Tonight's Movie: The Boss (1956) - A Kino Lorber Blu-ray Review

As regular readers know, Kino Lorber's Dark Side of Cinema collections have been among my favorite Blu-ray releases of the last few years.

Today I circled back to the seventh set in the series to watch John Payne in THE BOSS (1956). I have previously reviewed the set's CHICAGO CONFIDENTIAL (1957) and THE FEARMAKERS (1958), both of which I enjoyed.

THE BOSS was absorbing but it was probably my least favorite of the group, as Payne plays a despicable character who never reforms. It's a tragic tale.

The film begins as Matt Brady (a beefy-looking Payne) and his friend Bob (William Bishop) return from service in World War I.

Matt is a bossy know-it-all who's impatient with his older brother Tim (Roy Roberts), a successful politician. In short order Matt gets drunk, brawls with Bob, and marries Lorry (Gloria McGhee), a woman he meets while drunk. Tim is so shocked by Matt's refusal to annul his marriage that he has a heart attack and dies.

Matt stays married to Lorry but almost completely ignores her, despite her periodic attempts to have an actual relationship with Matt. Bob, meanwhile, marries Matt's old flame Elsie (Doe Avedon) and goes to work for Matt as his lawyer.

Matt takes over his late brother's political operation and over time both his power and his corruption grow; he ultimately becomes involved with mobsters, leading to a remarkable set piece at a railroad station and Matt's eventual downfall.

The film, loosely based on a true story, is quite sad, particularly in its CITIZEN KANE-like story of the Brady marriage. McGhee is moving as the discarded wife, who despite rejection attempts more than once to connect with her husband, only to be pushed away again. I don't believe I've seen any of McGhee's other work; she impressed me.

The closest Matt allows himself to get to anyone is his old friend Bob, and even that eventually ends in sadness; for the most part, he's a miserable loner who has power and nothing else. Payne is completely convincing in a role that's miles from MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET (1947), though as the film goes on it's increasingly hard to find watching him enjoyable. Payne, incidentally, also served as one of the film's producers.

THE BOSS runs 89 minutes and was written by Dalton Trumbo, whose work on the film was initially covered up due to his blacklisting.

THE BOSS was directed by Byron Haskin and filmed in widescreen black and white by Hal Mohr.

Kino Lorber's print is from a new 2K master with very good video and sound quality.

Extras include a commentary track by Alan K. Rode; the trailer; and two additional trailers.

Thanks to Kino Lorber for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray collection.

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