Product Description

This is an Authentic Region 1 DVD from Warner Brothers released on October 3, 2006. Extras include: Commentary by director Vincent Sherman and Bogart biographer Eric Lax, Vintage newsreel, Joe Doakes comedy short 'So You Want to Give Up Smoking', Classic cartoon 'Lights Fantastic', Trailers for All Through the Night and Gentleman Jim, Call the Usual Suspects: The Craft of the Character Actor featurette.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #21001 in DVD
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Formats: NTSC, Black & White
• Subtitled in: French, Spanish
• Running time: 107 minutes

Features

• Release Date: October 03, 2006

Customer Reviews

Overlooked gem!
One of Bogey's best films, this action-comedy holds up now far better than a number of his better-known pictures.

A terrific, colorful cast of characters portray Broadway gamblers and Irish-American gangsters facing off against a Nazi spy ring in WWII New York City. A fast-moving story, a lot of great dialogue, and a glimpse of familiar faces like Phil Silvers and Jackie Gleason in their salad days. Cast also includes wonderful Warner regulars like Peter Lorre and Conrad Veidt.

all through the night
excellent film, highly underrated..film quality vivid for black & white...
thanks for the thrill of this movie....mike b. camp

Corny and dated
"All Through the Night" is a 1942 Warner Brother's production starring Humphrey Bogart, one of the first films he made once his status as a superstar was established after "The Maltese Falcon" and "High Sierra". The film starts as a Damon Runyon styled comedy but quickly develops into a thriller in the vein of "The Thirty Nine Steps". Bogart plays Gloves Donahoe who heads a gang along Broadway who stumble across fifth columnists. The director, Vincent Sherman, in his own words, borrowed from Hitchcock but neither the comedy nor the suspense really come off.

Bogart is miscast as a Damon Runyan character although he is still entertaining. His henchman such as William Demarest and Frank McHugh are too heavy handed to be amusing lacking the whimsical touch necessary. Phil Silvers and Jackie Gleason are there too. Vincent Sherman, in the worthwhile commentary attached to the film, explains that both comedians were handed to him so he suggested they provide some material for themselves. Neither make much impression in their small roles. The film is filled with a great supporting cast such as Jane Darwell as Bogart's Irish mother, Peter Lorre as one of the Germans, Judith Anderson acting sinister and Conrad Veidt as their leader. All are excellent as usual but let down by the weak material. The film is really a B film elevated to A budget because Bogart was the lead. The leading lady is Kaaren Verne who looks like Alice Faye. Her part is pure cliche.

The film is well made but it is very drawn out. Sherman's commentary is accompanied by the Bogart biographer, Eric Lax, who always bombards the viewer with endless biographical facts about the players. At least here, he is slowed down because of the interpolation of Sherman.

The DVD contains an excellent documentary on character players although I would dispute the inclusion of Lorre and Veidt who were both major stars before reaching Hollywood and commanded more respect than being mere character actors. There is also another episode of Warner's Night at the Movies which includes a Joe McDoak's short on giving up smoking. The script cynically skirts the addictive nature of nicotine although the implication is clearly there. The newsreel focuses on the war and the cartoon is an unusual surreal number looking at the billboards on Broadway - very creative and amusing. Finally, there is a trailer for "Gentlemen Jim", one of Errol Flynn's best films, if you can cope with the Irish blarney.

As part of the Bogart Signature Collection Volume Two, the DVD is good value but you may not want to buy it on its own.