Amazon.com essential video

In one of those plot devices so dear to writers of romantic comedy (in this case, the venerable Norman Krasna, of Wife vs. Secretary and Mr. and Mrs. Smith), financier Charles Coburn goes undercover as a shoe salesman in a Manhattan department store that's a tiny part of his portfolio, hoping to discover why the employees hate him so much. He has the luck to be assigned to the counter next to Jean Arthur, rasping out one of her inimitable hard-nosed working-girl-with-a-heart-of-gold performances, who befriends Coburn and introduces him to her boyfriend (Robert Cummings)--the leader of the labor unrest. Directed by the stodgy Sam Wood (King's Row), the film flirts with '30s radicalism but settles for prudent class reconciliation: turns out that all the employees want is a little bit of gratitude and respect. Coburn got his first Academy Award nomination for his gruff but ultimately lovable coot (and won the Oscar two years later, opposite Arthur in The More the Merrier), a part he was to play for much of the rest of his career. Some startling deep-focus effects suggest that cinematographer Harry Stradling may have been spying on Citizen Kane, shooting just down the hall at RKO. Ultimately, though, it's Arthur who gives the film its authenticity and tremulous charm. --Dave Kehr ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Charles Coburn steals the show once again!
The star of this video is Charles Coburn and not Jean Arthur: the comic old goat steals the movie once again, as he did in "The More the Merrier," and other comedies from this era. But the supporting cast is superb: the comedic Jean Arthur, Bob Cummings from the early TV sitcom, "Love that Bob," Spring Byington, who starred in George Kaufman's "You Can't Take It With You," and Edmund Gwenn, Kris Kringle himself of "Miracle on 34th Street."

Determined to find the employees creating a union problem in his store, Charles Coburn, the wealthy owner of the department store and business tycoon, goes undercover and poses as a clerk and works humbly behind the counter, and is abused and bullied by management until befriended by Jean Arthur, Bob Cummings, and Spring Byington....This movie is a fun indictment on capitalism--when such was allowed in Hollywood, prior to the blacklisting days of Joe McCarthy--and a call to more socialistic values. When would a business tycoon take his entire staff of store employees on a cruise to Hawaii just for the fun of it? Move over, all you CEOs....If only all such miraculous conversions could occur in the workplace within a span of 92 minutes!

Charles Coburn at his best with a great supporting cast!
The star of this video is Charles Coburn and not Jean Arthur: the comic old goat steals the movie once again, as he did in "The More the Merrier," and other comedies from this era. But the supporting cast is superb: the comedic Jean Arthur, Bob Cummings from the early TV sitcom, "Love that Bob," Spring Byington, who starred in George Kaufman's "You Can't Take It With You," and Edmund Gwenn, the lovable Kris Kringle of "Miracle on 34th Street."

Determined to uncover the union organizers who are creating unrest among the other employees in his department store, Charles Coburn, the wealthy owner of the department store and business tycoon, goes undercover and poses as a clerk and works humbly behind the counter, and is abused and bullied by management until befriended by Jean Arthur, Bob Cummings, and Spring Byington....This movie is a fun indictment on capitalism--when such was allowed in Hollywood, prior to the blacklisting days of Joe McCarthy--and a call to more socialistic values....When would a business tycoon take his entire staff of employees on a cruise to Hawaii just for the fun of it? Move over, all you CEOs....If only all such miraculous conversions could transpire in the workplace within a span of 92 minutes!

GOOD FUN FROM 1941.
A very funny comedy from 1941. Coburn is cast as John P. Merrick, the world's richest man, who decides to infiltrate one of his holdings - a department store - to ferret out union organisers who have targeted him as being responsible for the miserable conditions his employees work under. Merrick is subjected to many indignities by the management, finally ending up in the shoe department alongside Mary Jones [Jean Arthur]. Mary thinks Merrick destitute, takes pity on him and shows him the intricacies of the department. The old boy attends union meetings and carefully notes everyone there, but the abuse from the store's management becomes intolerable - then he meets Elizabeth Ellis [Spring Byington] - and has a change of heart... One of the most sparkling comedies from the 194O's, this film was deftly directed by Sam Wood and wonderful performances from the entire cast make for an enjoyable 92 minutes.

Jupiter comes down to Earth...
in this very funny story of how the richest man in the world decides to go undercover as a shoe salesman in a store he forgot he owned until labor agitators hang him in effigy. It's Charles Coburn's intention to infiltrate the labor movement and bring these "wrongdoers" to justice or at least unemployment. He doesn't bargain on what happens when he begins to rub shoulders with the hoi polloi, and how meeting with the peppy Miss Jones (Jean Arthur) will change his outlook on labor and ultimately life.

Jean Arthur is very appealing as this working class heroine, but it's Charles Coburn who runs away with the picture. His transformation from a Rockefeller-type cold as ice businessman into a tuna popover eating funlover is aces, especially in his dealings with the surprisingly unpleasant Edmund Gwenn as the manager of the shoe department. Ironic that Gwenn returned to the department store scene a few years later to buck authority himself as Kris Kringle in "Miracle on 34 Street". A point worth noting is that much of the dialogue concerns the misunderstanding about Coburn's true identity, and his consequently being abused as an older worker with limited skills in an emerging modern world. Although 60 years ago, this still rings true today, and gives us some food for thought.

This picture has only two things going against it: First is its terrible title. Not only does it not really make any sense given the plot of the film, but it later got co-opted as the title of a famous porn film, "Devil IN Miss Jones", so that even the librarian where I took this out gave me the once over, thinking I was taking out a smutty film. I'll bet few people ever do rent this movie because of its dubious monniker. The second thing that's not so hot is a police station scene where Robert Cummings tries (and fails) to be a Capra-esque "ordinary man" hero bucking authority by appealing to the Founding Fathers' principles. The scene is so bad it brings the movie to a complete standstill; I was afraid it would be downhill from there, but it picked up again. My advice is that should you ever rent or buy this film, as soon as Cummings enters the station, fast forward to the next scene to save yourself some grief.

Other than those two points, "The Devil and Miss Jones" is a real winner, and I still give it five stars for a funny script and Coburn's marvelous performance.

simply one of the best
this film has been one of my favorites for many years.it tells the story of a man who owns a bunch of department stores that are having labor troubles.he decides to go undercover to find out what all the fuss is about,and boy does he!he ends up being befriended by a countergirl,her friend and her boyfriend.at first he is quite skeptical there is a problem at all,but comes to realise that these are real people with real concerns who deserve better.the best scene is when they go to coney island together,and the countergirl tells him about her feelings about what real true love is.this scene never fails to bring tears to my eyes as her honesty just flows out of her.this film has comedy and social commentary that works equally well.highly recommended for romantic goofs or any jean arthur fan. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Loyal Shipmates and a Wise Coach
I caught the part where a young (no pun intended!)Robert Young
avenged his roomate's(Dick played by Tom Brown) tormenters, a few years ago. I bought the movie, watched the whole thing and I was not disappointed!! The three midshipmen meeting Skinny (played by Lionel Barrymore)and wins his admiration, is one event out of several, that I enjoyed.Truck (James Stewart)taking a risk to clear his father's name adds the family value to the movie.The scene at the Gates Christmas time is touching. Last but
definitly not least is Graves. At the Gate's estate and at the
football game. He is the true meaning of the term, gentleman's
gentleman!

