankie Burke. Young Mr. Burke does a better Cagney imitation than Rich Little ever did. Cagney does a pretty good job himself as he plays someone who learned the wrong lessons in the school of hard knocks. In and out of prison, we finally catch up with him as he's released from the Pen one more time. This time he goes back to his old New York neighborhood to collect on the $100,000 he stashed with his lawyer after his last big haul. The lawyer is the Bogart character who does everything to prevent Rocky from collecting his money. Along side this story is a romance with Ann Sheridan and a rekindling of friendship with his old partner who is now a priest. Pat O'Brien plays this role and does it like we'd expect to see Pat O'Brien playing a priest. However, next to Cagney's role, the main focus is on the "Angels" played by Huntz Hall, Leo Gorcey and the Dead End kids. These kids are a bit much but they are important because they come to idolize Rocky Sullivan. Let's skip ahead here; Rocky gets even with Bogart and his gang, Ann Sheridan falls in love with him, and Father O'Brien takes time out from building a recreation center for boys so that he can fight corruption. Rocky is headed for the electric chair and Father O'Brien is concerned that his old friend will become a martyr to the "Angels". Rocky, who's not backed down from anyone so far in the movie, rudely declines to play the coward. Of course, at the last minute he does and that, I guess, is the saving grace for the "Angels".

OK, this is fairly standard fare for Hollywood in the 30's but, in my estimation, this one goes a bit too far. The problem is the headlines the next day. In print that takes up a third of the front page we read "ROCKY SULLIVAN DIES A COWARD". Maybe it was a slow news day but I find it hard to think that's a New York City headline. Of course, we see the headlines because the "Angels" are reading the paper as we rejoin them. That's all it takes: they drop Rocky like a hot potato (pardon the metaphor) and follow Father O'Brien off to the new recreation center. I enjoyed the action, the acting and the basic plot up to the end. I just never bought into the ending

One Of The Best Gangster Movies Ever Made
What do you get when you mix James Cagney, Humphrey Bogart, Pat O'Brien and the Dead End Kids?
Just about the best gangster movie ever made!
Cagney plays a gangster trying to go straight, who is idolized by the Dead End Kids.
Bogie is a psycho gangster and Cagney's ex partner-in-crime.
Pat O'Brien is the priest who is trying to keep the Kids on the straight-and-narrow.
Cagney is forced to gun down Bogie and winds up going to the chair.
At the end, director Michael Curtiz makes you wonder if Cagney really turned yellow or not.
Classic gangster melodrama and among the top 100 films ever made. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The first sequel to The Love Bug is similar enough to the first film's charm and raucous comedy that it works on its own. Neither Dean Jones nor Michelle Lee are back, but a nice cast of familiar pros keeps things moving along slickly. The story finds Herbie helping Helen Hayes--yes, the First Lady of the American Theater--keep out of the clutches of Keenan Wynn's villain. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Herbie Rides Again is no good.............
This sequel to The Love Bug, lacks a good plot, and an interesting cast. Set five years after the original, this film finds Herbie now sold to an annoying old lady living in a fire house. The fire house is the only building left in the way of Alonzo Hawk's new sky scraper being built. Robert Stevenson enters the plot as Hawk's nephew and goes against his uncle to help save the fire house. This film has nothing to do with the original and loses the formula. I would pass on this movie. However, Dean Jones and Don Knots returned in Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo to give the series back it's good name.........

Just a poor re-hash of "The Love Bug"
Like many sequels, the writers of this one were unable to come up with a new plot idea, so they basically re-hashed the original. Ken Berry takes the Dean Jones role, Stephanie Powers takes the Michelle Lee role, the demise of the firehouse replaces the demise of Herbie, etc, etc. Also like many sequels, the result was poor at best. While it had its moments [the parade of Beetles], for the most part, "Herbie Rides Again" seemed to try to hard to be clever...and as a result, fails.

As for the transfer...I couldn't help but notice how "tight" all the scenes with the actors seemed to be...especially the ones inside Herbie. The reason? It appears this movie was filmed in 1.66:1 ratio...and Disney, in its usual infinite wisdom, has trimmed information from the picture to make it fit a 16x9 screen. Geez...even Disney's widescreen movies cut out part of the picture. These guy are just clueless, aren't they?

The sound seemed a little off to me as well, with the music sometimes overwhelming the dialogue.

All that being said, my recommendation is to buy "The Love Bug" [which has an overall excellent transfer, with the exception of one out-of-focus scene in Chinatown], and forget all the sequels.

Not good for little kids
My two year old loves Herbie, so we rented this to give us all a break. Now we are paying for it! The villian in this movie rants, raves, screams, and bosses everyone around conitinuously. Perhaps it is coincidence, but our mild-mannered son has become a mini-version of this tryant. After two weeks, he is finally returning to normal. I would not recommend showing this movie to suggestible children. It is difficult to find live-action, non-violent movies with good role-model characters. Stick with "The Love Bug."

A Disney favorite is back -- this time in widescreen!
Predictable, but fun Disney comedy from the 1970's and the best of the Love Bug sequels. Thanks to Disney Home Video for releasing this film in widescreen. Please release all Disney films in their original theatrical ratios and re-release The Moonspinners, Blackbeard's Ghost, and Babes in Toyland in widescreen.

