Humphrey Bogart meets the Bowery Boys!

One of my favorite movies that I discovered on vhs while working at the video store was Dead End. Made in 1937 and starring Humphrey Bogart, the movie was adapted from the Broadway play which starred and introduced the world to the Dead End Kids. Later to become known as The Bowery Boys in a successful series of films in the 1940s and '50s, Huntz Hall, Leo Gorcey, Billy Halop, and Gabriel Dell all got their start with this original more serious urban drama. Bogart who was on loan from Warner Brothers to Sam Goldwyn turns in one of his best performances of his early film career. As 'Baby Face' Martin, Bogart plays a gangster on the run returning to his childhood home on the banks of the east river in NYC. While there he hopes to see his forgotten mother (Marjorie Main) and old girlfriend played by Claire Trevor. Trevor won an Oscar nomination for her brief performance, but it is Main who steals the movie with a startlingly tragic cameo, one that will surprise any fan who grew up thinking of her as only Ma' Kettle. The film also stars Joel McCrea, one of the most underrated film stars of all time. McCrae plays a a struggling architect who like Bogart's character grew up on the mean streets of the old neighborhood, but he chose the righteous path instead of a career in crime. The film was directed by William Wyler, the most nominated film director of all time with 12 Best Director nods. Wyler takes a stagy screenplay and adapts it nicely to fill his movie screen. Often working with female stars like Bette Davis, Wyler projects strong independent women in his films, as is the case with Sylvia Sydney in Dead End. Sydney plays a working single woman trying to keep her younger brother, Halop out of trouble in the streets. For 1937, none of the female characters come off as simple or vampy as in other gangster pictures of the time. Greg Toland, who shot Citizen Kane pulls off another visual feast for the eyes with his black & white photography of Art Director Richard Day's convincing recreation of east side New York. Legendary composer Alfred Newman underscores memorable opening and closing title sequences, but his music is scarce throughout the rest of the fim. Available now on DVD,

Dead End [DVD](1937) DVD
Landmark drama of life in the crime-ridden slums of Depression-era New York stars Humphrey Bogart as a hoodlum who returns to his old neighborhood and is idolized by the local youths (the Dead End Kids, in their film debut). William Wyler's classic crime tale, scripted by Lillian Hellman, also stars Joel McCrea, Sylvia Sidney, Wendy Barrie. 92 min. Standard; Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital mono, Spanish Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, Spanish, French.

Late Charges

Over the past few years much has been made about the practice of charging late charges for overdue video rentals. This is mostly due to several law suits filed against the Blockbuster rental chain. I have to admit, I have very little sympathy for those who complain that late fees are unfair. In the eighteen years that I worked in the video rental business, most of the customers who complained about late fees were often habitual offenders. It seemed they were more upset about having been caught returning late videos, than the actual cost of a few dollars extra. My favorite charge by repeat offenders was to infer that I or one of my colleagues were calling them a liar. Often they would claim to not have rented a title on a date the computer or receipt stated, and so we the clerks had the audacity to accuse the customer of lying! Well, yah' you are lying! You got caught returning a tape late, and now you refuse to admit that you were wrong. And that's the real problem isn't it! While your SUV is illegally parked in the fire lane in the front of the store, you're arguing a lousy $2.00 late charge because you're used to getting everything your way. And no, I don't believe you had a death in the family, because you've used that excuse three time before. And don't blame your kid, he didn't rent the three porn tapes, you did. Have you no shame? Does it mean that much to you that you would use your own kids as a ploy to get out of paying for your crime? Wow, that felt good. Now, if I only had said that to the hundreds of liars who never returned their films on time.

Borgnine Vs. Marvin

Tuesdays have become the official release date of new titles on DVD. I can remember when Fridays once held that distinction back in the early days of BETA and VHS. Then by the time LASERDISCS came along, it shifted for some reason to Wednesdays. But now Tuesday is the day of the week we all look forward to, and I have been looking forward to this Tuesday, 6/6/06 for over 18 years. Not for the theatrical release of the shot-for-shot remake of the 1976 Richard Donner horror classic, The Omen, but for the DVD debut of the 1973 Cult Classic, Emperor of the North. I first saw this film on late-night television in the mid 1970's. I instantly took to it, a violent high-action adventure directed by Robert Aldrich. It's main characters are strong archetypes pitted against each other in a battle of wills. Set in the Pacific Northwest during the height of the Depression, Ernest Borgnine plays "Shack", a sadistic train conductor who battles Lee Marvin, a train-hopping hobo named, "A-No.1." Back in '73 the film was mostly dismissed by critics as a visceral bloodbath and audiences didn't flock to see it as well. But over the years it has become a cult favorite of film buffs and train enthusiasts. It had been released on VHS through CBS/FOX Home Video, but for some reason was not made available to video retailers, it could only be purchased at specialty train shops. Customers would often ask for it to rent but it was hard-to-find on video store shelves. Now finally on DVD in a restored WIDESCREEN print, the film can be seen by a new generation. A generation raised on films like Pulp Fiction and Saw, will no doubt take to its violent action and at times slapstick style of comedy. Also starring Keith Carradine as "Cigaret", a young drifter trying to compete with the elder Marvin for the title of "A-No.1", the film covers many basic primal themes based in the classic struggle of Good vs. Evil. The stars of the film all do their own stunts and for the then middle-aged Marvin and Borgnine, it's quite impressive. The DVD release includes original theatrical trailers and an insightful commentary by Film Historian Dana Polan. The 1930s depression era is captured expertly by cinematographer Joseph F. Biroc, and Art Director Jack Martin Smith. It's one of those films that truly places the viewer into the time it's story is set, but also reflects the attitudes of the troubled times in which it was made.

