Search DVDBeaver

S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

Directed by Curtis Bernhardt
USA 1942

 

Times are tough in Cat-Tail, Florida. The Depression has hit folks hard and migrant pickers, desperate for work, are caught in a battle between a greedy packing-plant baron and a farmer who dares to demand a fair price for his crops. The people need a hero and one steps up: itinerant farmhand Steve Talbot. He has principle on his side. But the baron has power. Ronald Reagan fights for workers’ rights as Talbot. He is joined by his Kings Row co-star Ann Sheridan, who portrays a wised-up, dirt-poor juke joint dancer who comes to love Steve. Together they risk their lives to defy the tyranny of big money and defend the dignity of honest work.

 

Posters

 

Theatrical Release: May 30th, 1942

Reviews       More Reviews       DVD Reviews

DVD Review: Warner Home Video (Warner Archive Collection) - Region 0 - NTSC

DVD Box Cover

   

CLICK to order from:

 

Distribution

Warner Home Video

Region 0 - NTSC

Runtime 1:29:51
Video 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate:  5.91 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s  

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate:

Audio English (Dolby Digital 2.0) 
Subtitles None
Features

Release Information:
Studio: Warner

Aspect Ratio:
Original Aspect Ratio 1.33:1

Edition Details:

• Archive Advert (:59)

• Trailer (2:40)

DVD Release Date: July 6th, 2009

Keep Case
Chapters: 10

 

Comments:

Juke Girl is another misleading title which has less to do with Ann Sheridan's 'don't-you-dare' paid-companion-dancer occupation than some backstabbing and general unrest with Florida fruit and vegetable crop-pickers and farmers. In steps wholesome Ronnie who goes about trying to organize a Union - rather than, ironically, crush them as the eventual Prez years later (okay - lighten up). A good script and strong support players like Gene Lockhart, Howard Da Silva, Alan Hale and, as Greek farmer, George Tobias push this above it's B-film stature. A 'Noir' may be stretching the definition but throw in Sheridan's serious eyes, a murder rap and plenty of shadows and we'll let it slide...  

It's a single-layered, progressive, DVD-R that looks okay with some very sporadic chroma (sample last capture) most notable in the beginning sequences. The image is a bit frail but it holds up for an acceptable SD presentation if you're not peering through a magnifying glass. There are speckles here and there but being almost 70-years old it looks better than most without some restoration.

As usual, no subtitles - and, unremarkable but clear 2.0 channel sound. Extras consist a 2:40 trailer and the Archive advert that starts the disc presentation.

I'm pretty big on Ann Sheridan - although the role was meant for Lupino -... and it is always fun to see young Reagan - who is genuinely good in this. There is conflict here and some barroom fist-a-cuffs but it's all fairly one-dimensional although the workers-unite theme is more a product of the timeframe. It runs fairly straightforward and predictable but that doesn't necessarily make it bad.

Gary W. Tooze

 



DVD Menus


 


Screen Captures

 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


Chroma in the past presidents hair
 

 


DVD Box Cover

   

CLICK to order from:

 

Distribution

Warner Home Video

Region 0 - NTSC



Search DVDBeaver
S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

 

Hit Counter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DONATIONS Keep DVDBeaver alive:

 CLICK PayPal logo to donate!

Gary Tooze

Thank You!