Humphrey Bogart 4-Film Collection

“There was only one BOGART. Perhaps Warner Bros.’ most famous leading man during Hollywood’s golden age, Humphrey Bogart’s star shines bright in four classic dramas from the 1940s. Bogie shares the screen with George Raft, Ann Sheridan and Ida Lupino in THEY DRIVE BY NIGHT, while Bogie takes on the Nazis under the direction of Michael Curtiz in PASSAGE TO MARSEILLE. In the suspense thriller CONFLICT, he takes on a more off-beat role co-starring with Sydney Greenstreet and Alexis Smith, and he’s a former WWII flier playing opposite the lovely Eleanor Parker in the exciting CHAIN LIGHTNING..”

Warner Archive’s Humphrey Bogart 4-Film Collection Blu-ray is a terrific showcase of the iconic actor’s range, bundling four diverse titles that demonstrate why he became a legend in Hollywood. From hard-boiled truckers to wartime patriots, murderous husbands, and daring test pilots, the set gives us a good sample of the types of characters Bogart played: tough, brooding everyman with moral complexity, even with the morals are there, such as in Conflict, his panic and paranoia are infectious. value, making it an easy upgrade or discovery for fans.

They Drive by Night (1940)

Two independent truck-driving brothers, Joe (George Raft) and Paul (Humphrey Bogart), hustle produce across California during the Depression while dodging loan sharks and exhaustion. When Paul loses an arm in a crash, Joe joins a transport company, but a jealous wife’s murder plot threatens to frame him for the crime. Bogart plays Paul as a loyal, grounded family man, supporting yet quietly intense, showing early shades of the stoic anti-hero he’d perfect later. It’s a solid noir-ish drama with Bogart’s understated presence anchoring the grit.

Passage to Marseille (1944)

Five French convicts escape Devil’s Island and join the Free French forces during WWII, battling Nazis and internal betrayal aboard a freighter bound for home. Humphrey Bogart stars as Jean Matrac, a framed journalist turned hardened escapee driven by patriotism. Bogart brings fierce conviction and quiet intensity to the role, commanding the screen with the same brooding charisma that defined his wartime icons. Here, he’s a man of principle fighting for freedom, making the adventure feel personal and urgent. With WWII raging during the filming, it’s interesting have the subject country be France during the beginnings of its initial occupation, portraying a different mindset for characters whose native country is in the midst of chaos.

Conflict (1945)

A wealthy engineer (Humphrey Bogart) murders his wife to pursue her younger sister, only to be haunted by guilt and a clever psychologist’s mind games. Bogart plays Richard Mason as a cold, calculating villain, callous and increasingly paranoid, delivering one of his rare unsympathetic roles with chilling restraint and subtle menace. It’s a psychological noir that lets Bogart explore darker territory, proving his versatility beyond the heroic tough guys.

Chain Lightning (1950)

A former WWII bomber pilot (Humphrey Bogart) returns home to test experimental jets for a shady aviation company, facing danger in the skies and old flames on the ground. Bogart is Matt Brennan, a cocky yet principled test pilot blending swagger with quiet heroism. He brings his signature cool and moral depth to the role, making the high-stakes flying sequences feel grounded in real stakes and character.

Video

Each film is presented in 1080p High Definition. These black-and-white entries offer crisp contrast and fine detail, looking exceptional. Grain is natural and well-managed. If you’re familiar with the transfers from the previous Blu-ray stand-alone releases, they haven’t changed.

Audio

Audio tracks are faithful originals: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono, delivering clear dialogue, robust scores, and subtle effects without distortion. The mixes hold up well for their eras, balancing everything nicely.

Special Features

Extras are carried over from prior Warner Archive releases, shorts, and trailers for select titles, and other interesting additions. Nothing brand new for the set. These include:

• Chain Lightning:
  • Looney Tunes Short: “Bear Feat”
  • Joe McDoakes Short: “So You Want to Be an Actor”
  • Theatrical Trailer
• Passage to Marseille:
  • Warner Night at the Movies
    • Uncertain Glory Theatrical Trailer
    • Newsreel
    • I Won’t Play
    • Jammin’ the Blues
    • The Weakly Reporter
  • The Free French: Unsung Victors
  • Breakdowns
  • Theatrical Trailer
• Conflict:
  • Theatrical Trailer
  • Merrie Melodies Shorts
  • Life With Feathers
  • Trap Happy Porky
  • Vitaphone / Variety Shorts
  • Peeks at Hollywood
  • Are Animals Actors?
  • Theater of Romance
• They Drive By Night:
  • Lux Radio Theater Broadcast
  • Divided Highway: The Story of “They Drive By Night”
  • Swingtime in the Movies
  • Theatrical Trailer

The Humphrey Bogart 4-Film Collection Blu-ray is a must-have for Bogie fans, offering a perfect cross-section of his iconic range at a great price. If you’re like me, only familiar with his most iconic roles in films such as Casablanca, The Maltese Falcon, and The African Queen, this set, which combines several previously available Warner Archive discs highlight some of Bogart’s lesser known, yet still entertaining films. From loyal everyman to principled patriot, cold killer, and daring pilot, it highlights why his star still shines bright. This one’s out March 17.

AV Entertainment provided us with a copy of this disc for review, which if interested, you can purchase here.