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Karloff: Criminal Kind

Jack Holt (Actor), Walter Huston (Actor), Howard Hawks (Director), Rated:
NR
Format: DVD
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 9 ratings
Additional DVD, Multiple Formats, Box set, Dolby options Edition Discs
Price
New from Used from
DVD, Multiple Formats, Box set, Dolby
November 25, 2014 		—
3
—
$25.46 $24.50
Genre Mystery & Suspense
Format NTSC, Multiple Formats, Box set, Dolby
Contributor Walter Huston, Andy Devine, Arthur Hoyt, John Sheehan, Ruth Warren, Jimmy Wilcox, Jack Holt, Lee Phelps, Eddie Boland, Ethel Wales, Boris Karloff, Emma Dunn, Otto Hoffman, Phil Tead, Jack Vance, Murray Kinnell, Nicholas Soussanin, Paul Porcasi, John Francis Dillon, Robert Young, Edward Van Sloan, Clark Marshall, Claude King, Hugh Walker, Mary Doran, William J. O'Brien, Rowland V. Lee, Leo Carrillo, Elliott Rothe, Leslie Fenton, James Guilfoyle, Willard Robertson, Constance Cummings, Howard Hawks, Bertha Mann, Frederic Howard, John St. Polis, Phillips Holmes, De Witt Jennings See more
Language English
Number Of Discs 3

Product Description

Turner Classic Movies and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment proudly present Karloff Criminal Kind, a new collection of three atmospheric crime thrillers that showcase Boris Karloff's intensity and depth as a dramatic actor. Presented for the first time on DVD, these three films have been fully restored and re-mastered. (The Criminal Code, 1931) After playing bit parts and extras in over 60 films, Karloff finally got his big break by reprising his theatrical role as a prison trustee with an unforgiving sense of justice in this early example of the "prison film." Director Howard Hawks (1932's Scarface), (1946's The Big Sleep) consulted actual Death Row inmates on how the picture should end with a chilling climax that would etch Karloff in the minds of moviegoers as a doer of evil deeds. This was the first feature film of 1931 for Karloff, a year in which he would appear in sixteen movies including the picture that launched him to stardom, (Frankenstein). (The Guilty Generation, 1931) Karloff is Tony Ricca, a notorious bootlegger locked in a mortal struggle with former ally Mike Palermo (Leo Carrillo) even as their children fall in love. This Prohibition-era twist on "Romeo and Juliet," featuring up-and-comer Robert Young as Karloff's son Marco and Constance Cummings as the young Maria Palermo, reflected a turn in the tide of public opinion against mobsters, who had long been glamorized in the movies. With photography by four-time Academy Award nominated special effects designer, director and cinematographer Byron Haskin (1939's The Roaring Twenties), (1953's, The War of the Worlds), the film paints a tense portrait of crime during the Great Depression. (Behind The Mask, 1932) In production as Frankenstein, (1931) was being shipped to cinemas, and released in February of 1932, (Behind The Mask) would try to take advantage of the former film's success by promoting itself as a quasi-horror film, with Karloff's mug plastered on posters that asked "Who is the murdering monster?" In reality, it is a pure pulp fiction romp by veteran pre-Code drama director John Francis Dillon (1929's Fast Life), (1931's Millie) a complicated but addictive tale of a secret service agent (Jack Holt) who infiltrates a gang of drug smugglers to bring down its ringleader, the elusive Dr. X, and his henchman Henderson (Karloff).

Product details

  • Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
  • MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
  • Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 0.7 x 7.5 x 5.4 inches; 4.32 ounces
  • Item model number ‏ : ‎ 790022
  • Director ‏ : ‎ Howard Hawks, Rowland V. Lee, John Francis Dillon
  • Media Format ‏ : ‎ NTSC, Multiple Formats, Box set, Dolby
  • Release date ‏ : ‎ November 25, 2014
  • Actors ‏ : ‎ Jack Holt, Walter Huston, Leo Carrillo, Constance Cummings, Phillips Holmes
  • Studio ‏ : ‎ Turner Classics Mod
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00D5LGR58
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 3
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 9 ratings

