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Brother Orchid |  | Director: Lloyd Bacon
Actors: Edward G. Robinson, Humphrey Bogart, Ann Sothern, Donald Crisp, Ralph Bellamy
Studio: Warner Home Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $19.98
Buy New: $13.95
as of 3/22/2010 04:44 EDT details
You Save: $6.03 (30%)
New (7) Used (6) from $11.96
Seller: endlessrecords
Rating:  16 reviews
Sales Rank: 63372
Format: Black & White, DVD, Original recording remastered, NTSC
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 88 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: 1000035744
UPC: 883929002702
EAN: 0883929002702
ASIN: B00114XLR8
Theatrical Release Date: 1940
Release Date: March 25, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Racket Boss John Sarto tired of gang violence quits and goes to Europe for "culture." His fortune soon dissipated by European swindlers he returns to the old mob; but new boss Jack Burns finds him strictly superfluous. Narrowly escaping being rubbed out Sarto is taken in by the monastery of the "Little Brothers of the Flower." His unique talents prove very useful to the monks...especially when Sarto's old mob forces them out of the flower market.Running Time: 128 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA/CLASSICS UPC: 883929002702 Manufacturer No: 1000035744
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 16
Insurance for Flower Merchants September 27, 2009
Michael Ziegler (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania United States)
In the depression years there was a tendency even in hollywood to show some people involved in gangster activity as nice guys caught up in criminal behavior because of poverty.
From a moral standpoint, this is ridiculous. Yet, this relic from the era attempts to show that a gangster can become good and is very effective.
One of the best sections of this movie is when Robinson goes to Europe seeking "class" and discovers swindlers more clever than he ever was. He is hoodwinked on deals for the largest diamond in the world that turns out to be a door knob, to an antique bed that turns out to have been made recently in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Returning to America broke, he seeks out his old protective association job only to discover that Bogart won't let him back. He is eventually "taken for a ride" but survives to be rescued by monks in a cloisteral existence inside the walls of a monastery. What luck!
He then becomes "Brother Orchid" using his savy as a cheat to fool the brothers in minor jobs here and there. Eventually Bogart's protective association even interferes with the attempts by the brotherhood to sell their flowers. Robinson returns to his former gangster life to clean up the problem because he genuinely cares about the honesty of the brotherhood. In this he is successful and well, all's well that ends well.
Surprisingly Good September 7, 2009
busyperson7 (Ca)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I first saw this film on Television and liked it so much I had to order it on DVD. First, let me say that I was not prepared for the story line or the ending at all. I had expected the usual gangster genre faire of violence, sultry molls and cops, only to find this gangster flick with all of these elements and a good deal more. The story starts out with John Sarto (EGR) as a smart and fast-talking gangster boss who gets fed up with his life after his organization takes an especially violent turn. He quits and decides to spend his time and money pursuing something he had always wanted. Sarto travels the world but eventually comes back intending to resume his place as head of the organization. Instead he finds himself out in the cold by his former associates and their new boss, Humphrey Bogart. Broke and with no one to turn to except his girlfriend and a few former alliances, Sarto sets out to build a new organization from scratch using the brain and brawn that served him so well in the past. Things seem to be going well until he is betrayed and barely escapes with his life. Injured and broke, Sarto finds himself inside a Monastery where some well-meaning Monks have taken him into their care. This is where the real fun begins. I especially love the scene where he first opens his eyes inside the Monastery. The Monks in the Monastery are portrayed beautifully as men of God who live in humble and meager surroundings, raising flowers to sell at the market place in town in order to help out the needy. The Monks take in Sarto with the intention of simply nursing him back to health but Sarto sees an opportunity to use the Monastery as a hide-out until things cool off in the outside world. The scenes in the Monastery are hilarious as Sarto sets about wheeling and dealing his way into the "Saps" favor, taking full advantage of their good nature and eagerness to accept him on face value. But as his stay progresses, Sarto gets more than he bargained for when he begins to earn the respect and admiration of the Monks while learning a few lessons about life himself. A chance glance at a newspaper unravels his stint as "Brother Orchid" and sets Sarto on yet another path, this time involving his former girlfriend. I won't go any farther except to say that the film had me in tears at the end with a great sentimental scene. My only problem with the film is that, like another poster commented, it takes too long to get to the scenes in the Monastery which are priceless. EGR gives one of his best and most heart-warming performances. Ann Southern is effective as Sarto's long suffering and faithful girlfriend, with Humphrey Bogart giving a surprisingly uninspiring portrayal of a gangster boss. Ralph Bellamy is on cue as the naive, good-natured and well-mannered wealthy Texan alfalfa farmer, who is always ready for a good brawl. The Monks are played with less character depth than I would have liked but they certainly give acceptable performances, and easily offset Sarto's underhanded and clever persona. I found the film to be very entertaining and poignant. The message of the film hasn't diminished with time. I highly recommend Brother Orchid for all EGR fans and for anyone looking for an entertaining film.
 Brother Orchid September 1, 2008
Harry Brewer (S'port, La.)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Edward G. Robinson is somewhat cast against type in this film. It has been years since I have seen this movie; it's never been one that has received much exposure via television. It's a real treat to see Robinson take a turn at comedy; something he didn't do often but he had the skills to do it. Brother Orchid was released in 1940 & was directed by Lloyd Bacon. It's presented in the full screen format (1.33:1) & is in black & white.