The Little Car That Could is Back
Alonzo Hawk has made his fortune by destroying old buildings and putting new office buildings and shopping centers in their place. His latest project is to build the world's tallest skyscraper in San Francisco. Unfortunately for him, one widow refuses to sell the little firehouse she's lived in since the day she got married. Even more unfortunately, she's keeping Herbie for her nephew, and Herbie has decided to protect her at all costs. But what can a VW Bug do against a man who will stop at nothing to destroy the firehouse?

This was the first sequel to the huge hit, THE LOVE BUG. Released 6 years after the original, none of the human cast returned. Only the car is around to reprise his roll. Stirring clear of racecar driving completely for this go around, the plot focuses solely on the tug of war over the firehouse. The plot itself is silly, with Herbie doing such things as driving the cable of the Golden Gate Bridge and swimming. Still, if you're in the mood for improbably fun, these movies are your ticket. The cast, lead by Helen Hayes, does a fine job keeping the storyline believable fantasy. And, of course, there's the romantic sub-plot just to add a little more tension.

I was really impressed by the Special Edition treatment that THE LOVE BUG received last year and was hoping for more of the same. Unfortunately, this is a movie only edition. This movie is presented in widescreen and full surround, however. The picture looks sharp with some dust and grain debris showing it's age. It sounds nice as well, although the movie won't give your surround sound a chance to truly shine. Then again, considering when the movie came out, that's not too different from the original source.

Despite the lack of special features, it's nice to have this fun film on DVD. I've been a fan of Herbie for as long as I can remember, and these films will always hold a special place in my heart. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

"Nobody Dies," Best World War II Movie, Poorest DVD Quality
I have watched this film trillions of times, and I own many VHS and Beta copies of it. I first saw it as a kid in the 1950's, and it is truly haunting. The dialogue, acting, tension buildup, realism, psychology, and photography/camera work are nothing short of superb. It is a film way ahead of its time, true to its genre, and probably the best/most realistic film to come out of WWII. Many of the ethnic/cultural stereotypes are quite good, even considering the absence of African-American roles, probably fairly accurate for the time. The depiction of war seems very genuine. Does anyone know what Dana Andrews meant when he said "4 ways from the jack?" What a shame that the DVD version by Madacy is so poor. There are video/digital dropouts, terrible sound, missing frames. The VHS and BETA versions are of better quality overall. There is no evidence of ANY Dolby Digital sound.

I hope someone will recognize the true artistry of this film and issue it in a better DVD version.

I would also recommend "The Best Years of Our Lives", although I don't know if it is out on DVD yet.

Anyway, I rate this film as a "Must See/Own!"

Still one of the best World War II films
I too have seen A walk In The Sun countless times since I first saw it on television when I was a kid in the mid 1950's. I still believe that it is one of the best war films ever made. Yes, I also have seen Saving Private Ryan many times and love it as well.

In many ways, these films have a lot in common. They both exemplify the tenseness and horror of war. While SPR is more graphic, A Walk In The Sun succeeds with superb camera work and more subtlety.

The acting in A Walk In The Sun is excellent and I practically memorized all of the humorous dialogue between Pvts Rivera (Richard Conte) and Freedman (George Tyne). These two were a quintesential element of the film.

This film was excellently directed by Lewis Milestone and should not be missed.

Not a restored version
It is apparent that the copyright has expired on this movie, as a number of DVD houses are offering various versions. This transfer is moderately scratchy and occasionally fuzzy, and obviously slightly cropped.

It is too bad the studio hasn't seen fit to issue a restored version (and copyright the restoration). Unfortunately, judging by the offerings here on Amazon, there is no studio version available.

Outstanding Movie
Only rated 4 stars because this classic has not been restored, 5 stars for content! One of the best WWII genre movies. Directed by Lewis Milestone (All Quiet on the Western Front, Pork Chop Hill etc.) GET THIS COPY! Other manufacturer's version contain numerous drop outs/flaws. Although unrestored, the DVD quality is a decent reproduction and viewable, HIFI sound is clear. Highly recommended for those interested in the US Infantry GI's perspective in WWII! Excellent leadership study as you watch the command of the platoon adapt to combat situations!

Decent movie, excellent quality for its age
Ignoring the ignorance of other reviewers stating the quality is not Dolby Digital sound or perfect digital video quality (DUH! It was made in the 1940s!), this is actually a fairly decent film. It captures effectively the non-battle aspects of war, and delves into the personality of soldiers. Even though it is sanitized in terms of few deaths and mild language, it is a good view for children and adults alike learning about WWII. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Herbie Rides Again is no good.............
This sequel to The Love Bug, lacks a good plot, and an interesting cast. Set five years after the original, this film finds Herbie now sold to an annoying old lady living in a fire house. The fire house is the only building left in the way of Alonzo Hawk's new sky scraper being built. Robert Stevenson enters the plot as Hawk's nephew and goes against his uncle to help save the fire house. This film has nothing to do with the original and loses the formula. I would pass on this movie. However, Dean Jones and Don Knots returned in Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo to give the series back it's good name.........