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4.2 out of 5 stars
9 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • random
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good buy
    Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I liked two of the movies in this collection.Buying the collection is cheaper&easier than buying each one individually.No problems with the quality of the footage.Dvds&dvd case arrived undamged.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Mark Martucci
    3.0 out of 5 stars THE CRIMINAL CODE is one of Karloff's best performances. Maybe his best pre-FRANKENSTEIN film
    Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    For the price, this set would be a hard sell.
    The films are all over the map in the Karloff filmography. THE CRIMINAL CODE is one of Karloff's best performances. Maybe his best pre-FRANKENSTEIN film.
    Be warned that he is not on screen all that much in two of these. One should purchase this depending on how much of a Karloff completest one happens to be. I would say the price is a bit too high for most Karloff enthusiasts.
    15 people found this helpful
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  • Matt Conlon
    4.0 out of 5 stars These films are quite good, and will certainly entertain and perhaps educate those ...
    Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    These films are quite good, and will certainly entertain and perhaps educate those who only know Karloff from the Universal horror pictures!
    6 people found this helpful
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  • William A Bourne
    3.0 out of 5 stars Karloff "Light"
    Reviewed in the United States on August 17, 2013
    TCM trying to make money off Boris Karloff name when in fact in these 3 movies he is not the headliner or the second. His average time on the screen is approx. 5 minutes for each movie. These are fair "B" movies There are several other sets that would be a better investment. Also, interesting TCM did not publish my review! So if you are a Boris Karloff fan don't waste your money on this!
    17 people found this helpful
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  • Molly
    4.0 out of 5 stars 3 early Karloff Flicks~ bit parts worth the watch~ 4 STARS~
    Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2016
    3 Karloff early Karloff movies~ Hard to find and worth the watch. NO staring roles but he often steals the show. Worth the price~

    1. The Criminal Code~ one of his better early movies. Brooding career criminal Galloway (Karloff) holds a grudge as he schemes revenge....as he rots.... in the big house. He earns a "trustee" job working for the warden (Walter Huston). He kills the "stoolie" in a carefully staged murder. When a cell mate/ witness ends up in the "hole" /solitary confinement.... for him he decides he can kill of the guard he hates and clear his cell mate. Howard Hawks gem. VERY good movie.
    2. The Guilty Generation~ Karloff is a despised Italian Bootlegger who's own son hates him (Robert Young) even changed his name to avoid any connection with his despised family. Young falls for the daughter (Constance Cummings) of his father's worst enemy. The Romeo and Juliet angle holds the plot together. Karloff is on the screen very little. As each family ruthlessly "bump off" family members one by one. The end has a good twist ending. This is the least entertaining of the three.
    3. Behind the Mask~ The Feds will do anything to break up a big narcotics ring. They plant (Jack Holt) in the same cell as Karloff who is a stooge for the Narcotics Gang. Holt breaks out of prison and ends up at the house of a gang doctor. Again Karloff has a minor part but is fun to watch as the gang flunkie. Added fun are what were then NEW technology~ a phone voice recorder ~ a fluoroscope used to x ray through clothes to check for undercover G mens Badges and Weapons. This turns from a crime movie into a horror movie when the Narcotics ring leader has his own hospital and surgery to get rid of any "loose ends" and Holt is a very loose end. This is a very good movie. Holds the interest.

    This set is not the best of Karloff but is a good look at his early movies including minor roles. Karloff was born in England and immigrated to Canada where he did Theatre and was over 40 years old before he became a big star in Frankenstein. All Three of these movies were made before Frankenstein. One of the Bonus DVD sections gives a very interesting Bio of Karloff including where he got his stage name. I give this set 4 stars over all and video quality of the set if first rate. NO close captions.
    8 people found this helpful
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  • Arora
    3.0 out of 5 stars gotta love Boris Karloff
    Reviewed in the United States on August 10, 2013
    Personally I have not seen The Criminal Code or The Guilty Generation but I just watched Behind The Mask from 1932.
    It's not bad. A little slow getting started, things take a while to progress, worth the effort though.
    Karloff is actually a supporting character, not the lead. It was nice to see him in an ordinary role as opposed to a monster role. Apparently in real life he was a very kind, friendly man who was very devoted to his family.
    The storyline for Behind The Mask is pretty good. It's about drug smugglers who hide their wares in coffins buried n the graveyard and the secret service men who are out to reveal the crime while punishing the offenders.
    Quite a surprise for 1932.I stuck with the movie and I'm glad I did.
    I think this set would be a great addition to your Boris Karloff collection. It would be nice if the price were reduced somewhat though....
    9 people found this helpful
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