A great actor in a classic NAVY film.
A great movie for USNA grads and Army/Navy football fans. This movie gives a unique view of college football's greastest rivalry. Plus, a young Jimmy Stewart is a bonus.

As for the "praying to a statue" scene mentioned by the other reviewer, it really happens. Visit the Yard during Army Week and you might just see this for yourself. As a 1995 graduate of USNA, I repeated "that scene" every year to do my part to ensure a Navy victory.

Maybe you have to be a former middie to get it, but this is a great movie. Highly recommended.

Enjoyable yes! but please...
Let's start with the good stuff. The charactor development of the three main guys in this is solid. Jimmy Stewart and Robert Young give strong performances with what they have been given, and the story line is basically good. The relationships are nicely brought along, and Lionel Barrymore is completely wasted! The giant talents of Mr. Barrymore are treated as if he were some kind of newcomer! The scene where he's praying to a statue is a hoot. I guess it's not a bad movie, but rent this and save your money for someting more worthwhile. ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Get out your hankie, this is a good one
This film is absolutely charming. Lionel Barrymore is Julian Northrup or Gramps, a likeable curmudgeon who dotes on his grandson, Pud (Bobs Watson), a precious little boy. Miss Nellie (Beulah Bondi), Pud's gramma is always happily aghast at the trouble that Gramps and Pud gets themselves into.

Pud's parents die tragically in a car accident. They've been taken by Mr. Brink, the living embodiment of death, played by the very dapper Cedric Hardwicke. Mr. Brink isn't done with their family however, and visits Gramps home.

Through a chain of events, they discover that anyone who goes up into an apple tree in the backyard cannot get down until gramps tells them they can. They trap Mr. Brink in the tree, and the story only gets better from there.

I left watching this movie with a wonderfully comforted feeling, that loves knows no bounds. I recommend this film to all my friends and family, it's a charmer.

Don't let the color picture of the box displayed fool you, it's in it's original glorious black and white.

If you enjoy the "love conquers death" movie genre, check out "What Dreams May Come" and "Death Takes a Holiday" which inspired the film, "Meet Joe Black".

Bobs Watson, "Gramps" and the Apple Tree.
... If you have been looking for the old film where the Grandpa and the young grandson went through the gates of Heaven, this is the one. That is what I remember most about this film when I first saw it over twenty years ago on a Los Angeles independent television station. I never forgot it. But I did forget the title. With a big thanks to singer/actress Cher who I once had read that On Borowed Time was one of her favorite films, and an old book I have, The 2nd Giant Lamparski Whatever Became Of...?, Bantam Book, December 1977, I found my answer and this was the film I had been searching for. I eventually bought it from Amazon.com. The video box reads "In Glorious Black & White". It is Lionel Barrymore that plays "Gramps" Julian, Beulah Bondi plays "Granny" Nellie and the boy who plays "Pud" is Bobs Watson. Bobs was probably nine years old. The "man in convertible" is Hans Conried. You've seen Hans Conried in an "I Love Lucy" tv episode. That is Henry Travers playing "Dr Evans". You best remember him as "Clarence" the angel in It's A Wonderful Life (1946). Ian Wolfe plays "Charles Wentworth". ...

Family Ties
This is more of a historical note regarding the filming of this movie....there is a scene towards the end of the movie where Lionel Barrymore drives up in front of the house in a car....I believe a 1936 Buick. This same car belonged to my grandparents, William and Ann Valantine, from whom the studio rented the vehicle to be used in this movie, which of course turned out to be a classic (the movie, that is). I think they were paid something like $25 per day. As a kid, I remember hearing this story from my dad and grandparents....the Valantine family is a part of Hollywood history!

Where the woodbine twineth...
This unforgettable fantasy from the 30's is about a crotchity, salt-of-the-earth grandfather who loves his grandson, Pud. Troubled by apple theives, Gramps makes a wish that anyone climbing his apple tree would have to stay there until he let them down. Death, in the form of Mr. Brink, comes to visit Pud's parents and Granny, and then it is Gramps' turn. But Gramps traps him in the apple tree, so he can stay alive to raise Pud. However, no one else in the whole world can die now, either. Sounds good, at first, but what about all those who are suffering and praying for the relief of death?

Eventually Gramps lets Mr. Brink down in a conclusion that is guaranteed to bring tears. Barrymore is utterly convincing as the cantankerous, warm-hearted Gramps. He played the role in a wheel chair due to painful arthritis; the ending is therefore especially poignant. Sir Cedric Hardwicke is the chilling and yet wise Mr. Brink who takes people to Eternity, which, as Gramps says is "a right smart piece of time."

This movie is not dated or corny; it is sweet, timeless, and ultimately uplifting. If you love someone or have experienced loss, this movie will definitely affect you deeply. It will give you hope and you'll want to see it again and again.

Delightful!
That this film is not as well known as the equally sentimental and ever popular "It's a Wonderful Life" is an absolute shame, as this film is one of the most "charming" movies ever made.

Fans of the movie should invest the time to find the book by Lawrence Edward Watkin upon which the film and the play were based. It too is a joy. ... Read more

Reviews (81)

Not To Be Missed!
If you haven't already seen THE BIG SLEEP, buy this DVD now! If you have, but don't own this DVD release, buy it now! Why? Both the 1946 classic and the pre-release 1945 edit are on this disc. The differences are quite interesting. The 1946 version shows Bogart (as Philip Marlowe) as the epitome of "Cool" in every situation, even when he has a gun pulled on him or is getting beaten up. Lauren Bacall comes off much better in the 1946 version as well, as she shows the spark that was seen in TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT. The 1945 version has a few scenes cut from the 1946 version which are quite good, and is actually a little easier to follow. Whichever version you watch, THE BIG SLEEP is one of the greatest movies ever in the "Film Noir" or detective "Murder Mystery" genres. The disc also includes a documentary on the making of the film, and the differences between the two versions, which is very interesting. The picture and sound quality are actually quite good, as any flaws in the picture are so minor that they would not be noticed unless you're watching for them, and not watching the movie itself. As stated before, if you don't already own this DVD, BUY IT NOW! It's a classic movie and an outstanding package!

A Detective Masterpiece
This film is absolutely mesmerizing, a masterpiece full of sharp dialog and a plot so complex not even Raymond Chandler could tell you who commited one of the murders. Bogart is Detective Philip Marlowe and from the moment he arrives to talk to General Sternwood and gets mixed up with his daughters this is a film classic.

Bacall is the sultry older sister, but it is sexy and thumb sucking little sister Martha Vickers he meets first. As he tells Sternwood, "Yeah, we met. She tried to sit in my lap and I was standing up". This is all about gambling debts and murder, all of which leads to Eddie Mars and Carmen (Vickers). But there are more twist and turns here than a rollercoaster, and it moves just about as fast. If you blink, you better rewind this tape and start over.

Howard Hawks made a masterpiece here. It is the finest straightforward detective novel ever put on celluloid. William Faulkner adapted Raymond Chandler's greatest literary achievement for Hawks and the whole thing is filmed as a fast moving dream of dialog and images hard to forget. One critic likened it to a huge hangover. That is a perfect description of this film.

