High Sierra [VHS] [1941]
This 1941 melodrama is memorable both for its strong central performances and their intimations of how the previous decade’s crime dramas would evolve into film noir–no accident, given the solid direction of veteran Raoul Walsh and the hand of screenwriter John Huston, who teamed with the author of its novelistic source, WR Burnett (Little Caesar). In the central character of Roy “Mad Dog” Earle, a fictional peer to John Dillinger, Humphrey Bogart finds a defining role that anticipates the underlying fatalism and moral ambiguity visible in the career-making roles soon to follow, including Sam Spade in Huston’s directorial debut, The Maltese Falcon (1941).
Earle suggests a prescient variation on the enraged sociopaths that were fixtures of the gangster melodramas that shaped Bogart’s early screen image. Pardoned from a long prison stretch, the weary robber is clearly more eager to savour his new freedom than immediately swing back into action. But his early release has been engineered by a mobster who wants Earle to pull off a high-stakes burglary, setting in motion a plot that is a prototype for doomed heist capers–a small, yet potent sub-genre that would later include Huston’s The Asphalt Jungle (1950) and Stanley Kubrick’s The Killing (1956).
What gives High Sierra its power, however, isn’t the crime itself but Earle’s collision with the younger, brasher confederates picked to help him, and the hard-edged but vulnerable taxi dancer they’re competing for, played forcefully by Ida Lupino, who actually received top billing. Her attraction to the reluctant Earle is complicated by a convoluted sub-plot designed to showcase then starlet Joan Leslie, but the movie finally moves into its most gripping moments when the wounded Earle, pursued by police, flees ever higher toward the mountains. His final, suicidal showdown would become a clich&éacute; of sorts in lesser films, but here it provides a wrenching climax sealed by Lupino’s vivid final scene. –Sam Sutherland
Review by for High Sierra [VHS] [1941]
(4 / 5)
Rating:
Prior to making High Sierra, Bogart was typecast as a thug or gangster or in his own words, playing ‘George Raft’s brother-in-law’. With High Sierra his chance finally came to be the star of a film, rather than well down the cast list. This film demonstrates just how good an actor Bogart really was. He veers brilliantly from being ruthless, able to kill without batting an eyelid, to being sensitive, caring and generous, and back again.The film speeds along at a good pace, taking in some incredible scenary on its way. There is something for everyone – romance, humour, car chases and a shootout. Thee is even a cute dog called ‘Pard’ (played by Bogart’s own dog)if you like animal films!Whilst not being Bogart’s best film, this is certainly not far behind, and would make a good introduction to the films of the great man.
Review by Rankin Cattan for High Sierra [VHS] [1941]
(4 / 5)
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The story of “Mad Dog Roy Earle” Bogart made this role his own Being in on a robbery organised by a dying mobster friend,which consequently goes wrong Roy Earle finds himself torn between the love he has for a crippled girl whom he tries to help,and his own hopless situation.When he is finally forced to quit the scene and run in company with a little stray dog “Pard”( who has a reputation for bring bad luck to any one he befriends,) and his lady friend played by Ida Lupino,the stage is set for the films tension filled ending on the freezing heights of the Sierra Nevada mountains .Watch and enjoy!
Review by Peter Kenney for High Sierra [VHS] [1941]
(5 / 5)
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In HIGH SIERRA Humphrey Bogart plays professional criminal Roy Earle who is pardoned from prison because of the influence of a crime boss named Big Mac. Bogart is paid advance money to report to Big Mac in California. Mac is planning to use him to lead a small gang in pulling off a jewelry robbery at a swank resort hotel.En route to California Bogart helps a distressed family he meets at the scene of a minor traffic accident. He is attracted to the granddaughter who is played by Joan Leslie. She has a deformed foot which Bogart arranges to have fixed by a surgeon in California. When he arrives at the hideout he finds two cheap crooks and a dance hall girl waiting for him. One of the hotel employees is also involved in the robbery scheme.The suspense builds rapidly from this point on as we await the outcome of both the holdup and also the romances which are developing simultaneously between Bogart and the two women.Ida Lupino gives a stellar performance as the former dance hall girl whose love for Bogart isn’t really appreciated until it may be too late.Bogart and Lupino are at their best in this film. A strong supporting cast includes Arthur Kennedy, Alan Curtis, Henry Hull, Henry Travis, Jerome Cowan and Cornell Wilde. There is also a small dog in the cast who will win your admiration and break your heart. Raoul Walsh is known for his direction of many other fine movies including ROARING TWENTIES and THE STRAWBERRY BLONDE.