Little John Sarto (Edward G. Robinson) has had enough of the rackets after someone in his Protection Agency has knocked someone off. He decides to retire, go to Europe & get some real class. After five years & broke (he's made some incredibly bad investments), he decides to return to New York City & become the head of his Protection Agency again. His former pals welcome him with open arms but it's only a ploy. Jack Buck (Humphrey Bogart, who was still a couple of years away from superstardom) has him thrown out on his ear. Flo Addams (Ann Sothern in a hilarious role) is his long suffering girlfriend. She appeals to Buck that he & Sarto should make up & become partners again. Buck agrees but it's all a set up in order to eliminate Sarto. The hit fails but just barely. Sarto ends up at a monastery becoming Brother Orchid. Brother Superior (Donald Crisp) takes him on as a monk with some funny consequences, everything has an angle & a hustle to Sarto. After hiding in the monastery for a few months Sarto reads that Flo is going to marry a hick cowboy from Montana, Clarence Fletcher (Ralph Bellamy). Fletcher had already been in some scenes earlier in the movie. The scene where he's driving Flo & Sarto to the sanitarium to get Willie the Knife (Allen Jenkins) is a riot, he's doing bird calls while Flo & Sarto are in the backseat talking. Ralph Bellamy made a living out of playing the "other guy" who never gets the girl. I don't know for sure but this might be the only movie where Bellamy DID get the girl! I won't spoil the ending for you but it's really a change of pace for Eddie G.!
There are some bonus features on the disc. There's an audio commentary track & several short subjects: A vintage newsreel,"Henry Busse & His Orchestra" (musical short); two cartoons, "Busy Bakers" (color) & "Slap Happy Pappy" (b&w Porky Pig) & two trailers, one of Brother Orchid & one of It All Came True. The film restoration is excellent as is the audio track.
 Light-weight fun but poorly paced April 20, 2008
Genevieve Hayes (Australia)
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
After spending five years in Europe, trying to become "cultured", gangster John Sarto (Edward G. Robinson) returns home to discover that his crime syndicate has been taken over by Jack Buck (Humphrey Bogart) and that his girlfriend has become "friends" with, Clarence P. Fletcher (Ralph Bellamy), an alfalfa farmer who seems keen on marrying her. Realizing just how much Sarto knows about him, Buck decides to get rid of Sarto permanently, but Sarto manages to escape and hides out in a monastery of "Florician" monks as the titular Brother Orchid.
"Brother Orchid" has managed to hold up reasonably well over time. This is a light hearted film and although not hilariously funny, the jokes still bring a smile to my face in the more cynical 21st century. The biggest problem with this film is its pacing. It just takes too long for Sarto to get to the monastery (about 45 minutes into a 90 minute film) and too little time is spent there once he arrives (not to mention the fact that none of the monks are remotely three-dimensional in their characters). I feel that the writers missed many opportunities when writing this film, many of which were later explored in the similarly-themed "Sister Act". Given the pacing problems, I think that many younger viewers would probably lose interest in this film before Sarto even reaches the monastery. Nevertheless, my father, who saw this film for the first time as a child, thoroughly enjoyed rewatching it.
Overall, "Brother Orchid" is an entertaining movie, and I did like Belamy's character very much, but it's not a cinema classic. Both Robinson and Bogart have made many films that are more deserving of your time than this one.
Uneasy combination - comedy and drama April 11, 2008
Douglas M
1 out of 4 found this review helpful
"Brother Orchid" is a 1940 Warner Brothers release starring the great Edward G Robinson. The first half of the film is a rollicking comedy, not unlike predecessors, "The Little Giant" and "A Slight Case of Murder", with Robinson as a gangster who leaves his mob and travels overseas in a bid for "class". It has the merit of the terrific Ann Sothern as his dizzy girlfriend. Sothern works miracles creating a 3 dimensional and delightful character from cardboard. There are many more excellent supporting players including Allen Jenkins as a henchman and Ralph Bellamy typecast as a hick. The film then switches to Robinson hiding from rival gangster Humphrey Bogart in a monk's seminary. The problem, however, is that the switch to the seminary, trying for cute, is simply dreary and completely unconvincing. Robinson does not look comfortable and Donald Crisp, as Brother Superior, head of the seminary, is at his most sanctimonious and irritating. There are a lot of amusing ideas which lead nowhere. Robinson ends the film in the monastory, giving up his past colourful life and makes a short speech about the goodness of man. This was probably a nod to the war whch was then currently raging but is less than convincing.
The print of the film is very good. This was a quality Hal Wallis production with excellent lighting and camera work. The DVD has some good extras. There is a dull commentary shared between biographers of Robinson and Bogart. Eric Lax, in particular, is the master of statistics and rattles off how many films each supporting player made etc which becomes very tedious. Warner's Night at the Movies is included. The cartoon is amusing with take offs of many characters of the period including Eddie Cantor, Jack Benny and Bing Crosby. The musical short has some entertaining swing from a long forgotten band and there is a trailer for the film and another more entertaining 1940 release, "It all Came True" which starred the tantalising Anne Sheridan.
The package is comprehensive like all these Warner's DVDs and best value if purchased as part of the Warner's Gangsters Collection Volume 3.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 16
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