Bogart's Marlowe has his hands full trying to keep Carmen out of trouble she may already be in to deep to get out of, and the sparks between he and Bacall may just ignite if he can figure out a way to keep the fast rising body count from getting any higher while keeping himself alive. Bacall has never been more beautiful or inviting than when she is slumped down in the seat of Bogart's car, just waiting for him to kiss her.

You have to see this film to really appreciate it. You'll never see anything else like it in American cinema. Pick up this one as soon as you can.

Wild and Cool
A movie so relentlessly all over the map and incomprehensible, it has to be seen to be believed. Closely adapted from Chandler's equally confusing private eye noir thriller. Bogart and Bacall are just plain cool. The flick captures the time and place perfectly. Every word, every inflection, every move, the clothes, the cars, the places and attitudes are all just right and utterly cool. Buy this and The Maltese Falcon and put em right next to each other on your shelf. Gotta have this on DVD.

Smokey Style
Raymond Chandler's LA was peopled with the flotsam of human kind, a white kind. Though there may have been black or Mexican-Americans in LA in the forties,I didn't see any in this otherwise interesting film. There seems to be an almost stylish,white, even literary criminal class wandering Laurel Canyon Drive. The bad ladies are dressed and the men are suited. Ties are knotted and tight. Even the head gangster seems to be a sensitive soul. Drugs, murder, and classy dames, shut your trap! The film's a classic and so is Bogey.

Side A Has the Sizzle. Side B Has the Steak.
What a rare treat. To have both the theatrical release of The Big Sleep as well as the pre-release version on one DVD is a film-lover's dream.

If you're not familiar with the story behind these two versions, there's a nice documentary on the DVD that explains it. Briefly put, Lauren Bacall is at her sultriest on Side A of the disc (the version that made it into theaters); Side B has some scenes that do a better job at fleshing out the plot, but at the expense of some of Ms. Bacall's glamour.

My advice is watch the pre-release first: It fills in a couple of gaps left open by the inclusion of re-shot Bogie & Bacall scenes in the official release. Then you don't have to worry about anything distracting you from their on-screen chemistry.

There is some film degradation present in this release. While it is nice to have this preserved on DVD, hopefully AFI or some other group will make preservation and restoration of this movie a priority.

In a future release of The Big Sleep it would be nice to have a hybrid version of the movie. That way we could have the re-shot Bacall scenes from the theatrical release along with the more expository scenes from the pre-release (Marlowe searching Geiger's house, Marlowe meets the D.A., etc.). It would be a slightly longer film, and film purists might disagree, but I think it would truly be the best of both worlds.

In the meantime, get this DVD. You'll love it you're a movie-history or -trivia buff, and if you're not maybe it'll make you one. The worst it could do is class up your DVD collection a notch or two. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

HEART-WARMING COMEDY-DRAMA WITH FRED AND BARBARA
Stanwyck is very appealing here as Lee Leander, the shoplifting gal who goes to stay with DA MacMurray and his family during the Christmas holidays. You'd have to be a grump not to like this sentimental blend of pathos, drama and zaniness which borders on Capra-corn yet never goes over the edge. Realistic are the scenes where Stanwyck experiences a warm, close-knit family (something she had never known) and the scene where she confronts her cold mother (Georgia Caine) is truly moving. Both Elizabeth Patterson and Beulah Bondi give superb performances which are honest and not heavy-laden. This "holiday-type" is great viewing for any time of the year! A superior Leisen directorial effort coupled with a terrific Sturges script make this nifty little 1940 flick a keeper!

Remember The Night
Well, what can I say?? It's an old movie and not
very interesting. I watched it once and probably
won't watch it again. This movie cannot compare
to some of the classics.

How about Winona Ryder doing a remake of this one?
Seriously, she would be excellent in the Stanwyck role in a modern redo of this script. It could even be part of her community service sentence! And she might learn a valuable life lesson, while she's still young, that is, if the Hollywood of today doesn't change the ending and still makes the lady shoplifter accountable. Really appreciated Fred MacMurray looking so tall, dark and handsome in this one--even more so than in Double Indemnity. I could see George Clooney playing this Asst. D.A. part, if he darkens his hair like Fred to appear a bit younger, and possibly taking the defendant to his old-fashioned home down South (George really does hail from Kentucky) to his farm to meet his family, instead of to Indiana. Or, maybe Matthew McConnaghey could take lady crook home to his family's cabin in the mountains. The other actress I could see in this part is Sandra Bullock, possibly paired with Tom Hanks, a modern-day, all around good guy. What a great comedy team they would make, who also can turn dramatic.

Please, Hollywood, just don't pair Jennifer Lopez with Antonio Banderas, or Madonna with Richard Gere. And not Julia Roberts, with Hugh Grant, oh, no -- she's too over the top for this part, and Hugh would have to take lady crook home to Blimey, and that's not allowed when trial is pending!

Sentimental Christmas treat for all to enjoy
"Remember The Night" is a Christmas regular in my home but really it's story could be viewed anytime of the year combining as it does equal portions of humour, family sentiment, goodwill to all men and great acting performances all nicely laced up with an important message about looking for the basic good in all people we encounter in our lives.

Produced in 1940 by Paramount Studios it was the first of two Christmas themed films that Barbara Stanwyck made in the 1940's (the other being the immortal "Christmas In Connecticut" in 1945), that have become holiday season regulars over the decades and live on in people's affections. I know the Christmas season would not be complete without these two wonderful classics as part of our Christmas viewing. Directed by the gifted Mitchell Leisen, a director who is not remembered half as much as he deserves to be, and boasting a superb screenplay by the legendary Preston Sturges, "Remember The Night" tells the spirited story of Lee Leander a street wise, fast talking shop lifter who is up on a charge for stealing from a jewelry store as the Christmas season approaches. The case is held over till the New year and rather than spend it in jail she finds herself being "rostered on" with the prosecuting attorney (Fred MacMurray )charged with convicting her till court resumes. What she gets is an unexpected invitation to spend the holidays with his family upstate where Lee gets her first real taste of a warm family life where people are nice to each other with no ulterior motives. Lee easily warms to the way of living she finds at MacMurray's farm and finds herself falling in love for the first time.

Out of such a vintage theme comes a wonderful film filled with the holiday spirit. Barbara Stanwyck, by this time a seasoned performer was never better than when she played bad girls from the wrong side of the tracks. Her Lee Leander character is at once cynical and sharp and alert to the best deal for herself and it's a credit to Stanwyck's wonderful sense of characterisation and understanding of what the part needs that she is able to turn her convited shoplifter into a warm and sympathetic character. Rarely has Barbara Stanwyck delivered a finer performance than here. She always teamed well with frequent co-star Fred MacMurray and the two would reteam in 4 years time for a most different film in the classic "Double Indemnity". Her scenes also with the gifted character actress Beulah Bondi who plays MacMurray's mother in the farm scenes are also noteworthy and are filled with beautiful exchanges between the two women. Stanwyck really reveals what a wonderfully sensitive actress she could be here and working against a famed sentimental scene stealer like Bondi was no small task. The cast is rounded out by Elizabeth Patterson playing Fred's aunt in loving style and the always interesting gravel voiced Sterling Holloway as the farm hand who has become part of the family. A particulary powerful scene is where Stanwyck confronts her own mother(Georgia Caine in a cold as ice performance) and attempts a reconciliation on the journey up to MacMurray's farm and is told to leave and never come back. Her reception is a stark contrast to the warmth and caring spirit she encounters on the farm. That scene alone is guaranteed to bring a tear to your eye, so painful it is to watch even after repeated screenings.

