There was only one BOGART. Perhaps Warner Bros.’ most famous leading man during Hollywood’s golden age, Humphrey Bogart’s star shines bright in four classic dramas from the 1940s. Bogie shares the screen with George Raft, Ann Sheridan and Ida Lupino in THEY DRIVE BY NIGHT, while Bogie takes on the Nazis under the direction of Michael Curtiz in PASSAGE TO MARSEILLE. In the suspense thriller CONFLICT, he takes on a more off-beat role co-starring with Sydney Greenstreet and Alexis Smith, and he’s a former WWII flier playing opposite the lovely Eleanor Parker in the exciting CHAIN LIGHTNING.
The Humphrey Bogart Collection gathers four previously released individual Blu-Ray releases from the iconic performer. For previous thoughts, check out our reviews of They Drive By Night, Passage to Marseille, Conflict, and Chain Lightning.
For additional insights, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required:
Video Quality
Full thoughts on the video assessment of each release can be found at the links above. The assessment for Conflict, the most recent release of the quartet, can be found below.
Warner Archive presents Conflict with a terrific 1080p transfer sourced from a new 4K restoration of the Original Camera Negative. The moody black-and-white photography retains the perfect amount of natural film grain that resolves impeccably. The various settings from the house to the treacherous mountainside provide delicate textures and clarity throughout the narrative. Black levels are nice and deep with ideal stability throughout, and the contrast holds firm with nothing appearing overly bright. With the Original Camera Negative still intact, we have a consistent presentation that could scarcely look better. There are no lingering signs of wear and tear or dirt specks. Compression seems to be in top form with no artifacts spotted. Warner Archive has made fans very happy with this release.
Audio Quality
Full thoughts on the audio assessment of each release can be found at the links above. The assessment for Conflict can be found below.
The Blu-Ray comes with a restored DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that matches the video side of things. The restoration has eradicated nearly all instances of degradation to the track such as popping, hissing, and dropouts. This track allows every distinct element to excel with premium fidelity. Dialogue and background texture spring forth with natural accuracy along with a moody score. Exchanges always come through crisp and clear without being drowned out by other elements. The audio presentation is everything you want from the experience. Optional English (SDH) subtitles are included in the feature film.
Special Features
Passage to Marseille
- Warner Night At The Movies
- Uncertain Glory Theatrical Trailer: A two-minute trailer for an Errol Flynn film.
- Newsreel: A 56-second newsreel about “women marines”.
- I Won’t Play: An 18-minute live-action short film about a soldier sharing tales about his time in Hollywood.
- Jammin’ the Blues: A ten-minute live-action short film about a jazz jam session.
- The Weakly Reporter: A seven-minute animated Merrie Melodies short that continues the war theme of this section.
- The Free French – Unsung Victors: A 17-minute archival featurette is provided in which various historians give context to the historical events that serve as the background of the film.
- Breakdowns: A seven-minute gag reel from various different films.
- Theatrical Trailer: The two-minute trailer is provided here.
Chain Lightning
- Bear Feet: A seven-minute Merrie Melodies cartoon from Chuck Jones presented in HD starring The Three Bears. The short depicts their attempt to get into a vaudeville act and all that goes wrong. This is a fun one.
- So You Want To Be An Actor: An eleven-minute Joe McDoakes short that has a bit of meta-fun when Joe struggles to make it as a thespian.
- Trailer: A two-minute trailer that does a good job of hyping up the excitement of the film.
They Drive By Night
- Lux Radio Theater Broadcast: A nearly 45-minute radio broadcast version is provided of this story featuring George Raft, Lana Turner, and Lucille Ball.
- Divided Highway – The Story of They Drive By Night: An 11-minute archival featurette is provided which gives an overview of the legacy of the film including its development, the background of the performers, how it fits into their careers, and more.
- Swingtime In The Movies: A 19-minute live-action short film is provided that takes place on a film set and involves a director trying to execute his creative vision.
- Original Theatrical Trailer: The two-minute trailer is provided here.
Conflict
- Classic Cartoons
- Life With Feathers: The eight-minute Merrie Melodies animated short is provided here in HD which features a bird who cannot find a cat to eat him to end his life.
- Trap Happy Porky: The seven-minute Looney Tunes short is provided here in HD which finds Porky Pig losing some sleep due to some destructive mice.
- Peeks at Hollywood: A nine-minute live-action short film in which some girls at an observatory peer down at Hollywood and its many colorful characters.
- Are Animals Actors?: A 14-minute live-action short that takes a look at the four-legged on-screen talent in Hollywood.
- Theater of Romance – 9/11/1945: A 25-minute radio program featuring Humphrey Bogart in a truncated adaptation of this story.
- Original Theatrical Trailer: The two-minute trailer is provided here.
Final Thoughts
Humphrey Bogart is one of the most striking figures to emerge from the Golden Age of Hollywood, and there is good reason why his legacy has lingered for nearly a century. Even when you come across a film that is not already considered a certified classic, you will find Bogart carving out space to command the screen and keep you suitably transfixed. The four films in this new collection provide thrills across a wide range of stories that not only highlight his strengths but also provide scene partners who meet him with the appropriate charisma and magnetism. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray collection featuring a knockout A/V presentation and fun special features. If you are a fan of this legend, you cannot go wrong with this set. Highly Recommended
Humphrey Bogart Collection can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or various other online retailers.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
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Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
