Movie
Gangsters Collection Volume 3 :
Black Legion, Brother Orchid, Lady Killer, Picture Snatcher, Smart Money, The Mayor Of Hell
Starring
James Cagney, Edward Robinson, Humphrey Bogart, Ann Sothern, Donald Crisp, Ralph Bellamy, Dick Foran, Erin O’Brien Moore,
Ann Sheridan, Helen Flint, Margaret Lindsay, Leslie Fenton, Mae Clarke, Douglas Drumbrille, Margaret Livingston, Ralph Harolde,
Noel Francis, Patricia Ellis, Alice White, and more.
Review
Last week was spent watching Warner Brother’s Gangsters, Volume 3 which contains several old movies: The Mayor of Hell, Brother
Orchid, Smart Money, Picture Snatcher, Black Legion, and Lady Killer. It was actually interesting to see how gangsters were portrayed
in the films then and how they’re portrayed today.
I have to be honest and say that at first I chuckled at what old Warner Brothers considered to be gangsters, but once I let go of the
stereotyping of today’s gangsters I really got into the films. These films seem to bring you in emotionally and keep the violence to a
minimum where today’s films tend to be all about action, blood, and guts and less about emotions or drama.
From my research, these films were actually considered “gritty dramas” and often found ridicule amongst many Americans for
sensationalizing mob behavior, extortion, killing, corrupt women, and so forth.
As mentioned earlier, there are six films in this volume. Here’s a little breakdown of each film.
Smart Money
Smart Money originally aired in 1931. This film is about two friends who discover the art of betting on horses. One of the friends is
so good at it that his buddies front him $10,000. But there’s a problem, he’s been scammed out of the money and is ready to get even.
With a little brain power, he soon becomes the biggest racketeer on the East Coast while his friend becomes the “heavy” or the enforcer.
Lady Killer
Lady Killer originally aired in 1933. A movie usher discovers a scam artist’s lair and wants in on the action. After getting a handle
for how things works, the usher turns the penny operation into a successful gambling institution. Only things begin to get out of hand
when the gang decides burglary will bring in more cash—and faster. After a few successful robberies, one of the gang members decides
murder is on the agenda which puts the gang in hiding. Unwilling to settle on a life of secrecy, the usher gets a job in the movies
where he finds the secret to stardom and sets out to make it as a motion picture star. But just when things were finally looking up,
the old gang arrives with new plans to rob the usher’s rich and famous friends. Unwilling to accept the plot, the usher returns the
stolen good and is thrown in jail on suspicion of robbery and possession of stolen goods where he makes an arrangement with the cops
to catch the real thieves.
Picture Snatcher
Picture Snatcher originally aired in 1933. This film is loosely based upon a real life event in which a NY Daily News Journalist sneaks
a camera into the execution of a female prisoner for the murder of her husband. In the film, however, a reformed gangster gets a job at
the local newspaper in hopes of earning his way to the top but when he overhears the publication’s dire need for “scandalous” photos he
finds a new career as a photographer. As the film progresses, he falls in love with the daughter of the cop who threw him in jail, helps
his boss get a promotion, and discovers that he has a real knack for photography which leads him to the biggest photo of his
career-capturing the execution on film.
The Mayor of Hell
The Mayor of Hell originally aired in 1933. This is a film about a reform school run by an evil, sadistic warden who essentially likes
to show how “tough” he is. But things change when the new deputy commissioner arrives to inspect things and falls head over heels in
love with the school’s nurse. She fills him in on what’s wrong with the place and how things could be improved. Smitten with the nurse
and ready to show the boys change can happen, he sends the warden on a long overdue vacation. Being a reformed gangster himself, the
deputy commissioner not only understands the boys, but seems to know how to get them to change. There are a few stereotypes amongst the
Jewish boy and black kid that may urk you—I know they did me, but aside from that, it’s a cute show with a positive ending.
Brother Orchid
Brother Orchid originally aired in 1940. This is a film about a mob boss looking to be reformed. Seems the boss is ready to end his
reign and wants to start a new life as one of the rich and famous—you know the people who have “real class”. But things don’t turn out
as he’d hoped and he loses every dime he has and so he returns to his old gang, hoping to regain his position as head of the mob. Only
the new guy in charge isn’t too happy and puts a hit on his former boss. Left for dead, the Monks discover the mob boss and nurse him
back to health. Realizing he can never go back to his old life, he decides to live amongst the monks as Brother Orchid.
Black Legion
Black Legion originally aired in 1937. I honestly had no intention of watching Black Legion, starring Humphrey Bogart, but my daughter
put it in anyway. She’s at the stage in her life where she wants to know everything there is to know about our history—including the
horrible parts like racism. I, on the other hand, have watched enough of these films in my lifetime. And besides, I’ve never really
been able to stomach them—they always leave me an emotional wreck. But my daughter wants to understand the mistakes we’ve made, as a
human race, so that she can “not make them” in the future. And so we watched the film. And yes, it left me an emotional mess: anger,
sadness, rage, and confusion.
Black Legion is about a factory worker who gets overlooked for a job when a foreigner outperforms him. Instead of realizing that the
best man got the job, the factory worker grows bitter—as do several other townspeople. The factory worker is invited to a meeting of
the Black Legions where he not only joins up, but hides behind a mask as he and his fellow Legioneers force the foreigner out of town.
Tasting victory, the group continues to bully anyone who gets in their way until they commit one fatal act—the murder of the factory
worker’s best friend.
Throughout the entire film you watch the factory worker go from happy-go-lucky guy who works too hard to a guy who pushes his family
and friends away as he struggles with the wrong choices he’s been making. Until finally, the wrong choice costs him the best friend
he’s ever had. There’s also a twist to the film as the head Legioneers force every member to buy their products or face the
consequences—thus making a financial killing off hatred and hate crimes.
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About The Author:
Alyice Edrich is the founder and editor-in-chief of TheDabblingMum.com,
the author of several work-from-home e-books,
the publisher of three monthly e-zines,
a freelance writer for hire
and an artist for hire.
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