As an uplifting and indeed sentimental treat for the holiday season "Remember The Night" is unsurpassed. It will alternately have you laughing in scenes such as when Stanwyck describes herself by profession as a "bubble dancer" when she and MacMurray are arrested for sleeping in a farmer's paddock, to scenes that will wrench your heart as in the before mentioned scene Lee has with her mother. In short ideal holiday fare back from the days when Hollywood really knew how to create a wholesome story filled with love and feeling for others. Highly recommended.

A Great Christmas Classic
This movie with Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck is a great Christmas classic with a good message. The acting is superb! A shoplifter winds up going home for Christmas with the lawyer who is prosecuting her! This is a movie I wouldn't miss seeing at least once a year! You really forget that it is in Black & White because it is so interesting. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall made screen history together more than once, but they were never more popular than in this 1946 adaptation of Raymond Chandler's novel, directed by Howard Hawks (To Have and Have Not). Bogart plays private eye Philip Marlowe, who is hired by a wealthy socialite (Bacall) to look into troubles stirred up by her wild, young sister (Martha Vickers). Legendarily complicated (so much so that even Chandler had trouble following the plot), the film is nonetheless hugely entertaining and atmospheric, an electrifying plunge into the exotica of detective fiction. William Faulkner wrote the screenplay. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (81)

Not To Be Missed!
If you haven't already seen THE BIG SLEEP, buy this DVD now! If you have, but don't own this DVD release, buy it now! Why? Both the 1946 classic and the pre-release 1945 edit are on this disc. The differences are quite interesting. The 1946 version shows Bogart (as Philip Marlowe) as the epitome of "Cool" in every situation, even when he has a gun pulled on him or is getting beaten up. Lauren Bacall comes off much better in the 1946 version as well, as she shows the spark that was seen in TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT. The 1945 version has a few scenes cut from the 1946 version which are quite good, and is actually a little easier to follow. Whichever version you watch, THE BIG SLEEP is one of the greatest movies ever in the "Film Noir" or detective "Murder Mystery" genres. The disc also includes a documentary on the making of the film, and the differences between the two versions, which is very interesting. The picture and sound quality are actually quite good, as any flaws in the picture are so minor that they would not be noticed unless you're watching for them, and not watching the movie itself. As stated before, if you don't already own this DVD, BUY IT NOW! It's a classic movie and an outstanding package!

A Detective Masterpiece
This film is absolutely mesmerizing, a masterpiece full of sharp dialog and a plot so complex not even Raymond Chandler could tell you who commited one of the murders. Bogart is Detective Philip Marlowe and from the moment he arrives to talk to General Sternwood and gets mixed up with his daughters this is a film classic.

Bacall is the sultry older sister, but it is sexy and thumb sucking little sister Martha Vickers he meets first. As he tells Sternwood, "Yeah, we met. She tried to sit in my lap and I was standing up". This is all about gambling debts and murder, all of which leads to Eddie Mars and Carmen (Vickers). But there are more twist and turns here than a rollercoaster, and it moves just about as fast. If you blink, you better rewind this tape and start over.

Howard Hawks made a masterpiece here. It is the finest straightforward detective novel ever put on celluloid. William Faulkner adapted Raymond Chandler's greatest literary achievement for Hawks and the whole thing is filmed as a fast moving dream of dialog and images hard to forget. One critic likened it to a huge hangover. That is a perfect description of this film.

Bogart's Marlowe has his hands full trying to keep Carmen out of trouble she may already be in to deep to get out of, and the sparks between he and Bacall may just ignite if he can figure out a way to keep the fast rising body count from getting any higher while keeping himself alive. Bacall has never been more beautiful or inviting than when she is slumped down in the seat of Bogart's car, just waiting for him to kiss her.

You have to see this film to really appreciate it. You'll never see anything else like it in American cinema. Pick up this one as soon as you can.

Wild and Cool
A movie so relentlessly all over the map and incomprehensible, it has to be seen to be believed. Closely adapted from Chandler's equally confusing private eye noir thriller. Bogart and Bacall are just plain cool. The flick captures the time and place perfectly. Every word, every inflection, every move, the clothes, the cars, the places and attitudes are all just right and utterly cool. Buy this and The Maltese Falcon and put em right next to each other on your shelf. Gotta have this on DVD.

Smokey Style
Raymond Chandler's LA was peopled with the flotsam of human kind, a white kind. Though there may have been black or Mexican-Americans in LA in the forties,I didn't see any in this otherwise interesting film. There seems to be an almost stylish,white, even literary criminal class wandering Laurel Canyon Drive. The bad ladies are dressed and the men are suited. Ties are knotted and tight. Even the head gangster seems to be a sensitive soul. Drugs, murder, and classy dames, shut your trap! The film's a classic and so is Bogey.

Side A Has the Sizzle. Side B Has the Steak.
What a rare treat. To have both the theatrical release of The Big Sleep as well as the pre-release version on one DVD is a film-lover's dream.

If you're not familiar with the story behind these two versions, there's a nice documentary on the DVD that explains it. Briefly put, Lauren Bacall is at her sultriest on Side A of the disc (the version that made it into theaters); Side B has some scenes that do a better job at fleshing out the plot, but at the expense of some of Ms. Bacall's glamour.

My advice is watch the pre-release first: It fills in a couple of gaps left open by the inclusion of re-shot Bogie & Bacall scenes in the official release. Then you don't have to worry about anything distracting you from their on-screen chemistry.

There is some film degradation present in this release. While it is nice to have this preserved on DVD, hopefully AFI or some other group will make preservation and restoration of this movie a priority.

In a future release of The Big Sleep it would be nice to have a hybrid version of the movie. That way we could have the re-shot Bacall scenes from the theatrical release along with the more expository scenes from the pre-release (Marlowe searching Geiger's house, Marlowe meets the D.A., etc.). It would be a slightly longer film, and film purists might disagree, but I think it would truly be the best of both worlds.

In the meantime, get this DVD. You'll love it you're a movie-history or -trivia buff, and if you're not maybe it'll make you one. The worst it could do is class up your DVD collection a notch or two. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

WOW! Old movies are GOOD MOVIES??!
We watched this movie after reading the book, and were so impressed with how the movie did a short but effective job of covering the thoughts and themes behind the book. I don't know if any modern movie could do what this old film did. My teenage sons LOVED IT. It will remain in our video library as a classic.

Just looking for bang-it-up action?
Hopefully not, because this film doesn't go for mass entertainment by means of hopelessly unrealistic action scenes; rather, this classic adaptation of the famous crime novel is stylishly photographed, strikingly directed, and sincerely acted. This version was a prominent example of great cinematography in my HUM205 cinema class. Watch it with an attentive eye and you will no doubt agree!

