On H List of Movie Reviews

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High Sierra (1941)

Rate: 8
Viewed: 7/15

7/15: High Sierra is an above average fast-paced film noir that slows down considerably in the home stretch and has a weak ending.

All fans of Humphrey Bogart should consider it a treat because he's at the top of his game, making a permanent transition from a supporting actor to a leading actor. However, it's hard to root for his character because he's a criminal to begin with: a convicted bank robber and cop killer. That's why these small acts of goodwill want to manipulate me into thinking he's a good guy.

Ida Lupino complements Humphrey Bogart well and turns in a good performance. It's obvious that her character is the right sort for Earle over Velma who's like any ordinary girl who prefers to be wrapped in pop culture. In real life, these two stars never got along.

Oddly, judging by the looks of Velma's boyfriend, why can't he pay for the surgery to cure her clubfoot? There are other silly parts which are hard to take seriously such as the dog doing tricks, the stereotypical black nitwit (Willie Best who would be busted for heroin and pass away from cancer at the age of 45), and the dancing show that Velma put on in mere days after undergoing through a major foot surgery.

All in all, High Sierra is a good start for Humphrey Bogart as a leading actor, but he'll star in better films that have gone on to be timeless classics.

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