Just a poor re-hash of "The Love Bug"
Like many sequels, the writers of this one were unable to come up with a new plot idea, so they basically re-hashed the original. Ken Berry takes the Dean Jones role, Stephanie Powers takes the Michelle Lee role, the demise of the firehouse replaces the demise of Herbie, etc, etc. Also like many sequels, the result was poor at best. While it had its moments [the parade of Beetles], for the most part, "Herbie Rides Again" seemed to try to hard to be clever...and as a result, fails.

As for the transfer...I couldn't help but notice how "tight" all the scenes with the actors seemed to be...especially the ones inside Herbie. The reason? It appears this movie was filmed in 1.66:1 ratio...and Disney, in its usual infinite wisdom, has trimmed information from the picture to make it fit a 16x9 screen. Geez...even Disney's widescreen movies cut out part of the picture. These guy are just clueless, aren't they?

The sound seemed a little off to me as well, with the music sometimes overwhelming the dialogue.

All that being said, my recommendation is to buy "The Love Bug" [which has an overall excellent transfer, with the exception of one out-of-focus scene in Chinatown], and forget all the sequels.

Not good for little kids
My two year old loves Herbie, so we rented this to give us all a break. Now we are paying for it! The villian in this movie rants, raves, screams, and bosses everyone around conitinuously. Perhaps it is coincidence, but our mild-mannered son has become a mini-version of this tryant. After two weeks, he is finally returning to normal. I would not recommend showing this movie to suggestible children. It is difficult to find live-action, non-violent movies with good role-model characters. Stick with "The Love Bug."

A Disney favorite is back -- this time in widescreen!
Predictable, but fun Disney comedy from the 1970's and the best of the Love Bug sequels. Thanks to Disney Home Video for releasing this film in widescreen. Please release all Disney films in their original theatrical ratios and re-release The Moonspinners, Blackbeard's Ghost, and Babes in Toyland in widescreen.

The Little Car That Could is Back
Alonzo Hawk has made his fortune by destroying old buildings and putting new office buildings and shopping centers in their place. His latest project is to build the world's tallest skyscraper in San Francisco. Unfortunately for him, one widow refuses to sell the little firehouse she's lived in since the day she got married. Even more unfortunately, she's keeping Herbie for her nephew, and Herbie has decided to protect her at all costs. But what can a VW Bug do against a man who will stop at nothing to destroy the firehouse?

This was the first sequel to the huge hit, THE LOVE BUG. Released 6 years after the original, none of the human cast returned. Only the car is around to reprise his roll. Stirring clear of racecar driving completely for this go around, the plot focuses solely on the tug of war over the firehouse. The plot itself is silly, with Herbie doing such things as driving the cable of the Golden Gate Bridge and swimming. Still, if you're in the mood for improbably fun, these movies are your ticket. The cast, lead by Helen Hayes, does a fine job keeping the storyline believable fantasy. And, of course, there's the romantic sub-plot just to add a little more tension.

I was really impressed by the Special Edition treatment that THE LOVE BUG received last year and was hoping for more of the same. Unfortunately, this is a movie only edition. This movie is presented in widescreen and full surround, however. The picture looks sharp with some dust and grain debris showing it's age. It sounds nice as well, although the movie won't give your surround sound a chance to truly shine. Then again, considering when the movie came out, that's not too different from the original source.

Despite the lack of special features, it's nice to have this fun film on DVD. I've been a fan of Herbie for as long as I can remember, and these films will always hold a special place in my heart. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

"Nobody Dies," Best World War II Movie, Poorest DVD Quality
I have watched this film trillions of times, and I own many VHS and Beta copies of it. I first saw it as a kid in the 1950's, and it is truly haunting. The dialogue, acting, tension buildup, realism, psychology, and photography/camera work are nothing short of superb. It is a film way ahead of its time, true to its genre, and probably the best/most realistic film to come out of WWII. Many of the ethnic/cultural stereotypes are quite good, even considering the absence of African-American roles, probably fairly accurate for the time. The depiction of war seems very genuine. Does anyone know what Dana Andrews meant when he said "4 ways from the jack?" What a shame that the DVD version by Madacy is so poor. There are video/digital dropouts, terrible sound, missing frames. The VHS and BETA versions are of better quality overall. There is no evidence of ANY Dolby Digital sound.

I hope someone will recognize the true artistry of this film and issue it in a better DVD version.

I would also recommend "The Best Years of Our Lives", although I don't know if it is out on DVD yet.

Anyway, I rate this film as a "Must See/Own!"

Still one of the best World War II films
I too have seen A walk In The Sun countless times since I first saw it on television when I was a kid in the mid 1950's. I still believe that it is one of the best war films ever made. Yes, I also have seen Saving Private Ryan many times and love it as well.

In many ways, these films have a lot in common. They both exemplify the tenseness and horror of war. While SPR is more graphic, A Walk In The Sun succeeds with superb camera work and more subtlety.

The acting in A Walk In The Sun is excellent and I practically memorized all of the humorous dialogue between Pvts Rivera (Richard Conte) and Freedman (George Tyne). These two were a quintesential element of the film.