Terrible
I found this movie to be absolutely ludicrous. Peter Lorre is the only person speaking with a non english accent, and makes a somewhat absurd Raskolnikoff. Many details from the book are eliminated. The only good thing about this film is when the production becomes so bad as to be laughable-- then, at least, a small bit of enjoyment can be gleaned from this wreck.

Crime and Punishment book vs. video
i was dismayed at how far the movie strayed from the book. it was hard to follow when comparing to the book, peter lorre was badly miscast as raskolnikov and i was generally very disappointed in the movie.

Good
I had to watch this movie as an assignment for school. I was really taken by surprise. Peter Lorre and Marian Marsh are some of the best actors I've ever had the good fortune to watch on the screen, and they make their characters really come alive and I felt genuine sympathy for them. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

wow!
I watched this movie for the first time today. And what a treat! The characters are cast extremely well, with Gary Cooper as a down-to-earth Army medic who can track patrols in the jungle, capture assasins, fight a cholera epidemic, and blow a dam, not to mention falling in love in the process. The storyline is as follows: an Army colonel is given the difficult job of training Filipino soldiers in a dangerous section of the Philipines, right when the Army pulls out, leaving him with a handful of officers and a doctor. The local bandit chief has the colonel and his next-in-command killed by fanatics. From then on there is open war between soldiers and bandits. The new CO must get the Filipino soldiers into fighting condition before the bandits attack, and the doctor disagrees with his methods. The tension mounts until the final battle when the native soldiers prove that they can take care of themselves.
This movie has a lot of dialogue about fear, which reminded me of FDR's phrase: "We have nothing to fear but fear itself." This movie was put out in 1939, when there was a lot of fear circulating. We were still in the Depression, and things were heating up in Europe. So the overall message against fear was very appropriate for the times. This is a very good story!

A skewed history of the Philippines, but a good action flick
By coincidence, I rented this the night before the World Trade Center bombings, and this pre-WWII action film definitely had an eerie feel later in the week, when I got around to watching it. Gary Cooper plays an Army doctor contending with Muslim fanatics in the Philippines -- including grim assassins who attacked the Army leaders in suicide missions that they believed would send them to heaven, with the blessing of Allah. Besides the creepy timeliness, this is also a gripping action film; raw, realistic and well-paced, this is a fascinating movie, even if its historical accuracy is somewhat questionable.

THE REAL GLORY-- A GREAT MOVIE
The Real Glory is a great movie. With Gary Cooper, David Niven and Broderick Crawford how could it be anything else. A real War/Adventure epic of a Phillipine rebellian in the dawn of the 20th century. Anyone who knew anything about the Phillipines could understand just what was happening. In fact similar things are happening in the Phillipines today without any US troops involved, just a few American citizens about to be beheaded.

An early, benevolent attempt at 'The Wild Bunch'.
A disaster movie masquerading as an imperialist jungle army adventure, as we sit through an hour and a half of character tomfoolery, sinister plots and love interests before the final spectacular set-piece, an old-fashioned dam-busting that spurts a Wagnerian birth-rush, waking up the cholera-ridden locals.

It's easy enough to carp at the typical ideology - the well-rounded Americans; the infantilised Filipino locals; the sinister Fu Manchu villains. More interesting are the cracks - the violent vengefulness that grips David Niven's previously amiable character; the shocking murder of the commander in front of his wife and impotent peers; the blind intransigence of Captain Hartley.

A Flawless Adventure Film
A textbook example of how to make an intelligent, never-let-up action/adventure film. Beautifully paced, it stars Gary Cooper (as expected, perfectly cast), David Niven and Broderick Crawford. This ranks as one of the best adventure films ever made. Not as well known as Cooper's "Lives of a Bengal Lancer", but in many ways it holds up far better than that classic. ... Read more

Reviews (81)

Not To Be Missed!
If you haven't already seen THE BIG SLEEP, buy this DVD now! If you have, but don't own this DVD release, buy it now! Why? Both the 1946 classic and the pre-release 1945 edit are on this disc. The differences are quite interesting. The 1946 version shows Bogart (as Philip Marlowe) as the epitome of "Cool" in every situation, even when he has a gun pulled on him or is getting beaten up. Lauren Bacall comes off much better in the 1946 version as well, as she shows the spark that was seen in TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT. The 1945 version has a few scenes cut from the 1946 version which are quite good, and is actually a little easier to follow. Whichever version you watch, THE BIG SLEEP is one of the greatest movies ever in the "Film Noir" or detective "Murder Mystery" genres. The disc also includes a documentary on the making of the film, and the differences between the two versions, which is very interesting. The picture and sound quality are actually quite good, as any flaws in the picture are so minor that they would not be noticed unless you're watching for them, and not watching the movie itself. As stated before, if you don't already own this DVD, BUY IT NOW! It's a classic movie and an outstanding package!

A Detective Masterpiece
This film is absolutely mesmerizing, a masterpiece full of sharp dialog and a plot so complex not even Raymond Chandler could tell you who commited one of the murders. Bogart is Detective Philip Marlowe and from the moment he arrives to talk to General Sternwood and gets mixed up with his daughters this is a film classic.

Bacall is the sultry older sister, but it is sexy and thumb sucking little sister Martha Vickers he meets first. As he tells Sternwood, "Yeah, we met. She tried to sit in my lap and I was standing up". This is all about gambling debts and murder, all of which leads to Eddie Mars and Carmen (Vickers). But there are more twist and turns here than a rollercoaster, and it moves just about as fast. If you blink, you better rewind this tape and start over.

Howard Hawks made a masterpiece here. It is the finest straightforward detective novel ever put on celluloid. William Faulkner adapted Raymond Chandler's greatest literary achievement for Hawks and the whole thing is filmed as a fast moving dream of dialog and images hard to forget. One critic likened it to a huge hangover. That is a perfect description of this film.

Bogart's Marlowe has his hands full trying to keep Carmen out of trouble she may already be in to deep to get out of, and the sparks between he and Bacall may just ignite if he can figure out a way to keep the fast rising body count from getting any higher while keeping himself alive. Bacall has never been more beautiful or inviting than when she is slumped down in the seat of Bogart's car, just waiting for him to kiss her.

You have to see this film to really appreciate it. You'll never see anything else like it in American cinema. Pick up this one as soon as you can.

Wild and Cool
A movie so relentlessly all over the map and incomprehensible, it has to be seen to be believed. Closely adapted from Chandler's equally confusing private eye noir thriller. Bogart and Bacall are just plain cool. The flick captures the time and place perfectly. Every word, every inflection, every move, the clothes, the cars, the places and attitudes are all just right and utterly cool. Buy this and The Maltese Falcon and put em right next to each other on your shelf. Gotta have this on DVD.

Smokey Style
Raymond Chandler's LA was peopled with the flotsam of human kind, a white kind. Though there may have been black or Mexican-Americans in LA in the forties,I didn't see any in this otherwise interesting film. There seems to be an almost stylish,white, even literary criminal class wandering Laurel Canyon Drive. The bad ladies are dressed and the men are suited. Ties are knotted and tight. Even the head gangster seems to be a sensitive soul. Drugs, murder, and classy dames, shut your trap! The film's a classic and so is Bogey.

