High Sierra (1941)

High Sierra

ESSENTIAL MOVIE!!! High Sierra was the movie that finally catapulted Bogey into a major star. The role of Roy Earle was one he had campaigned to get but almost didn't. Bogey recognized the role as being one that was complex & challenging. Yhis was also the last film that Bogey didn't get top billing, Warner Bros. had decided to give Ida Lupino that distinction though her role was subordinate to Bogey's.

Roy Earle is a bank robber that has done several years incarcerated. at the opening of the film we see Earle being released on a pardon. A friend, Big Mac (Donald MacBride) has worked hard behind the scenes to secure his release. But it's not just generosity, Big Mac wants Earle to go to California for a sure-thing heist. From the very beginning we see the complexities of the Earle character. Immediately upon his release he wants to "see if the grass is still green & if the trees are still growing."

Earle meets up with an ex-cop, Jake Kranmer (Barton MacLane), who has the information, cash & car for Earle to get to California. Earle instantly dislikes & distrusts Kranmer & slaps him around. Here, we see the other side of the Earle character, the one who can be violent & vicious.

On the journey across the country he happens to meet a family heading the same way & more than broke. Pa (Henry Travers) & Earle take an instant liking to one another, Pa even thinks he's one of the best men alive though he doesn't realize who Earle is. There's also Pa's wife, Ma (Elizabeth Risdon) & Pa's daughter by a previous marriage, Velma (Joan Leslie). The family is going to California because Pa's ex-wife & mother of Velma has invited them to live with her. Velma is a beautiful young lady but she has one problem: She has a club foot. Earle falls for her immediately though there's a big age difference. Once again, we see the good & caring side of the Earle character.

When Earle arrives at his destination he finds the two men, Red (Arthur Kennedy) & Babe (Alan Curtis), at a cabin with a dime-a-dance woman with them, Marie (Ida Lupino). Earle doesn't want the woman there becuause he senses trouble. He tells Red to get rid of her. Later, Marie goes to Earle's cabin & convinces him to let her stay. Red & Babe are inexperienced, Red's in awe of him but Babe sees him as being over the hill. It's here at the dog, Pard, is introduced. He's a lovable & intelligent mutt that has taken up with other people previously. Algernon (Willie Best) informs Earle that Pard is bad luck, every person the mutt has stayed with has died. Now we have the harbinger of death. But Pard really takes a liking to Earle & it's mutual. We see the good side of Earle again; you can't be all bad if a lovable mutt takes a shine to you, can you?

The heist has an inside man, Louis Mendoza (Cornel Wilde - in only his second movie), who works the counter at the rich resort Earle has been hired to rob. Once again, Earle suspects Mendoza as a snitch & sees him as being a weak link in the plan. Earle subtly threatens Mendoza with a story about another snitch who was killed with a machine gun which Earle has just produced in a musical case.

Earle falls in love with Velma & feels that Velma should have an operation on her foot. He brings along Doc (Henry Hull) to examine her. Though Doc can't do the operation himself, he tells Earle it can be done & he knows the right doctor who can do it for $500! To complicate this Marie has fallen in love with Earle. When Earle confesses to Marie he'd like to marry her she rejects him but not without some regret. Earle rejects Marie, likewise, being honest with her about his feelings for Marie. After the heist Earle pays one more visit to the family & Velma because he had promised to see Velma after the operation. Velma is now happy & appears to be headed toward a life of partying. It appears that she's ungrateful & gets ugly with Earle.

The heist goes terribly wrong; Earle shoots a night watchman, Red & Babe are killed during the escape but Mendoza survives the car crash That killed Red & Babe. Later, while in custody of the police, Mendoza fingers Earle as the escaped robber.

The final scenes include an exciting car chase & Earle's demise at Mount Whitney.

Bogart's interpretation of the Earle character is dynamic. He's able to play both sides of the character convincingly. Lupino is excellent as is Leslie. It's unfortunate that the movie didn't receive any Academy nominations though it did receive three nominations from the National Board of Review winning two; Bogart for best actor & Lupino for best actress, the other nomination was for best movie. The screenplay was by John Huston & W. R. Burnett, author of the novel. It was a rather faithful adaptation of the book which Huston had a reputation for. High Sierra was directed by the great Raoul Walsh, one of Hollywood's best.