This film was excellently directed by Lewis Milestone and should not be missed.

Not a restored version
It is apparent that the copyright has expired on this movie, as a number of DVD houses are offering various versions. This transfer is moderately scratchy and occasionally fuzzy, and obviously slightly cropped.

It is too bad the studio hasn't seen fit to issue a restored version (and copyright the restoration). Unfortunately, judging by the offerings here on Amazon, there is no studio version available.

Outstanding Movie
Only rated 4 stars because this classic has not been restored, 5 stars for content! One of the best WWII genre movies. Directed by Lewis Milestone (All Quiet on the Western Front, Pork Chop Hill etc.) GET THIS COPY! Other manufacturer's version contain numerous drop outs/flaws. Although unrestored, the DVD quality is a decent reproduction and viewable, HIFI sound is clear. Highly recommended for those interested in the US Infantry GI's perspective in WWII! Excellent leadership study as you watch the command of the platoon adapt to combat situations!

Decent movie, excellent quality for its age
Ignoring the ignorance of other reviewers stating the quality is not Dolby Digital sound or perfect digital video quality (DUH! It was made in the 1940s!), this is actually a fairly decent film. It captures effectively the non-battle aspects of war, and delves into the personality of soldiers. Even though it is sanitized in terms of few deaths and mild language, it is a good view for children and adults alike learning about WWII. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Escape Artist - Almost Gets Away!
The Escape Artist has several things going for it. Teen actor (at the time time in question) Griffin O'Neil gives an excellent performance as the "escape artist", a teenage magician skilled in such nice things as magic tricks and not-so-nice things as lock picking, burgulary, safe cracking, and pickpocketing. Movie legends Desi Arnaz and Raul Julia also have starring roles. Unfortunately, the plot sputters to a standstill midway through the movie and winds up going no place fast.

It is based on the book of the same name and follows the plot of the book very closely which leads to its fatal flaw - not enough time being spent on the screenplay adaptation. The secret in creating a movie from a book is realizing that the audience will be seeing a movie, and knowing which parts of the book to include and which ones not to. The Lord of the Rings trilogy, the Harry Potter movies and Silence of the Lambs are excellent examples of proper book to movie adaptation.

The Escape Artist, regretfully, is not. ... Read more

Description

After their success on Broadway, the 'Dead End Kids' were recruited by Hollywood. Eventually these young kids from the streets of New York became bonified celebrities, known as the 'Bowery Boys' and starred in over 50 films and serials. In this film the boys are accompanied by the comedy duo of Leo Gorcye and Huntz Hall. The combination of gangster melodrama and slapstick scenarios makes this Bowery Boys series a favorite for young and old alike. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Can the Bowery Boys solve the mystery?
This is the sixth film of the Bowery Boys film series and 10 years that the gang has been together in film since DEAD END (1937) as the Dead End Kids, then the East Side Kids and since 1946 as The Bowery Boys. The Bowery Boys are Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, Bobby Jordan,Gabriel Dell, Billy Benedict and David Gorcey (Leo's brother). Bernard Gorcey is Leo's and David's father. Huntz didn't get his pay at the Elite Detective Agency, so his pal Leo goes down there to straighten things out. When they arrive at the Elite Detective Agency, the private investigator is not there. Just then, a rich woman (Betty Compson), Selena Webster, walks in. She thinks Leo is the investigator. Clearly she is concerned, so Leo and Huntz play along. Her young sister, Elenor (Teala Loring) has been missing. Her husband, Tom, was lost in South America. That was three years ago. Two weeks ago they got word he was alive and coming home. Her sister got nervous. Now she is gone. There is also another man she was seeing. Dr. Rolfe Carter (Pierre Watkin) who is a spiritual healer. A psychic. Can the Bowery men solve the mystery? "Lenny the Meatball" is played by Danny Beck. Dan Seymour plays "Dr. Armand".
The next two films in the series are News Hound (1947), BOWERY BUCKAROOS (1947). ... Read more

Description

After their success on Broadway, the 'Dead End Kids' were recruited by Hollywood. Eventually these young kids from the streets of New York became bonified celebrities, known as the 'Bowery Boys' and starred in over 50 films and serials. In this film the boys are accompanied by the comedy duo of Leo Gorcye and Huntz Hall. The combination of gangster melodrama and slapstick scenarios makes this Bowery Boys series a favorite for young and old alike. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Leo and Huntz end up in the Air Force by mistake.
This is the 31 rst film in the Bowery Boys film series. For this review, I will list the approx. age of the Bowery Boys. Leo Gorcey 38, Huntz hall 33, David Gorcey 32 Bennie Bartlett 33. Bernard Gorcey's (Leo and david's father) plays "Louie". The gang believes their friend Dave (Todd Karns) who is in the U.S. Air Force and came to down to visit, may be in some trouble he can not get out of. So Leo and Huntz go to the Allen Air Force Base to visit Dave. When they get there, Leo wants to go where he thinks its the right location to see Dave, but they end up in the recruiting station. A beatiful lady sargeant asks them to fill out the forms. Then they under go tests. They think its odd to be going through all this just to visit Dave. The lady Sargeant tells them this is just a routine examination to be a "rookie". Boy, they know the word "rookie". They know their goose is cooked. Some how Hunzt ends up in the ladies barracks. ... Read more

Reviews (27)

"Whaddya hear? Whaddya say?"
"Angels with Dirty Faces" is one of the greatest gangster pictures of the 1930's, a decade which saw many great ones. Some people might be turned off by the old style acting (When people shoot, it seems more like they are punching). But I very much enjoyed this movie, and I'm only 14! (Some plot spoilers).