Side A Has the Sizzle. Side B Has the Steak.
What a rare treat. To have both the theatrical release of The Big Sleep as well as the pre-release version on one DVD is a film-lover's dream.

If you're not familiar with the story behind these two versions, there's a nice documentary on the DVD that explains it. Briefly put, Lauren Bacall is at her sultriest on Side A of the disc (the version that made it into theaters); Side B has some scenes that do a better job at fleshing out the plot, but at the expense of some of Ms. Bacall's glamour.

My advice is watch the pre-release first: It fills in a couple of gaps left open by the inclusion of re-shot Bogie & Bacall scenes in the official release. Then you don't have to worry about anything distracting you from their on-screen chemistry.

There is some film degradation present in this release. While it is nice to have this preserved on DVD, hopefully AFI or some other group will make preservation and restoration of this movie a priority.

In a future release of The Big Sleep it would be nice to have a hybrid version of the movie. That way we could have the re-shot Bacall scenes from the theatrical release along with the more expository scenes from the pre-release (Marlowe searching Geiger's house, Marlowe meets the D.A., etc.). It would be a slightly longer film, and film purists might disagree, but I think it would truly be the best of both worlds.

In the meantime, get this DVD. You'll love it you're a movie-history or -trivia buff, and if you're not maybe it'll make you one. The worst it could do is class up your DVD collection a notch or two. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Good action...great transfer!
So far, the Republic films of John Wayne that have made it's way onto DVD have been hit or miss, when it comes to how nicely they get transferred. Some, like "The Fighting Kentuckian" and "The Quiet Man" appear to be transferred from a poor VHS source. Others, like "Wake Of The Red Witch" or "King Of The Pecos" look to come from the original film elements. So, needless to say, I was wondering how "Three Faces West" would look, when it showed up on my doorstep. I'm happy to say it looks great! It has some age-related problems, like a few "pops" and "ticks" in the soundtrack, but that's to be excused...seeing as a film like this would never get the full restoration process.

As for the film itself, it's a quick moving take on the dust bowl farmers of the 1930s, and their trek to a new land in Oregon. Many compare this film (unfairly) to John Ford's "The Grapes Of Wrath", seeing as both deal with the same subject matter. While John Ford's film was made to make a statement about the plight of the mid-western farmers, this was made to be mostly just an 80 minute action film for John Wayne. And for that purpose, it succeeds! Pick this one up, you won't be disappointed....

The story line is pretty good for an older John Wanyne flix
Three Faces West is not Wayne's best movie,but it is worth watching. It takes place in Oklahoma right before the great depression. A refuge doctor and daughter come to a desperate town in hopes of finding a new life. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Charles Coburn steals the show once again!
The star of this video is Charles Coburn and not Jean Arthur: the comic old goat steals the movie once again, as he did in "The More the Merrier," and other comedies from this era. But the supporting cast is superb: the comedic Jean Arthur, Bob Cummings from the early TV sitcom, "Love that Bob," Spring Byington, who starred in George Kaufman's "You Can't Take It With You," and Edmund Gwenn, Kris Kringle himself of "Miracle on 34th Street."

Determined to find the employees creating a union problem in his store, Charles Coburn, the wealthy owner of the department store and business tycoon, goes undercover and poses as a clerk and works humbly behind the counter, and is abused and bullied by management until befriended by Jean Arthur, Bob Cummings, and Spring Byington....This movie is a fun indictment on capitalism--when such was allowed in Hollywood, prior to the blacklisting days of Joe McCarthy--and a call to more socialistic values. When would a business tycoon take his entire staff of store employees on a cruise to Hawaii just for the fun of it? Move over, all you CEOs....If only all such miraculous conversions could occur in the workplace within a span of 92 minutes!

Charles Coburn at his best with a great supporting cast!
The star of this video is Charles Coburn and not Jean Arthur: the comic old goat steals the movie once again, as he did in "The More the Merrier," and other comedies from this era. But the supporting cast is superb: the comedic Jean Arthur, Bob Cummings from the early TV sitcom, "Love that Bob," Spring Byington, who starred in George Kaufman's "You Can't Take It With You," and Edmund Gwenn, the lovable Kris Kringle of "Miracle on 34th Street."

Determined to uncover the union organizers who are creating unrest among the other employees in his department store, Charles Coburn, the wealthy owner of the department store and business tycoon, goes undercover and poses as a clerk and works humbly behind the counter, and is abused and bullied by management until befriended by Jean Arthur, Bob Cummings, and Spring Byington....This movie is a fun indictment on capitalism--when such was allowed in Hollywood, prior to the blacklisting days of Joe McCarthy--and a call to more socialistic values....When would a business tycoon take his entire staff of employees on a cruise to Hawaii just for the fun of it? Move over, all you CEOs....If only all such miraculous conversions could transpire in the workplace within a span of 92 minutes!

GOOD FUN FROM 1941.
A very funny comedy from 1941. Coburn is cast as John P. Merrick, the world's richest man, who decides to infiltrate one of his holdings - a department store - to ferret out union organisers who have targeted him as being responsible for the miserable conditions his employees work under. Merrick is subjected to many indignities by the management, finally ending up in the shoe department alongside Mary Jones [Jean Arthur]. Mary thinks Merrick destitute, takes pity on him and shows him the intricacies of the department. The old boy attends union meetings and carefully notes everyone there, but the abuse from the store's management becomes intolerable - then he meets Elizabeth Ellis [Spring Byington] - and has a change of heart... One of the most sparkling comedies from the 194O's, this film was deftly directed by Sam Wood and wonderful performances from the entire cast make for an enjoyable 92 minutes.

Jupiter comes down to Earth...
in this very funny story of how the richest man in the world decides to go undercover as a shoe salesman in a store he forgot he owned until labor agitators hang him in effigy. It's Charles Coburn's intention to infiltrate the labor movement and bring these "wrongdoers" to justice or at least unemployment. He doesn't bargain on what happens when he begins to rub shoulders with the hoi polloi, and how meeting with the peppy Miss Jones (Jean Arthur) will change his outlook on labor and ultimately life.

Jean Arthur is very appealing as this working class heroine, but it's Charles Coburn who runs away with the picture. His transformation from a Rockefeller-type cold as ice businessman into a tuna popover eating funlover is aces, especially in his dealings with the surprisingly unpleasant Edmund Gwenn as the manager of the shoe department. Ironic that Gwenn returned to the department store scene a few years later to buck authority himself as Kris Kringle in "Miracle on 34 Street". A point worth noting is that much of the dialogue concerns the misunderstanding about Coburn's true identity, and his consequently being abused as an older worker with limited skills in an emerging modern world. Although 60 years ago, this still rings true today, and gives us some food for thought.

This picture has only two things going against it: First is its terrible title. Not only does it not really make any sense given the plot of the film, but it later got co-opted as the title of a famous porn film, "Devil IN Miss Jones", so that even the librarian where I took this out gave me the once over, thinking I was taking out a smutty film. I'll bet few people ever do rent this movie because of its dubious monniker. The second thing that's not so hot is a police station scene where Robert Cummings tries (and fails) to be a Capra-esque "ordinary man" hero bucking authority by appealing to the Founding Fathers' principles. The scene is so bad it brings the movie to a complete standstill; I was afraid it would be downhill from there, but it picked up again. My advice is that should you ever rent or buy this film, as soon as Cummings enters the station, fast forward to the next scene to save yourself some grief.