The disc has a bonus feature, "Roy Earle: The Story of High Sierra" that's a little less than fifteen minutes. In this feature we learn about the odds that Bogey had to overcome to secure the role of Roy Earle. The role was offered to every tough guy at Warner Bros., George Raft, Edward G. Robinson, James Cagney & Paul Muni. Raft came the closest to gaining the role but balked at some points in the script. This event, & the later one where Raft turned down the role of Rick in Casablanca, led to Bogey becoming one of Hollywood's most loved & sought after actors. Thank you, George Raft! November 24, 2008

"CLASSIC CRIME DRAMA"

Roy Earle is released from prison and is preparing for his final heist. Screenplay by,W.R.Bernett&
John Houston. Directer;Raoul Walch. Lupino&bogart with a great cast. I call this movie;Sympathy
for the criminal film. (You're brought into their world.) This is a well crafted movie from the
40's.
The most subtle scene is,Bogart at the cigaret counter.
Check my review of;"I died a 1000 times."(remake.)
Extra's:Interviews,which includes Joan Leslie. Trailers,etc. November 21, 2008

The film that made a star out of Bogart...and his dog, too!

"High Sierra" is an important film in many ways. It was the bridge between 1930's gangster movies and 1940's film noir. It was the first instance of the romantic, sympathetic criminal. It was also the pivotal movie of Bogart's career. It was the first time the studio's publicity department promoted him as a "star" and the last time he didn't receive top billing in a film. He deserved the attention he received for pulling off the character of Roy "Mad Dog" Earle; he was able to make this Dillinger-with-a-heart-of-gold believable.

The film benefits from a lot of top drawer talent; directed by Raoul Walsh from a screen play adaptation by John Houston. Bogart and Ida Lupino were reunited from their previous successful teaming in "They Drive by Night." The strong supporting cast includes Joan Leslie as the girl Bogart wanted to marry, and Cornel Wilde as the "inside man" on the planned heist. Even the dog is wonderful! (The role of "Pard" is played by Bogart's own pet mutt, Zero.)

Walsh fought for and won the right to film on location at Mount Whitney. We're used to location shooting now, but if you watch many films contemporary to "High Sierra" you can't help but notice the artificial "filmed" background screens.

Warner Brothers does their usual nice job with the DVD package. The print has been cleaned up significantly; the video is very good quality and the sound is crisp and clean.

Special features include an original trailer for "High Sierra" and an interesting documentary about Bogart's career and the making of this film. Already somewhat familiar with Bogart's biography the narrative didn't have any big surprises, but there are a couple of amazing photos of Bogart in his early 20's. One shot of him at about age 22 in a top hat and tails, sporting an ear to ear grin, doesn't bear any resemblance to the Bogart we all know and love.

"High Sierra" is a significant film that belongs in any serious film buff's collection.

Highly recommended!
July 6, 2008

One of Bogarts best.

I had seen this movie on TV enough, that I decided to go ahead and buy this DVD. It's a wonderful addition to my movie collection.

The DVD is beautiful, very nice transfer. Movie itself is wonderful, full of intrigue and the last few minutes of the movie are wonderful.

All the preformances are spectacular. This is one of Bogart's best movies, Dark Passage is another wonderful Bogart film. Ida Lupino, Arthur Kennedy add to the richness of the picture. I recommend buying this DVD. January 7, 2008

High Sierra

Though the forties saw a waning in gangster pictures, early on Bogart was given a juicy breakout role in Walsh's "High Sierra", as a killer with a compassionate side. Bogart's "Mad Dog" Earle is more Dillinger than Capone, more sympathetic and human, but when threatened, still a scary individual. Young Lupino stands out as Earle's loyal protector who can't win his love. Co-written by a young John Huston, "High Sierra" is a solid, flavorful entry for "Bogie-as-bad-guy" fans, boasting a slam-bang finish. June 22, 2007

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