James Cagney is "Rocky" Sullivan, who as a kid was driven to a life of crime by an arrest. Cagney gives what some consider his definitive gangster performance, which was awarded by the New York Film Critics as best actor, but was not awarded by the academy. Pat O'Brien is his childhood friend Jerry Connolly, who is now a priest. He is concerned with Sullivan's involvement on a group of kids, believing that he is influencing them in a life of crime. He vows to fight organized crime, even if that means crushing his friend.

Before he was a major star, Humphrey Bogart was a supporting player who made a major impact. In here, he plays Sullivan's lawyer, who tries to knock off Rocky after his release from prison. There is also Ann Sheridan as Laury, a love interest to Sullivan, and there are also the Dead End Kids (Led by Billy Halop as "Soapy").

I will make this short and sweet. You must see this movie. If you want more, you must own this movie. Thank You.

The Angels: Their Dirt Washes Off
ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES is no by the numbers gangster melodrama of the 1930s. It is a penetrating insight into a number of well-known character types. Director Michael Curtiz portrays a bulls-eye of distinct personalities with Rocky Sullivan centered on ground zero. James Cagney, who plays Sullivan with the bravura performance of a long and distinguished career, absolutely dominates each scene with his tongue and flashing arms. Sullivan is a recently released convict from Brooklyn who returns to the scene of his youth and finds that the local youth gangs have elevated him to heroic stature. He takes this adulation in stride; he has business to take care of. He plans to regain money taken from him by a former cohort in crime (Humphrey Bogart), or failing that, to kill him. Yet, despite his criminal life, there is much good within him. At one time early in life, the merest of chances pushed him down the wrong path of a one way street while allowing another (Pat O'Brien) to take the right one. His life after that was predictable: reform school, the criminal life, back to jail, a hard-nosed attitude about life. Now he walks the streets, attempting to have it all, money, a good-looking dame (sweetly played by Ann Sheridan), and the respect of his peers, even if those peers are the Dead End Kids. These kids form the first outer circle around Rocky. They are both literally and emotionally around him. In Sullivan's interactions with them, he is squarely centered, tossing out bills as if they were candy bars, smacking them on the head with his fedora hat, exhorting them with words to upgrade their lives. And they, of course, tough as they are, lionize him, protecting him and his property from the common enemy--the cops--, and setting in motion the wheels to wind up just like him. In the third and final circle orbiting Sullivan lie the trio of Sullivan's girlfriend (Ann Sheridan), his crooked business partner (Bogie) and the other boy whom fate pushed down the right path to grow up to be a priest (O'Brien).
Try as hard as he can, Rocky cannot escape the bulls-eye painted plainly on his forehead. His girlfriend badgers him to go straight. The Dead End Kids are contstantly in trouble, trying to emulate their hoodlum god. Bogie has sicced both his own hoods and the cops in a vain attempt to eliminate Sullivan. And Father Jerry (O'Brien) tells Sullivan up front that he will go after him using the power of the media. It would have been easy for Sullivan to despair and act meanly, but he adheres to his own moral code that demands that all debts be paid. To his surprise, when he is arrested by the police and is ready to face the electric chair, Father Jerry reminds him of one more debt to be paid. This debt is to kids like those who idolize him and expect him to, in Rocky's own words, 'to walk up to the executioner and spit in his eye.' Father Jerry asks a great deal of him, to pretend fear and die seen as a gutless coward. Some debts, Father Jerry reminds him, are tougher to pay than others. The movie ends with the Dead End Kids emotionally flattened, their hero as just another yellow punk who could not walk that last walk unaided. ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES is a character drama that uses crime and hero worship as a backdrop against which a flavor of a decade is portrayed. The angels at the close of this movie have been convinced that one of their own had been permanently covered with the dirt of cowardice. Yet the audience knows that the dirt of crime can be washed off if the one facing his destiny can only scrub hard enough.

don't see this for Bogie
Humphrey Bogart's part is minor. ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES is a Cagney movie. Sure, it does seem dated. See it for the old boys' gymnasium, the boys playing basketball in their gym clothes, the trapezes hanging from the gymnasium ceiling above the basketball court. See it for Cagney helping the priest by refereeing a game, and punching the kids around when they commit fouls.

Cagney looks good as Rocky Sullivan, famous gangster put away for years, only to return to the streets. Doublecrossed by two former allies, he guns them down, only to be hunted down by police. Cagney's the real McCoy.

