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Highly Overrated But Still Good

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

Copyright 8 June 1940 by Warner Bros Pictures, Inc. New York opening at the Strand: 7 June 1940. U.S. release: 8 June 1940. Australian release: 15 August 1940. 91 minutes. SYNOPSIS: Racket chieftain Little John Sarto, after a trip to Europe in search of "class," returns to find his mob taken over by his former associate, Jack Buck. Sarto organizes a new gang and muscles into his old territory. His girl friend, Flo Addams, attempting to promote peace between the rival factions, inadvertently sends Sarto into a trap. NOTES: In 1940, Edward G. Robinson held 4th place to Errol Flynn, James Cagney and Bette Davis as the most popular Warner Bros stars at foreign ticket-windows. TO SUM UP: Good idea, but disappointing. COMMENT: Tired gangster pic. The familiar ingredients are all here but so familiar and so jaded has the formula become that neither the director nor the scriptwriter can make up his mind whether to play it straight or for laughs. The players were obviously told to play it safe on a sort of middle ground where they are not tongue-in-cheek enough to be funny nor sufficiently straight to be taken too seriously. The only players unaffected by this are Jenkins and Bellamy, both of whom give their usual comic performances (though even Bellamy is more serious than usual). Bogart's role is small and though he is supposed to be the villain of the piece, he doesn't play with all stops out as usual, but gives a rather half-hearted portrayal. The main burden of the film falls on Sothern and Robinson. It is obvious that most of their scenes together should be played for comedy, but they are both so heavy-handed the laughs don't come.Significantly enough, Bacon's direction is only worthy of note in the one sequence that is played perfectly straight - Robinson fleeing from Buck's hired gunmen, the camera tracking with him through the undergrowth until he stumbles across the courtyard of the monastery, the sequence concluding with an elaborate crane shot. Even the climactic fight confrontation, with its comic caretaker ringing the cops, does not seem meant to be taken seriously (why do the cops arrest Bogart and his gang - they weren't the ones who were breaking the law?). Elsewhere the direction is routine.Credits display the usual brand of Warner Bros craftsmanship but production values are moderate.OTHER VIEWS: Ably photographed, but a good cast is wasted on a piece of hokum that steers a disconcertingly uncertain course between straight melodrama and outright burlesque. - JHR writing as George Addison.

Enjoy this movie for two good reasons right off. Edward G. Robinson and Humphrey Bogart. Then, take in the movie as a time capsule enjoying the sights, sounds and slang's of that era. That's what I like about these older movies. You get to see how things were in that generation and in this case that's nearly 80 years ago. The plot is comedy mixed with gangsters and Hollywood never knows how that will be received until after the fact. In this case, the stars and supporting cast pull it through making it a recommendation not to be missed. There are a few scenes that do trigger the emotions and there is nothing you can do about them but to let them have their way. A good movie does this. I like to eat when I watch movies.I recommend a sandwich with a tasty drink followed by some sweet munch for this one...Enjoy Edward G's mannerisms, facial expressions and tones of voice for he had fun doing them. I had fun receiving them....

This film, which I had never heard of, stars Edward G. Robinson as a crime boss. I suppose that the syndicates of those days were not the ethnic affairs that they became later. Or maybe the filmmakers just skirted around that. He retires, giving control to Humphrey Bogart's character. When he loses all of his money in Europe, he returns to New York assuming that he will re-take command immediately. He is mistaken, and various gangland style events ensue. Ann Sothern plays a classic moll, beautiful, but with a horrible new Jersey accent, and dumber than a box of rocks. This is all in the first act. I had already lost interest before all of the Brother Orchid stuff began. This film is through and through boring. Don't waste your time.

Gangster Little John Sarto (Edward G. Robinson) retires from the racket to "get some class." After that flops he tries to reclaim his old mob, which is now run by Jack Buck (Humphrey Bogart). After nearly being rubbed out and believing his girlfriend (Ann Sothern) set him up, Little John joins a monastery! Entertaining Warner Bros. gangster comedy is helped by fun dialogue and solid cast. Robinson, Bogart, and Sothern are all great. Support from the likes of Ralph Bellamy, Allen Jenkins, Cecil Kellaway, and Donald Crisp. Doesn't launch into the monastery part of the film until about halfway through. It's a fairly routine gangster story for the first half. Although with this cast, fairly routine is still pretty enjoyable to watch.