'THE BIG SHOT' - Bogart's Last Gangster Movie Now on DVD - Lots of 'Life Lessons' Film Commentary
Three time loser - "Duke" Berne faces life in 'stir' if he is convicted of one more crime!
Bogart's last gangster film, 'The Big Shot', has been released on DVD and has many of what this editor calls 'life lessons', and, it also features two of the prettiest ladies ever in the history of Hollywood, Irene Manning and Susan Peters.
Famous tough guy actor George Raft had reportedly turned this script, 'The Big Shot', down and it went to Humphrey Bogart and is regarded as Bogart's last actual gangster movie. 'The Big Shot', a Warner Brothers film, was released in June of 1942 and is considered a successful box office film starring;
Humphrey Bogart as Joseph "Duke" Berne
Irene Manning as Lorna Fleming
Richard Travis as George Anderson
Susan Peters as Ruth Carter
Stanley Ridges as Martin T. Fleming
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It may be possible that actor George Raft grew tired of tough guy gangster roles. This may also be true of Bogart who later, 1951, portrayed the lead prosecutor D.A. Martin Ferguson in the anti-crime film, 'The Enforcer', a story about 'Murder, Inc.'.
At any rate, the U.S. hypocrisy of handing down life sentences to offenders who are termed 'habitual offenders' is really highlighted in this 1940's gangster film. In the present day where undocumented unlawful immigrants with a handful of felony convictions are sometimes on the loose, the very idea of jailing and imprisoning Americans under such draconian sentences while illegals are roaming about killing U.S. residents is the height of hypocrisy!
Viewers may recall Irene Manning as "Fay Templeton" with James Cagney in 'Yankee Doodle Dandy'. Originally, Manning was mainly a stage actress but does quite well in film, also. As Lorna in 'The Big Shot' she is determined to stop Bogart's character Duke Berne from pulling off another stick up job.
Also, actress Susan Peters is the ill-fated new Hollywood star who suffered the hunting accident. See:
Susan Peters - Actress in 'Song of Russia' May Have Suffered Hemingway's Treatment & FBI's William Sullivan 'Hunting Accident'
http://www.rumormillnews.com/cgi-bin/forum.cgi?read=619
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With supporting cast;
Minor Watson as Warden George Booth
Chick Chandler as Frank "Dancer" Smith
Joe Downing as Frenchy (as Joseph Downing)
Howard Da Silva as Sandor
Murray Alper as Quinto
Roland Drew as Faye
John Ridgely as Tim
Joe King as Prosecutor Toohey (as Joseph King)
John Hamilton as Judge
Virginia Brissac as Mrs. Booth
William Edmunds as Sarto
Virginia Sale as Mrs. Miggs
Ken Christy as Kat
Wallace Scott as Rusty
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Note: Bogart did not exactly portray a "crime boss" in this film. He did portray a would-be gangster type stickup man character.
And remember, "Nobody gets the best of Fred C. Dobbs!"
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This film has scenes that depict violence and gun violence. No nudity, no f-bombs.
The re-master is good quality. Although a black and white film, the clarity is surprisingly good in most scenes. Sound is also good.
As a classic Bogart film, this is not the cheapest of DVD's! There's something about Bogart on the screen that appears to be believable.
What happens to those who want to go straight, but society and the lawdogs just won't let him?
Do crooked lawyers and officials really 'arrange' hijackings and thefts and murders?! .....Naaaawwwwhhhhh.....couldn't be!
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This film is available at Amazon.com and other online outlets. This editor receives no gratuities or payments from any company or product reviewed.
82 Minutes, B & W
Actors: Humphrey Bogart, Irene Manning, Richard Travis, Susan Peters, Stanley Ridges
Directors: Lewis Seiler
Format: NTSC
Region: All Regions
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Warner Archive Collection
DVD Release Date: March 3, 2015
Run Time: 82 minutes
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