This is classic Cagney and not to be missed by fans of gangster movies. ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES: 5 stars

Good Acting but a Flawed Script
As a life-long Bogart fan, I couldn't pass up this VHS movie on the sale rack. I had seen it 25 years ago and I recalled that it was a mediocre role for Bogie. I was right about that; This is a James Cagney movie all that way. Nothing wrong with that; I became a Cagney fan watching a lot of those old Bogart movies. What really impressed me about this movie is the beginning. Cagney plays a character named Rocky Sullivan but the movie opens with Rocky as a teenager played by Frankie Burke. Young Mr. Burke does a better Cagney imitation than Rich Little ever did. Cagney does a pretty good job himself as he plays someone who learned the wrong lessons in the school of hard knocks. In and out of prison, we finally catch up with him as he's released from the Pen one more time. This time he goes back to his old New York neighborhood to collect on the $100,000 he stashed with his lawyer after his last big haul. The lawyer is the Bogart character who does everything to prevent Rocky from collecting his money. Along side this story is a romance with Ann Sheridan and a rekindling of friendship with his old partner who is now a priest. Pat O'Brien plays this role and does it like we'd expect to see Pat O'Brien playing a priest. However, next to Cagney's role, the main focus is on the "Angels" played by Huntz Hall, Leo Gorcey and the Dead End kids. These kids are a bit much but they are important because they come to idolize Rocky Sullivan. Let's skip ahead here; Rocky gets even with Bogart and his gang, Ann Sheridan falls in love with him, and Father O'Brien takes time out from building a recreation center for boys so that he can fight corruption. Rocky is headed for the electric chair and Father O'Brien is concerned that his old friend will become a martyr to the "Angels". Rocky, who's not backed down from anyone so far in the movie, rudely declines to play the coward. Of course, at the last minute he does and that, I guess, is the saving grace for the "Angels".

OK, this is fairly standard fare for Hollywood in the 30's but, in my estimation, this one goes a bit too far. The problem is the headlines the next day. In print that takes up a third of the front page we read "ROCKY SULLIVAN DIES A COWARD". Maybe it was a slow news day but I find it hard to think that's a New York City headline. Of course, we see the headlines because the "Angels" are reading the paper as we rejoin them. That's all it takes: they drop Rocky like a hot potato (pardon the metaphor) and follow Father O'Brien off to the new recreation center. I enjoyed the action, the acting and the basic plot up to the end. I just never bought into the ending

One Of The Best Gangster Movies Ever Made
What do you get when you mix James Cagney, Humphrey Bogart, Pat O'Brien and the Dead End Kids?
Just about the best gangster movie ever made!
Cagney plays a gangster trying to go straight, who is idolized by the Dead End Kids.
Bogie is a psycho gangster and Cagney's ex partner-in-crime.
Pat O'Brien is the priest who is trying to keep the Kids on the straight-and-narrow.
Cagney is forced to gun down Bogie and winds up going to the chair.
At the end, director Michael Curtiz makes you wonder if Cagney really turned yellow or not.
Classic gangster melodrama and among the top 100 films ever made. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Bogie and The Dead End Kids
This is the film that propelled the Dead End Kids (Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, Bobby Jordan et al) to stardom.
Humphrey Bogart portrays a gangster who returns to his old neighborhood only to come to grief.
The Dead End Kids portray slum kids living right next door to the luxurious apartment houses of the rich.
Sylvia Sidney and Joel McCrea are the star-crossed lovers who try to battle their way out of the slums.
Gangster melodrama at its finest!

can't beat bogart and dead end kids
this performance doesn't rank with bogart's most famous but it should, since he is darn near perfect in the part. it makes you wonder why he struggled for so many years in his career. it also has sylvia sydney, the perfect depression era actress with her nobility and wounded sweet beauty. even joel mccrea, who i usually find to be a dud (wait, he was phenomenal in "Sullivan's Travels" and "Palm Beach Story"!) is excellent here. of course, the dead end kids became national institutions with this movie. a fine, fine, really fine movie.

"Yeah, she was my goile when we was kids"
This is a wonderful film about the life of people living in a Manhattan ghetto in the 30's. Their life is starkly juxtaposed against that of an upper class family living in a posh residence in the same neighborhood--moving there for a desirable view of the river. From their terrace, the rich folks are insulated from, and can look down upon, the poor people living in tenements.

The film has a very theatrical feel; most of the action happens right on the street in the neigborhood. The dialouge, written by Lillian Hellman, is snappy and excellent.

The kids of the Dead End are young adolescent boys on the verge of growing up. Their choices in life are constrasted by the characters of Joel McCrea and Humphrey Bogart: adults who were also once Dead End kids. McCrea, who still lives in the neigborhood, has been to college but is now is looking for work. Bogart, who is returning to the neighborhood after many years away, is the nortorious gangster, Baby-faced Martin; he has killed eight men.

The adults are facing tough choices too: McCrea is torn beween two women: Sylvia Sidney, a neighborhood friend who is trying to raise her younger brother (one of the Kids) on her own, and Wendy Barrie, a member of the rich family (her father is brother to a Judge). Sidney, when her brother gets in trouble, contemplates helping him run away. Barrie is apparently engaged but wants to go with McCrea--if a prospective job for him comes through.

