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Brother Orchid (1940)

 -  Comedy | Crime | Drama  -  8 June 1940 (USA)
7.0
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Ratings: 7.0/10 from 1,241 users  
Reviews: 17 user | 15 critic

When retired racket boss John Sarto tries to reclaim his place and former friends try to kill him, he finds solace in a monastery and reinvents himself as a pious monk.

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Writers:

(screen play), (based on the story by: Collier's Magazine), 2 more credits »
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Title: Brother Orchid (1940)

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Photos

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
Little John Sarto
...
Flo Addams
...
Jack Buck
...
Brother Superior
...
Clarence Fletcher
...
Willie The Knife
Charles D. Brown ...
Brother Wren
Cecil Kellaway ...
Brother Goodwin
Morgan Conway ...
Philadelphia Powell
Richard Lane ...
Mugsy O'Day
Paul Guilfoyle ...
Red Martin
John Ridgely ...
Texas Pearson
Joseph Crehan ...
Brother MacEwen
Wilfred Lucas ...
Brother MacDonald
Tom Tyler ...
Curley Matthews
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Storyline

Gang boss Little John Sarto returns from Europe where he was looking for "class" to find his old mob taken over by Jack Burns. When he puts together a rival gang he gets wounded and seeks refuge in a monastery. He is gradually transformed by the simple, sincere brothers and, after one last gangland appearance, decides he has found class at last in the monastery. Written by Ed Stephan <stephan@cc.wwu.edu>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

We'd like youse to meet Brother Orchid!

Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Romance

Certificate:

Approved | See all certifications »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

8 June 1940 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Orchid, der Gangsterbruder  »

Company Credits

Production Co:

 »
Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

(RCA Sound System)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

"The Screen Guild Theater" broadcast a 30 minute radio adaptation of the movie on February 16, 1941 with Donald Crisp reprising his film role. See more »

Goofs

When Edward G. Robinson returns to Ann Sothern's former rooming house and the landlady tell him she's moved, the boom mic is visible in the door's glass panel. See more »

Quotes

Flo Addams: Johnny, wait a minute. I want you to carry this with you.
Little Johnny Sarto: What is it?
Flo Addams: It's a rabbit's foot. A lucky charm. My uncle wore it for 32 years.
Little Johnny Sarto: A lucky charm, eh? Where'd you get it?
Flo Addams: From my mother. With her own hand she took it off of my uncle after they hung him.
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Footsteps in the Dark (1941) See more »

Soundtracks

"The Irish Washerwoman"
(uncredited)
Traditional
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User Reviews

 
Routine Gangster Film
9 April 2010 | by See all my reviews

A wounded gangster escapes execution by a rival gang and finds sanctuary in a monastery, as he convalesces. This routine gangster film veers between serious crime drama and comedy, never really finding a true identity. Robinson, who became a star playing Little Caesar, here plays Little Johnny, a no-nonsense tough guy who finds a higher calling. This is Bogart's last role as a sidey villain, as he played a good guy in his next film, "They Drive by Night," before becoming a star with "High Sierra." Sothern is fine as Robinson's moll. Bellamy, who made a career out of playing "the other man," does so here, amusing as an earnest cowboy who tries to woo Sothern.


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