BROTHER ORCHID .
Edward G Robinson & Humphrey Bogart,
Ann Sothern, Donald Crisp, Ralph Bellamy.
Dir: Lloyd Bacon, 1940, Warner Bros.

SYNOPSIS:
A mob boss travels the globe searching for style and class but eventually finds it at a monastery after he staggers bleeding and dying (having been betrayed by his gang and Bogie the über weasel) to the peaceful monks' door. Robinson satires his own gangster persona but, in doing so, delivers a really satisfying performance for those of us who like him best when the only time he's not chewing a cigar is when he's snarling a threat. There's a nice, comical subplot with Ann Sothern as his 'moll' and the Texan rancher she takes a liking to. A very cool little movie.

"It took one month to complete. They used 10, 000 fake flowers for the garden scenes. Although it eventually earned Robinson some solid notices and a good financial return for Warners', he hardly smiled the entire time it was filming."
- Alan Gansberg, E G Robinson biographer.

REVIEWS:
"Rather uneasy blend of comedy, drama and religion with some good scenes."
- Leslie Halliwell.