Bogart has come back to the neighborhood for something...he's not sure. Perhaps he wants some stability in his life so he seeks out an former girlfriend, Clair Trevor, leading to a memorable scene:

Bogart (reminiscing): "Remember that night on the roof?"
Trevor: "The night was full of stars and I was full of dreamy ideas."

He makes a pitch for her to come away with him but she tells him to take a closer look at her... Bogart feels betrayed--and this comes shortly after being rejected by his own mother--whom he hasn't seen for years. Trevor, like other characters here, feels as if her life is at a dead end. What hope? But this film is not depressing. There is a glimmer of hope offered through the characters of McCrea and Sylvia; and, of course, in the boys.

This is a very enjoyable film, well written and executed. And the dilemmas portrayed are still with us today.

AN all time great movie
This is the movie that made Billy Halop a star..He was a fine actor and its a shame his last job was a male nurse, before he died in 1976...Only 56 years old .God Bless You Billy...You are missed indeed.

Park Ave. it ain't!
In the film Dead End, the murky waters of Manhattan's East River served as an appropriate backdrop for the squalor that manifested itself within the conefines of tenament housing. City streets that offered little hope for the jobless, poor, and oppressed were truely "dead ends". Written by Lillian Hellman and directed by William Wyler, Dead End exposed the stark social and economic divisions between the affluent and the underpriveledged. Logistically, the film was easily adapted from Sidney Kingsley's stage play, as most of the scenes are shot within the shadows of Manhattan's East 53rd street highrises. Dead End is essentially about people and their relationship with the neighborhood that spawned them. Gangster Baby Face Martin ( Humphrey Bogart) returns to his old block seeking glorified acceptance from his mother, only to be rudely rebuffed. Plastic surgery may conceal Martin's outward identity, but his crimminal persona is clearly defined through his street wise and violent attitude towards survival. At first Martin basks in the limelight; preening with sharp suit, hat, and polished shoes. As if to make a social statement exclaiming the virtues and rewards of crime, Martin becomes an icon for a teenage street gang (The Dead End Kids). When Martin is shocked by his mother's repulsive behavior, he seeks out his old flame (Clair Trevor). When she reveals that she is now a prostitute, Martin once again becomes tormented that his homecoming is a lonely one. Sylvia Sydney plays Drina, a young unemployed woman struggling to forge an identity of her own while raising her teenage brother. Drina can only dream about escaping the confines of her depressing neighborhood, since her childhood beau ( Joel McCrea) has been enticed by a society girl ( Wendy Barrie) who resides in an exclusive penthouse overlooking the shoddy apartments that define Dead End. Huntz Hall, Gabriel Dell, Leo Gorcey, and the rest of the Dead End kids provide enough street talk to make an English teacher cringe with embarrassment. Is there a way out of Dead End? Most street toughs assumed a life of crime would free them from poverty. Others set up businesses relying on the patronage of tenanment residents to keep the bills paid. Others relied on marriage in hopes of "marrying up". Still others sought education as a way out. The year is 2000, and if you visit the streets of Manhattan above 110th street not much has changed since Wyler's 1937 film Dead End. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Hilarious! Danny Kaye is the best at being anyone!
This movie is about twin brothers brought back together through the death of one. Danny Kaye portrayes both brothers and is at his best being two different people. The music and dancing are wonderful and the singing as well. But it's Danny Kaye making you laugh that's makes this movie one of his all time best. This movie helps show our children what good clean fun is all about.

Buster and Danny
BUSTER! This movie is one of the funniest I've ever seen. Danny Kaye is hilarious playing 2 roles: a whimpy librarian and his ghost twin brother- Buster! The scenes in Prospect Park (aka Potato salad),the deli, and some of the on-stage routines are classics.

DOES THIS THING REALLY COST $ 259.00
I am shocked to see that Amazon is offering this DVD at the ridiculous price of $259.00. Did any of the previous reviewers pay that amount for this. If you know of any where I can purchase this at a MUCH LOWER price. Please Email me at bkuszak@hotmail.com

really witty and fun
this Danny Kaye film of "Wonderman," is very funny and a great Kaye vehicle. I highly recommend it to any fan of his films It's a must see.

stewpot
There are always films you associate with your youth and this is one of mine.To this day it is the only film that i wet myself over.It is all that is great about old movies and Danny Kaye is a genius in this film.If you only watch one old comedy film make it this one. ... Read more

Reviews (27)

"Whaddya hear? Whaddya say?"
"Angels with Dirty Faces" is one of the greatest gangster pictures of the 1930's, a decade which saw many great ones. Some people might be turned off by the old style acting (When people shoot, it seems more like they are punching). But I very much enjoyed this movie, and I'm only 14! (Some plot spoilers).

James Cagney is "Rocky" Sullivan, who as a kid was driven to a life of crime by an arrest. Cagney gives what some consider his definitive gangster performance, which was awarded by the New York Film Critics as best actor, but was not awarded by the academy. Pat O'Brien is his childhood friend Jerry Connolly, who is now a priest. He is concerned with Sullivan's involvement on a group of kids, believing that he is influencing them in a life of crime. He vows to fight organized crime, even if that means crushing his friend.

