Kings Row (DVD), Warner Archives, Drama

It's a quaint turn-of-the-century small town of shady streets, swimming holes and the Sunday afternoon clip-clop of horse and buggy. But that peaceful exterior conceals human lives twisted by cruelty, murder and madness. Kings Row is one of Warner Bros.' most distinguished productions, highlighted by an outstanding cast, haunting James Wong Howe cinematography and a somber, emotion-laden Erich Wolfgang Korngold score. Ann Sheridan, Robert Cummings, Betty Field, Claude Rains and Charles Coburn give indelible performances - and Ronald Reagan's portrayal of Drake, a cheerful ne'er-do-well shattered by tragedy, has been hailed as his career best. Nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Kings Row is a powerful American saga of dreams, despair and triumph.