Ronald Reagan's Signature Collection

The movie star who would later become the president is fondly remembered in this five-pack DVD collection, featuring films from his prime years in the movie industry between 1940 and 1952. The selection provides a good sampling of Reagan's relatively brief but impactful stint as a leading man, showcasing his persona that would later resonate with voters.

While Reagan may not have been considered a great actor, he had a unique ability to embody and personify ideas on the screen. The earliest film in the collection, "Knute Rockne, All-American" (1940), features Reagan in a pivotal role as the ill-fated Notre Dame player George Gipp, whose famous deathbed plea to Rockne, "Win just one for the Gipper," became a national catchphrase.

"Kings Row" (1942) is widely regarded as Reagan's finest screen performance. The film is a big, juicy, and rather peculiar melodrama that explores the darker aspects of small-town life. Reagan plays the more roguish of the two male leads, a charming rascal whose talent with the ladies leads him into trouble. The movie's most lurid twist culminates in Reagan's memorable line, "Where's the rest of me?", which later became the title of his autobiography.

After the Second World War, Reagan's career experienced a slight cooling, but he still managed to deliver a solid supporting performance in "The Hasty Heart" (1949). Set in a military hospital in Burma, the film hinges on a group of patients concealing a fatal prognosis from a Scotsman patient (Richard Todd). Reagan gets to showcase his photographic memory by reciting the books of the Old Testament.

In "Storm Warning" (1951), Reagan plays a more forceful role as the uncompromising local district attorney who witnesses a Ku Klux Klan killing. The film is a hybrid of film noir and social consciousness, though the exposure of the KKK is relatively tame, lacking a strong racial angle.

The final film in the collection, "The Winning Team" (1952), sees Reagan portraying the famed baseball pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander, whose struggles with illness and alcoholism form the backbone of the plot. Doris Day co-stars as Alexander's supportive wife, and the movie pays tribute to a legendary moment in baseball history.

This DVD collection provides a fascinating glimpse into the movie career of a man who would later become the 40th President of the United States. While Reagan may not have been a cinematic virtuoso, his ability to embody ideas and connect with audiences foreshadowed the qualities that would ultimately propel him to the highest office in the land.

product information: