Ultimate Gangsters Collection: Classics Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Ultimate Gangsters Collection: Classics Blu-ray Movie Review

Myeah!

Reviewed by Randy Miller III July 24, 2025

Another choice entry in Warner Bros.' recent glut of OOP catalog reprints, the four-film Ultimate Gangsters Collection: Classics resurrects their solid 2013 set as a keepcase edition that retains all of the same on-disc content: Little Caesar and The Public Enemy from 1931, 1936's The Petrified Forest, and 1949's White Heat, as well as a set-exclusive fifth bonus DVD (remember those?) containing the lightweight but entertaining feature-length 2008 documentary Public Enemies: The Golden Age of the Gangster Film and a handful of semi-related Looney Tunes shorts.

For synopses and appreciations of the four films included here, please see the 2013 Blu-ray reviews written by Michael Reuben which are linked below. I've got a much bigger soft spot for Little Caesar than Michael but otherwise agree with his thoughts -- this is a solid lineup of classic films, and it's disappointing that at least one additional Classics volume was never curated like Warner Bros. did in 2014 for their similar Contemporary collection.

Little Caesar

The Public Enemy

The Petrified Forest

White Heat

Ultimate Gangsters Collection: Classics Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

For individual write-ups about each 1080p transfer, please see the separate reviews linked below. Please note that, although identical to those earlier releases, I averaged this set at a 4/5 (down slightly from Michael's 4.5 on the 2013 set) since one of these then-new restorations (Little Caesar) is beginning to show its age. Michael notes in his review that many of its problems are tied to source material issues, but I believe it could really benefit from a brand-new scan and more careful frame-by-frame cleanup. The other three, however, still hold up surprisingly well.

Ultimate Gangsters Collection: Classics Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Likewise, notes about the DTS-HD 1.0 Master Audio mixes for each film can be found at the linked reviews.

Ultimate Gangsters Collection: Classics Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This five-disc set ships in a hinged keepcase with recycled cover artwork; it's obviously a step down from the deluxe 2013 set which also included a 32-page book and slipcase, but it's practical and takes up very little shelf space. The on-disc bonus features are again identical to the previous Blu-rays, while the fifth bonus disc (a DVD) includes the same extras as found on the 2013 set; everything is listed below, but full coverage is found at the links.

Little Caesar - An audio commentary with film historian Richard B. Jewell, "Warner Night at the Movies 1930", a retrospective featurette, the 1954 re-release foreword, and the theatrical trailer.

The Public Enemy - An audio commentary with film historian Robert Sklar, "Warner Night at the Movies 1932", a retrospective featurette, the 1954 re-release foreword, and the theatrical trailer.

The Petrified Forest - An audio commentary with film scholar Eric Lax, "Warner Night at the Movies 1936", a retrospective featurette, a vintage radio broadcast, and the theatrical trailer.

White Heat- An audio commentary with USC film professor Dr. Drew Casper, "Warner Night at the Movies 1949", a retrospective featurette, and the theatrical trailer.

Bonus DVD - The 2008 feature-length retrospective documentary "Public Enemies: The Golden Age of the Gangster Film" as well as four semi- related Merrie Melodies and Looney Tunes shorts.

Ultimate Gangsters Collection: Classics Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Warner Bros.' Ultimate Gangsters Collection: Classics was a fine release back in 2013, as was its sister set Ultimate Gangsters Collection: Contemporary, and I'm happy to see the former is back in print even if it's now a less elaborate keepcase-only edition. All four films included here are genre classics (or close enough) and, despite the fact that brand-new restorations or a 4K makeover would've been preferred, those who missed out the first time out should pick this one up. It's got hours of entertainment for the price of one new release and thus comes Recommended.