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Ultimate Gangsters Collection: Classics
directed by William A. Wellman, Mervyn LeRoy,
Archie Mayo and
Raoul Walsh
USA 1931 -
1949
Little Caesar The Petrified Forest The Public Enemy White Heat
Warner Home Video Boxset - Region FREE -
Blu-ray
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Distribution | Warner - Region FREE - Blu-ray |
Audio | DTS-HD Master Audio English 1.0 tracks |
Subtitles | English (SDH), French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, none |
Features |
Release Information:
Aspect
Ratio:
Edition Details:
• See Press Release below for more details |
Comments: |
NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were obtained directly from the Blu-ray disc.
ADDITION: Warner - Region FREE Blu-ray - May 2013': A few scattered thoughts as I sort through my viewing notes. All 4 films have been re-mastered to 1080P Blu-ray, 3 are single-layered and White Heat is dual-layered. In general the better contrast is readily identifiable and I noticed the improvement most in The Petrified Forest and White Heat. The films are darker with black levels looking stronger than on the 'lighter' SD renderings. What I found most appealing was the visibility and support of the grain structure. Really, this is a large step in improvement on an HD TV - you can easily notice the superiority of the Blu-ray transfers.
Audio is lossless mono for all 4 via DTS-HD master tracks. Weaknesses of the original production in Little Caesar are still there but overall the sound has a more resonant depth - especially in the gunfire. There are optional foreign language DUbs and subtitle choices. The Blu-ray discs are Region FREE.
Supplements, listed in the Press Release below, seem to cover all the
past extras from
Warner's 2005 DVD Gangster Collection Boxset (reviewed
HERE) including the commentaries and the majority of the video
supplements. What we do get new - is the 32-page hardcover book and a
DVD with the 1-hour 45-minute 2008 documentary from Constantine Nasr
entitled Public Enemies: The Golden Age of the Gangster Film. It
is narrated by Alec Baldwin with plenty of archival footage.
The package itself is a very nice one - a thick hard cover box that
contains a multi-disc case and the advertised hardcover booklet.
'Classic' might be the appropriate
word here, we get James Cagney, early Bogie, Edward G. Robinson and Bette Davis
all in glorious 1080P.
My personal favorite may still be The Petrified Forest but I am
also partial to Little Caesar, and it's hard to deny White Heat
its high-ranking status (Drew Casper calls it the best Gangster film
every made). What a pleasure to watch, and own, these gems in their best
digital appearance... ever. Those keen on this era and genre - the
Blu-ray
package is strongly recommended! There is a ton of value here. |
Press Release: The Ultimate Gangster Collection: Classic includes a 32-page booklet with images and additional information about each film.
Details of Ultimate Gangster Collection Classic The Public Enemy (1931) – Now on Blu-ray! The Public Enemy showcases James Cagney’s powerful 1931 breakthrough performance as streetwise tough guy Tom Powers, a role Cagney won only because production chief Darryl F. Zanuck made a late casting change. Cagney had a secondary role but Zanuck soon spotted Cagney’s screen dominance and gave him the star part, even after shooting had begun. From that moment, an indelible genre classic and an enduring star career were both born. Bristling with ’20s style, dialogue and desperation under the masterful directorial eye of William A. Wellman, this is a virtual time capsule of the Prohibition era -- taut, gritty and hard-hitting. Several restored scenes (deleted from subsequent reissue versions due to enforcement of the Production code) from the original release version of the film are included -- unseen for decades until they were restored by WHV for its premiere DVD release. Special Features:
Leonard Maltin hosts Warner Night at the Movies 1931 Featurette Beer and Blood: Enemies of the Public Little Caesar (1931) – Now on Blu--ray! “R-I-C-O, Little Caesar, that’s who!” Edward G. Robinson bellowed into the phone and Hollywood got the message. The 37-year-old Robinson, not gifted with matinee-idol looks, was nonetheless a first-class star. Little Caesar is the tale of pugnacious Caesar Enrico Bandello, a hoodlum with a Chicago-sized chip on his shoulder, few attachments, fewer friends and no sense of underworld diplomacy. Special Features:
Leonard Maltin hosts Warner Night at the Movies 1930 Featurette Little Caesar: End of Rico, Beginning of the Antihero
The Petrified Forest (1936) – Now on Blu-ray! A rundown diner bakes in the Arizona heat. Inside, fugitive killer Duke Mantee sweats out a manhunt, holding disillusioned writer Alan Squier, young Gabby Maple and a handful of other hostages. The Petrified Forest, Robert E. Sherwood’s 1935 Broadway success about survival of the fittest, hit the screen a year later with Leslie Howard and Humphrey Bogart magnificently recreating their stage roles and Bette Davis ably reteaming with her Of Human Bondage co-star Howard. The film presented Bogart with his first major starring role and helped launch his brilliant movie career. Special Features:
Leonard Maltin hosts Warner Night at the Movies 1936 Featurette The Petrified Forest: Menace in the Desert White Heat (1949) – Now on Blu-ray! Playing a psychotic thug, Cody Jarrett, devoted to his hard-boiled “Ma,” James Cagney gives a performance to match his electrifying work in The Public Enemy. Tightly directed by Raoul Walsh, this fast-paced thriller tracing Jarrett’s violent life in and out of jail is among the most vivid screen performances of Cagney’s career. Special Features:
Leonard Maltin hosts Warner Night at the Movies 1949 Newsreel The Fountainhead theatrical trailer Comedy short So You Think You’re Not Guilty Cartoon Homeless Hare 1949 Trailer Gallery [*] |
