They Drive by Night (1940) The Magnificent Fabrini Brothers

Humphrey Bogart is back again hitting my screen in the wolf lair as the quest to work through his films carries on. This time HB was in supporting role mode in this 1940’s movie called They Drive By Night . Top billing duties went to George Raft who, lets be honest, sounds more like Humphrey than Bogie himself in this. These two native New Yorkers make very believable brothers. Let’s meet the Fabrini Brothers.

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In a Lonely Place (1950) Angry Bogie’s Fury And An Alternative Ending

Before doing this blog I was blissfully unaware of Humphrey Bogart being bad! I’d only seen a handful of his movies and what with his legendary status following you around since whenever I can remember. Call me naive, I’d always thought he played good guys.  Well rogues or strong willed tough guys with a heart of gold or a cast iron moral code. Well I couldn’t have been more wrong! He was somewhat naughty in The Desperate Hours but I have to say I didn’t expect him to beat his despicable me part in The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. So you see I wasn’t ready for Dixon Steele to turn up in In a Lonely Place and not reading anything about it when going in I’d expected him to be another Samuel Spade style PI.

City That Never Sleeps (1953) Robot Man, Strippers, Magician And A City God!

Voice of Chicago – “The city at night. A million homes, three and a half million people, all different from one another. People lovin’, people hatin’, people stealin’, people prayin’..”

Opening with the voice of Chicago looking down on its citizens, you can kinda guess we’re not in traditional film noir setting. Well actually the underlying story couldn’t be anymore noir but this strange little film has managed to squeeze in a few cheeky little surprises. So what’s going on Wolfie?

Dillinger (1973) Warren Oates Is Public Enemy Number One

Heavy hitting gangsters all on the screen at the same time. This film portrays the notorious last years of bank robber and gangster John Dillinger and his infamous gang of men. Written and directed by a legend in his own right John Milius.

Set during the Great Depression in the early 1930’s this action packed movie follows the charismatic John Dillinger on his quest to relieve the banks of their funds. Following the deaths of several law enforcement officers during the carnage of the Kansas City Massacre in 1933 FBI special agent Melvin Purvis steps up on a personal mission to bring these hoodlums to justice. If that justice is at the hand of a gun and a smoking cigar, so be it. This is the story of the G-Men (the FBI government men) and their mission to put a stop the Dillinger Gang, the ruthless terror gang. Here are all the players surrounding our Public Enemy Number One……

High Sierra (1941) Bogie, Ida & Special Guest Star, Zero The Dog

When the best thing in a film is your own blooming terrier dog showing off and stealing all the top scenes right from under your nose. What was Humphrey Bogart to do with this camera hogging pooch Zero, well he had to up his game and show his four legged friend who the boss was! And work his ass off he did.

No Way Out (1950) Sidney Poitier In Spinal Tap Of Prejudice

With enough N-Bombs to make Quentin Tarantino blush, No Way Out is one helluva tough watch that’s for sure. However it processes an important social message about racial prejudices and bigoted hatred.  This is the story of a young black man and his encounter with narrow-minded, blind, racial intolerance.

What’s Been Watched This Month – October 2018

I do like a list, hope you do too! Here’s what has been watched in October 2018.