Other than those two points, "The Devil and Miss Jones" is a real winner, and I still give it five stars for a funny script and Coburn's marvelous performance.

simply one of the best
this film has been one of my favorites for many years.it tells the story of a man who owns a bunch of department stores that are having labor troubles.he decides to go undercover to find out what all the fuss is about,and boy does he!he ends up being befriended by a countergirl,her friend and her boyfriend.at first he is quite skeptical there is a problem at all,but comes to realise that these are real people with real concerns who deserve better.the best scene is when they go to coney island together,and the countergirl tells him about her feelings about what real true love is.this scene never fails to bring tears to my eyes as her honesty just flows out of her.this film has comedy and social commentary that works equally well.highly recommended for romantic goofs or any jean arthur fan. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

"Has there ever been any insanity in your family?"
In the film "Stranger on the Third Floor" from director Boris Ingster, newspaper reporter Michael Ward (John McGuire) gets his big break when he stumbles upon a murder. Ward becomes the key witness at the murder trial of Briggs (Elisha Cook Jr) who is accused of slashing the throat of a popular cafe owner. Briggs maintains his innocence and claims that he found the victim with his throat cut, but Ward's testimony convicts Briggs and he is sentenced to the chair.

The spotlight's on Ward, and he gets a $12 a month raise--just enough for him to consider marriage to his long-time girlfriend, Jane (Margaret Tallichet) but she can't shake the feeling that the raise, and their marriage will always be tainted by the murder. She considers the possibility that Briggs may be telling the truth. Unfortunately, Ward isn't too interested in her doubts about the trial. Briggs is a ne'er-do-well who made threats to Nick, plus Ward's role as the star witness resulted in an improvement in his newspaper career.

Ward soon finds out the hard way that threats and circumstantial evidence can convict an innocent man. "Stranger on the Third Floor" includes one of the best dream sequences ever filmed--thanks to strong character acting and excellent use of black and white. The film also includes another classic scene that takes place in Ward's rented room in a boarding house when Ward's amorous plans are thwarted by with a nosy landlady and a prying, sanctimonious neighbour. The reptilian Peter Lorre stars as 'the stranger' and he's delightfully creepy and bizarre. All the characters--even the relatively minor ones--are very sharply developed. "Stranger on the Third Floor"--an early film noir-- is just over 64 minutes long, but it's a tightly developed, perfect little package and well worth watching if you can find a copy of it anywhere--displacedhuman

Great Dream Sequence & A Sly Seduction Scene
One of the earliest Noir classics the film features a justly famous and totally spellbinding dream sequence but also has one of the drollest and funniest failed-seduction scenes in movie history(McGuire only magages to get Tallichet to remove her socks). It misses getting 5 stars for the last shot when the falsly accused Elisha Cook Jr. seems a bit too forgviving toward the man who almost sent him to the hot-seat. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Pleasant, but only just that
Lightweight, predictable (will the patient
with the mystery disease pull through? Will Kildare
hook up with the nurse?), hokey,
but not without some charm. Has some unintentionally
funny moments, and one can only thank God that
medical ethics have progressed since 1940
(that is if you believe the film accurately
reflects those of its period). Still, it's
reasonably entertaining, if not exactly classic
material.

The print used for the film in reasonably good
shape, except for some moderate damage at the reel
changes. Some rain lines, too, but very few scratches
or nicks. A couple of very minor video glitches.
The picture wasn't particularly sharp, but still
mostly OK. They could have put more effort into
the video transfer. The audio was decent.

In short a so-so transfer for a so-so
film. Still, when you take the price into consideration,
it's worth seeing....

Not bad for an old flick
I am a medical student collecting movies about the medical field. I enjoyed this movie for a couple simple reasons: It is full of amusing stereotypes, has some hilarious scenes on insulin shock therapy that would make a modern doc cringe, and Lionel Barrymore is a great actor! I think I will look for more movies with this funny old fellow.

The movie is about a Young Dr. Kildare (Lew Ayres) who is doing a residency at Blair General. He is in love with a nurse(Laraine Day) (of course!) and she can't stand the thought of not being married (my oh my), like the older Head Nurse of the hospital. Anyway, Dr. Kildare doesn't earn much as a resident (yup) so he figures he can't afford to get married right now. This little love story goes on around an incident with a Dr. Lane, a surgeon who is having bad luck with a string of dying patients. Dr. Kildare tries to save Dr. Lane's reputation by convincing the hospital that it isn't Dr. Lane's skills that are lacking. In the end, Dr. Kildare wins the admiration of the hospital, Dr. Lane, his residency director Lionel Barrymore), and of course the nurse.

Apparently there are 15 flicks about Dr. Kildare. This one is the 4th of 15. They follow the idealist young doctor as he emerges from medical school and eventually becomes an accomplished and confident doctor. I would like to see the other movies as well, but this is the only one on DVD right now.

Following the string of 15 movies, there was a t.v. series about Dr. Kildare that ran for a few years when t.v. was new.

Be Glad You're not a Patient in This Hospital
I watched all of the Dr. Kildare movies as a child, and I was surprised to find out that they weren't as good as I remembered them being. However, "Dr. Kildare's Strange Case" reminds me of a less complicated time when science seemed to hold all of the answers. Those who remember earnest young Dr. Kildare, crusty Dr. Gillespie, and pretty Mary Lamont will find this movie worth watching, just as old friends are still worth talking to, even when we've outgrown them. The plot is rather absurd--a patient goes insane after brain surgery, and the surgeon (who has recently had a lot of patients die) is blamed. Aided and abetted by his girlfriend, Mary Lamont, Dr. Kildare induces insulin shock in the patient (not considered a valid treatment for years, but don't blame the scriptwriters--at that time it was). Miraculously, the patient survives and the brain surgeon is exonerated. Even more miraculously, Dr. Kildare and Mary Lamont escape charges of attempted murder and even keep their jobs. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Pleasant, but only just that
Lightweight, predictable (will the patient
with the mystery disease pull through? Will Kildare
hook up with the nurse?), hokey,
but not without some charm. Has some unintentionally
funny moments, and one can only thank God that
medical ethics have progressed since 1940
(that is if you believe the film accurately
reflects those of its period). Still, it's
reasonably entertaining, if not exactly classic
material.

The print used for the film in reasonably good
shape, except for some moderate damage at the reel
changes. Some rain lines, too, but very few scratches
or nicks. A couple of very minor video glitches.
The picture wasn't particularly sharp, but still
mostly OK. They could have put more effort into
the video transfer. The audio was decent.

In short a so-so transfer for a so-so
film. Still, when you take the price into consideration,
it's worth seeing....

Not bad for an old flick
I am a medical student collecting movies about the medical field. I enjoyed this movie for a couple simple reasons: It is full of amusing stereotypes, has some hilarious scenes on insulin shock therapy that would make a modern doc cringe, and Lionel Barrymore is a great actor! I think I will look for more movies with this funny old fellow.