Blu-ray package
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Recommended Reading in Film Noir (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)
Film Noir: An Encyclopedia Reference to the American
Style by Alain Silver, Elizabeth Ward |
The Dark Side of the Screen: Film Noir by Foster Hirsch |
Somewhere in the Night: Film Noir and the American City by Nicholas Christopher |
Film Noir Reader 4 : The Crucial Films and Themes
(Film Noir Reader) by Alain Silver |
The Art of Noir: The Posters and Graphics from the
Classic Era of Film Noir by Eddie Muller |
The Little Black and White Book of Film Noir:
Quotations from Films of the 40's and 50's by Peg Thompson, Saeko Usukawa |
Film Noir by Alain Silver |
Film Noir Guide: 745 Films of the Classic Era,
1940-1959 by Michael F. Keaney |
directed by Mervyn LeRoy
USA 1931
Theatrical Release: January 9th, 1931 - USA
One of the most well-known and best of the
early classical gangster films is Warner Bros.' and director Mervyn LeRoy's
Little Caesar (1930). It is often called the grandfather of the modern crime
film, with its quintessential portrayal of an underworld character that
rebelliously challenged traditional values. Although it was not the first
gangster film of the talkies era (that honor went to Lights of New York (1928)),
it is generally considered the prototype of future gangster films. Excerpt of Tim Dirks review located HERE on The Greatest Films.org |
Posters
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Cover and Individual purchase link
(DVDBeaver suggests buying the entire Boxset at for both a savings and you get the extra Booklet and included DVD with the entire Blu-ray set.) |
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CLICK logo to order the whole Boxset! |
Runtime | 1:18:30.747 |
Video |
1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 21,797,643,018 bytesFeature: 19,354,300,416 bytes Codec: MPEG-4 AVC VideoTotal Average Bitrate: 29.33 Mbps |
Audio |
DTS-HD Master Audio English 1031 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1031
kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 1.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit) Dolby Digital Audio German 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -4dB Dolby Digital Audio Spanish 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -4dB Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -4dB |
Subtitles | English (SDH), French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, none |
Bitrate:
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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1) Warner - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT 2) Warner - Region FREE Blu-ray - RIGHT |
CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE BELOW TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
Subtitle Sample
1) Warner - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP 2) Warner - Region FREE Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
Screen Captures
1) Warner - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP 2) Warner - Region FREE Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
1) Warner - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP 2) Warner - Region FREE Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
directed by Archie Mayo
USA 1936
Theatrical Release: February 6th, 1936 - USA
Humphrey Bogart plays gangster Duke Mantee - his first of such roles. Leslie Howard and a young Bette Davis also fill the marquee. Definitely an unlikely gangster film as it is noteworthy for its social commentary on greed, wealth, position, art and love. The action sequences mark the very end of the film and we even get a glimpse of poignant contrast between its two black characters. An unusual and worthy film from 30's. |
out of
Posters
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Cover and Individual purchase link
(DVDBeaver suggests buying the entire Boxset at for both a savings and you get the extra Booklet and included DVD with the entire Blu-ray set.) |
|
|
CLICK logo to order the whole Boxset! |
Runtime | 1:22:20.018 |
Video |
1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 23,068,871,290 bytesFeature: 17,024,149,056 bytes Codec: MPEG-4 AVC VideoTotal Average Bitrate: 24.00 Mbps |
Audio |
DTS-HD Master Audio English 1040 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1040
kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 1.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit) Dolby Digital Audio German 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -4dB Dolby Digital Audio Spanish 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -4dB Dolby Digital Audio Portuguese 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -4dB Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -4dB |
Subtitles | English , French , German, Spanish, Portuguese, none |
Bitrate:
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
|
CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE BELOW TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
Subtitle Sample
1) Warner - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP 2) Warner - Region FREE Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
Screen Captures
1) Warner - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP 2) Warner - Region FREE Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
1) Warner - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP 2) Warner - Region FREE Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
(aka 'Beer and Blood' or 'Enemies of the Public')
directed by William A. Wellman
USA 1931
The Public Enemy (1931) is one of the
earliest and best of the gangster films from Warner Bros. in the thirties. The
film's screenplay (by John Bright and Kubec Glasmon), which received the film's
only Academy Award nomination, was based upon their novel Beer and Blood.