Emperor Of The North [DVD](1974) DVD
Set in the Depression-era Northwest, director Robert Aldrich's gritty, intense railroad drama stars Lee Marvin as legendary tramp A No. 1, who sets out to prove his "King of the Hoboes" title to protege Keith Carradine by hopping an "unrideable" freight train patrolled by sadistic, chain-wielding conductor Ernest Borgnine. With Simon Oakland, Elisha Cook. AKA: "Emperor of the North Pole." 120 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital stereo, Dolby Digital mono, Spanish Dolby Digital mono, French Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, Spanish; audio commentary; TV spots; theatrical trailer.

"Why Couldn't I Be Made of Stone?"

I am trying to avoid writing about classic films on this site. I believe films like Citizen Kane, and Casablanca are great, but so much has already been written about them, that I don't think I can add anything that hasn't already been said. So I am trying to highlight lesser known films, movies that may not be as familiar to the average viewer. But, one classic I feel the need to comment on is the 1939 film adaptation of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Starring Charles Laughton in the title role, and introducing a young Maureen O'Hara to American audiences as the lovely Esmeralda, this version is quite simply the best. Made in the same year as dozens of other classic films including; Gone With The Wind, The Wizard of OZ, Goodbye, Mr Chips, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Stagecoach and many, many more, Hunchback tells the now legendary Victor Hugo tale of Quasimodo, the bell-ringer of Notre Dame Cathedral. It is one of those early films that when viewing, you find it hard to believe that it was filmed on a Hollywood back lot and not on the streets of Paris . William Dieterle, known for managing large crowds of extras in many of his films, directs a brilliant cast of famous faces including character actors Thomas Mitchell, Alan Marshall, Harry Davenport, and Cedric Hardwicke. Shot beautifully in black & white, by cinematographer Joseph H. August (who also shot Gunga Din that same year) the film also carries a haunting score by legendary film composer Alfred Newman. But it is Laughton and O'Hara who carry the film, their relationship onscreen is a heart-wrenching tug-of-war. One needing the other for her survival, and the other obsessed by the beauty and kindness he has so seldom ever experienced. Laughton's make-up is still believable today, and it is almost impossible not to feel something for this hopeless soul. While watching the two interact onscreen, the fear on O'Hara's face is quite real and convincing. Edmond O'Brien who portrays Gringoire, the love interest to Esmeralda, comes across valiant and handsome. Almost hard to believe when viewing, considering the hefty character actor O'Brien is to become in later years. A deeply atmospheric film, that projects not only mystery, and at times grotesque horror, but great pathos and feeling for the films unlikely hero. Available on DVD in a beautifully restored print.

The Hunchback Of Notre Dame [DVD](1939) DVD
Charles Laughton gives a stunning and touching performance as Quasimodo, the deformed bellringer in 15th-century Paris who is befriended by Gypsy girl Maureen O'Hara. Cedric Hardwicke and Edmond O'Brien also star in this classic period drama, the first sound rendition of Victor Hugo's novel. 117 min. Standard; Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital mono, Spanish Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, Spanish, French; documentary; theatrical trailer.

The Hunchback Of Notre Dame [VHS](1939) VHS
Charles Laughton gives a stunning and touching performance as Quasimodo, the deformed bellringer in 15th-century Paris who is befriended by Gypsy girl Maureen O'Hara. Cedric Hardwicke and Edmond O'Brien also star in this classic period drama, the first sound rendition of Victor Hugo's novel. Special video release includes the original trailer, a "making of" documentary, and an interview with O'Hara. 115 min. NOTE: This Title Is Out Of Print; Limit One Per Customer.

The Name on the Receipt

One of the rewards of working for a video store with such a large library of titles was that people would often seek us out for really hard-to-find titles. Especially in the days before the internet and online catalogues. Even older films when newly released on VHS could be difficult to locate for purchase. Most VHS titles were released at what was called "priced to rent", which meant they usually retailed for around $89.99 and retailers purchased them for about $59.99 or so. A store like ours would buy one or two copies per store and would regain the cost by renting them for a reasonable rental charge. But if a customer wanted to purchase one of these titles when first released they had to pay full price and usually order a new copy. Today most titles are released on DVD for $29.99 or much less. Back in the late 1980s a middle-aged gentleman approached the counter and said he was picking up a movie he had ordered. I asked his name and he replied "Bushman, Francis Bushman." I went through the cabinet of backorderd tapes and came upon the video of the 1925 silent version of the film, Ben-Hur. Wrapped around the tape was a receipt with the name Francis X. Bushman on the top. I placed the tape on the counter and entered the receipt info into the computer. Glancing over at the box cover to the film I noticed it read, "Starring Ramon Novarro and Francis X. Bushman." Hmmm? Looking up at the customer who looked to be in his mid-fifties or a little younger, I thought it couldn't be the same Francis X. Bushman. He would have to be over 100 years old. The younger namesake smiled noticing my befuddled look and announced.. "He was my grandfather!" I was relieved and excited and of course I was nosy and asked about his famous grandpa! He was purchasing the film for his own father, who had always wanted a copy on tape. His grandfather, the star of the film had passed away in 1966 the year I was born. He was 73. It was fascinating and one of those rare moments when working in retail seemed very rewarding and even a little educational.