The movie is about a Young Dr. Kildare (Lew Ayres) who is doing a residency at Blair General. He is in love with a nurse(Laraine Day) (of course!) and she can't stand the thought of not being married (my oh my), like the older Head Nurse of the hospital. Anyway, Dr. Kildare doesn't earn much as a resident (yup) so he figures he can't afford to get married right now. This little love story goes on around an incident with a Dr. Lane, a surgeon who is having bad luck with a string of dying patients. Dr. Kildare tries to save Dr. Lane's reputation by convincing the hospital that it isn't Dr. Lane's skills that are lacking. In the end, Dr. Kildare wins the admiration of the hospital, Dr. Lane, his residency director Lionel Barrymore), and of course the nurse.

Apparently there are 15 flicks about Dr. Kildare. This one is the 4th of 15. They follow the idealist young doctor as he emerges from medical school and eventually becomes an accomplished and confident doctor. I would like to see the other movies as well, but this is the only one on DVD right now.

Following the string of 15 movies, there was a t.v. series about Dr. Kildare that ran for a few years when t.v. was new.

Be Glad You're not a Patient in This Hospital
I watched all of the Dr. Kildare movies as a child, and I was surprised to find out that they weren't as good as I remembered them being. However, "Dr. Kildare's Strange Case" reminds me of a less complicated time when science seemed to hold all of the answers. Those who remember earnest young Dr. Kildare, crusty Dr. Gillespie, and pretty Mary Lamont will find this movie worth watching, just as old friends are still worth talking to, even when we've outgrown them. The plot is rather absurd--a patient goes insane after brain surgery, and the surgeon (who has recently had a lot of patients die) is blamed. Aided and abetted by his girlfriend, Mary Lamont, Dr. Kildare induces insulin shock in the patient (not considered a valid treatment for years, but don't blame the scriptwriters--at that time it was). Miraculously, the patient survives and the brain surgeon is exonerated. Even more miraculously, Dr. Kildare and Mary Lamont escape charges of attempted murder and even keep their jobs. ... Read more

Reviews (81)

Not To Be Missed!
If you haven't already seen THE BIG SLEEP, buy this DVD now! If you have, but don't own this DVD release, buy it now! Why? Both the 1946 classic and the pre-release 1945 edit are on this disc. The differences are quite interesting. The 1946 version shows Bogart (as Philip Marlowe) as the epitome of "Cool" in every situation, even when he has a gun pulled on him or is getting beaten up. Lauren Bacall comes off much better in the 1946 version as well, as she shows the spark that was seen in TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT. The 1945 version has a few scenes cut from the 1946 version which are quite good, and is actually a little easier to follow. Whichever version you watch, THE BIG SLEEP is one of the greatest movies ever in the "Film Noir" or detective "Murder Mystery" genres. The disc also includes a documentary on the making of the film, and the differences between the two versions, which is very interesting. The picture and sound quality are actually quite good, as any flaws in the picture are so minor that they would not be noticed unless you're watching for them, and not watching the movie itself. As stated before, if you don't already own this DVD, BUY IT NOW! It's a classic movie and an outstanding package!

A Detective Masterpiece
This film is absolutely mesmerizing, a masterpiece full of sharp dialog and a plot so complex not even Raymond Chandler could tell you who commited one of the murders. Bogart is Detective Philip Marlowe and from the moment he arrives to talk to General Sternwood and gets mixed up with his daughters this is a film classic.

Bacall is the sultry older sister, but it is sexy and thumb sucking little sister Martha Vickers he meets first. As he tells Sternwood, "Yeah, we met. She tried to sit in my lap and I was standing up". This is all about gambling debts and murder, all of which leads to Eddie Mars and Carmen (Vickers). But there are more twist and turns here than a rollercoaster, and it moves just about as fast. If you blink, you better rewind this tape and start over.

Howard Hawks made a masterpiece here. It is the finest straightforward detective novel ever put on celluloid. William Faulkner adapted Raymond Chandler's greatest literary achievement for Hawks and the whole thing is filmed as a fast moving dream of dialog and images hard to forget. One critic likened it to a huge hangover. That is a perfect description of this film.

Bogart's Marlowe has his hands full trying to keep Carmen out of trouble she may already be in to deep to get out of, and the sparks between he and Bacall may just ignite if he can figure out a way to keep the fast rising body count from getting any higher while keeping himself alive. Bacall has never been more beautiful or inviting than when she is slumped down in the seat of Bogart's car, just waiting for him to kiss her.

You have to see this film to really appreciate it. You'll never see anything else like it in American cinema. Pick up this one as soon as you can.

Wild and Cool
A movie so relentlessly all over the map and incomprehensible, it has to be seen to be believed. Closely adapted from Chandler's equally confusing private eye noir thriller. Bogart and Bacall are just plain cool. The flick captures the time and place perfectly. Every word, every inflection, every move, the clothes, the cars, the places and attitudes are all just right and utterly cool. Buy this and The Maltese Falcon and put em right next to each other on your shelf. Gotta have this on DVD.

Smokey Style
Raymond Chandler's LA was peopled with the flotsam of human kind, a white kind. Though there may have been black or Mexican-Americans in LA in the forties,I didn't see any in this otherwise interesting film. There seems to be an almost stylish,white, even literary criminal class wandering Laurel Canyon Drive. The bad ladies are dressed and the men are suited. Ties are knotted and tight. Even the head gangster seems to be a sensitive soul. Drugs, murder, and classy dames, shut your trap! The film's a classic and so is Bogey.

Side A Has the Sizzle. Side B Has the Steak.
What a rare treat. To have both the theatrical release of The Big Sleep as well as the pre-release version on one DVD is a film-lover's dream.

If you're not familiar with the story behind these two versions, there's a nice documentary on the DVD that explains it. Briefly put, Lauren Bacall is at her sultriest on Side A of the disc (the version that made it into theaters); Side B has some scenes that do a better job at fleshing out the plot, but at the expense of some of Ms. Bacall's glamour.

My advice is watch the pre-release first: It fills in a couple of gaps left open by the inclusion of re-shot Bogie & Bacall scenes in the official release. Then you don't have to worry about anything distracting you from their on-screen chemistry.

There is some film degradation present in this release. While it is nice to have this preserved on DVD, hopefully AFI or some other group will make preservation and restoration of this movie a priority.

In a future release of The Big Sleep it would be nice to have a hybrid version of the movie. That way we could have the re-shot Bacall scenes from the theatrical release along with the more expository scenes from the pre-release (Marlowe searching Geiger's house, Marlowe meets the D.A., etc.). It would be a slightly longer film, and film purists might disagree, but I think it would truly be the best of both worlds.

In the meantime, get this DVD. You'll love it you're a movie-history or -trivia buff, and if you're not maybe it'll make you one. The worst it could do is class up your DVD collection a notch or two. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Review correction
Previous review (Heytaxi 3/13/99) described different collector's series.(UA/MGM "Vintage Classics") and was submitted before Amazon's collector series film titles were listed and I assumed it was the series I owned. Apparently there are more than one Bogart 3 film collector's series available. Apologies, Taxi.

Strongly recommend for any Bogart fan.
Series contains "The Big Sleep", "Key Largo" and "Casablanca", the latter of which is, of course, my favorite. However the others merit applause as well. Bogart, Robinson, Greenstreet, Raines, Bacall, Bergman...all the greats. Play 'em again, Sam. ... Read more