Before he was a major star, Humphrey Bogart was a supporting player who made a major impact. In here, he plays Sullivan's lawyer, who tries to knock off Rocky after his release from prison. There is also Ann Sheridan as Laury, a love interest to Sullivan, and there are also the Dead End Kids (Led by Billy Halop as "Soapy").

I will make this short and sweet. You must see this movie. If you want more, you must own this movie. Thank You.

The Angels: Their Dirt Washes Off
ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES is no by the numbers gangster melodrama of the 1930s. It is a penetrating insight into a number of well-known character types. Director Michael Curtiz portrays a bulls-eye of distinct personalities with Rocky Sullivan centered on ground zero. James Cagney, who plays Sullivan with the bravura performance of a long and distinguished career, absolutely dominates each scene with his tongue and flashing arms. Sullivan is a recently released convict from Brooklyn who returns to the scene of his youth and finds that the local youth gangs have elevated him to heroic stature. He takes this adulation in stride; he has business to take care of. He plans to regain money taken from him by a former cohort in crime (Humphrey Bogart), or failing that, to kill him. Yet, despite his criminal life, there is much good within him. At one time early in life, the merest of chances pushed him down the wrong path of a one way street while allowing another (Pat O'Brien) to take the right one. His life after that was predictable: reform school, the criminal life, back to jail, a hard-nosed attitude about life. Now he walks the streets, attempting to have it all, money, a good-looking dame (sweetly played by Ann Sheridan), and the respect of his peers, even if those peers are the Dead End Kids. These kids form the first outer circle around Rocky. They are both literally and emotionally around him. In Sullivan's interactions with them, he is squarely centered, tossing out bills as if they were candy bars, smacking them on the head with his fedora hat, exhorting them with words to upgrade their lives. And they, of course, tough as they are, lionize him, protecting him and his property from the common enemy--the cops--, and setting in motion the wheels to wind up just like him. In the third and final circle orbiting Sullivan lie the trio of Sullivan's girlfriend (Ann Sheridan), his crooked business partner (Bogie) and the other boy whom fate pushed down the right path to grow up to be a priest (O'Brien).
Try as hard as he can, Rocky cannot escape the bulls-eye painted plainly on his forehead. His girlfriend badgers him to go straight. The Dead End Kids are contstantly in trouble, trying to emulate their hoodlum god. Bogie has sicced both his own hoods and the cops in a vain attempt to eliminate Sullivan. And Father Jerry (O'Brien) tells Sullivan up front that he will go after him using the power of the media. It would have been easy for Sullivan to despair and act meanly, but he adheres to his own moral code that demands that all debts be paid. To his surprise, when he is arrested by the police and is ready to face the electric chair, Father Jerry reminds him of one more debt to be paid. This debt is to kids like those who idolize him and expect him to, in Rocky's own words, 'to walk up to the executioner and spit in his eye.' Father Jerry asks a great deal of him, to pretend fear and die seen as a gutless coward. Some debts, Father Jerry reminds him, are tougher to pay than others. The movie ends with the Dead End Kids emotionally flattened, their hero as just another yellow punk who could not walk that last walk unaided. ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES is a character drama that uses crime and hero worship as a backdrop against which a flavor of a decade is portrayed. The angels at the close of this movie have been convinced that one of their own had been permanently covered with the dirt of cowardice. Yet the audience knows that the dirt of crime can be washed off if the one facing his destiny can only scrub hard enough.

don't see this for Bogie
Humphrey Bogart's part is minor. ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES is a Cagney movie. Sure, it does seem dated. See it for the old boys' gymnasium, the boys playing basketball in their gym clothes, the trapezes hanging from the gymnasium ceiling above the basketball court. See it for Cagney helping the priest by refereeing a game, and punching the kids around when they commit fouls.

Cagney looks good as Rocky Sullivan, famous gangster put away for years, only to return to the streets. Doublecrossed by two former allies, he guns them down, only to be hunted down by police. Cagney's the real McCoy.

This is classic Cagney and not to be missed by fans of gangster movies. ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES: 5 stars

Good Acting but a Flawed Script
As a life-long Bogart fan, I couldn't pass up this VHS movie on the sale rack. I had seen it 25 years ago and I recalled that it was a mediocre role for Bogie. I was right about that; This is a James Cagney movie all that way. Nothing wrong with that; I became a Cagney fan watching a lot of those old Bogart movies. What really impressed me about this movie is the beginning. Cagney plays a character named Rocky Sullivan but the movie opens with Rocky as a teenager played by Frankie Burke. Young Mr. Burke does a better Cagney imitation than Rich Little ever did. Cagney does a pretty good job himself as he plays someone who learned the wrong lessons in the school of hard knocks. In and out of prison, we finally catch up with him as he's released from the Pen one more time. This time he goes back to his old New York neighborhood to collect on the $100,000 he stashed with his lawyer after his last big haul. The lawyer is the Bogart character who does everything to prevent Rocky from collecting his money. Along side this story is a romance with Ann Sheridan and a rekindling of friendship with his old partner who is now a priest. Pat O'Brien plays this role and does it like we'd expect to see Pat O'Brien play