Unfortunately, the film wasn't even given a Best Picture nomination, nor was
Cagney rewarded with a nomination for his dynamic and kinetic performance. Jean
Harlow's small role as a sexy call-girl was her only screen appearance with
Cagney and her only lead role with Warners. Excerpt of Tim Dirks review located HERE on The Greatest Films.org |
Theatrical Release: April 23rd, 1931 - USA
Posters
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Cover and Individual purchase link
(DVDBeaver suggests buying the entire Boxset at for both a savings and you get the extra Booklet and included DVD with the entire Blu-ray set.) |
|
|
CLICK logo to order the whole Boxset! |
Runtime | 1:24:02.787 |
Video |
1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 20,785,851,733 bytesFeature: 18,327,549,312 bytes Codec: MPEG-4 AVC VideoTotal Average Bitrate: 27.26 Mbps |
Audio |
DTS-HD Master Audio English 1029 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1029
kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 1.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit) Dolby Digital Audio German 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -4dB Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -4dB |
Subtitles | English, French, German, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese, German, none |
Bitrate:
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
|
1) Warner - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT 2) Warner - Region FREE Blu-ray - RIGHT |
CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE BELOW TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
Subtitle Sample
1) Warner - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP 2) Warner - Region FREE Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
Screen Captures
1)
Warner
- Region 1 - NTSC - TOP
2) Warner - Region FREE Blu-ray
- BOTTOM
1) Warner - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP 2) Warner - Region FREE Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
1) Warner - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP 2) Warner - Region FREE Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
More Blu-ray Captures
directed by Raoul Walsh
USA 1949
White Heat (1949) is one of the top classic
crime-heist dramas of the post-war period, and one of the last of Warner Bros'
gritty crime films in its era. White Heat is an entertaining, fascinating and
hypnotic portrait of a flamboyant, mother-dominated and fixated, epileptic and
psychotic killer, who often spouts crude bits of humor. The dynamic film, with
both film noir and documentary-style elements, is characterized by an increased
level of violence and brutality along with classical Greek elements. Excerpt of Tim Dirks review located HERE on The Greatyest Films.org out of |
Theatrical Release: September 2nd, 1949 (New York City, New York)
Posters
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Cover and Individual purchase link
(DVDBeaver suggests buying the entire Boxset at for both a savings and you get the extra Booklet and included DVD with the entire Blu-ray set.) |
|
|
CLICK logo to order the whole Boxset! |
Runtime | 1:53:25.882 |
Video |
1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 30,752,542,296 bytes Feature: 28,030,277,184 bytesCodec: MPEG-4 AVC VideoTotal Average Bitrate: 28.96 Mbps |
Audio |
DTS-HD Master Audio English 1036 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1036
kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 1.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit) Dolby Digital Audio German 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -4dB Dolby Digital Audio Spanish 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -4dB Dolby Digital Audio Spanish 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -4dB Dolby Digital Audio Portuguese 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -4dB Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -4dB |
Subtitles | English, French, German, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese, German, none |
Bitrate:
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
|
1) Warner - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT 2) Warner - Region FREE Blu-ray - RIGHT |
CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE BELOW TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
Subtitle Sample
1) Warner - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP 2) Warner - Region FREE Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
Screen Captures
1) Warner - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP 2) Warner - Region FREE Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
1) Warner - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP 2) Warner - Region FREE Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
1) Warner - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP 2) Warner - Region FREE Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
1) Warner - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP 2) Warner - Region FREE Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
More Blu-ray Captures
DVD Included in the
Blu-ray package
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Distribution | Warner - Region FREE - Blu-ray |
Recommended Reading in Film Noir (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)
The Dark Side of the Screen: Film Noir by Foster Hirsch |
Somewhere in the Night: Film Noir and the American City by Nicholas Christopher |
Shades of Noir: A Reader by Joan Copjec |
The Art of Noir: The Posters and Graphics from the
Classic Era of Film Noir by Eddie Muller |
The Little Black and White Book of Film Noir:
Quotations from Films of the 40's and 50's by Peg Thompson, Saeko Usukawa |
Film Noir by Alain Silver |
Film Noir Guide: 745 Films of the Classic Era,
1940-1959 by Michael F. Keaney |
Detours and Lost Highways: A Map of Neo-Noir by Foster Hirsch |
Search DVDBeaver |
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