Exoticalot
People are voting emotionally.
Pluskylang
Great Film overall
Dynamixor
The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.
Joanna Mccarty
Amazing worth wacthing. So good. Biased but well made with many good points.
JohnHowardReid
All the same, without "The Maltese Falcon" and "The Big Sleep", Humphrey Bogart's reputation as Mr. Ultra-Tough Guy rests entirely on Raoul Walsh's "High Sierra" (1941) (available on a 10/10 Warner DVD). "Mad Dog" Earle is an inveterate loser, an embittered hood with an odd streak of compassion and sensitivity that finally destroys him.Bogart's performance emerges as more clearly shaded than in his previous roles and the final scenes of the film in which he defiantly meets his death — and freedom — on top of the mountain have an impact that cannot be equaled. If Bogart had continued in this fatalistic vein, he may well have laid a claim to a unique, immovably tough-guy image. Instead he made "The Big Shot" (1942) (available on DVD, at Warner Archive) in which he plays another has-been bandit, but this time dies nobly to save a mixed-up kid! And then, of course, came the exotic "Casablanca". Romance with a capital "R".
Edgar Allan Pooh
" . . . that wasn't wrong," confesses ten-cent hooker "Marie" (Ida Lupino) to Public Enemy Number One "Roy" (Humphrey Bogart). HIGH SIERRA reveals that gasoline cost about 24 cents per gallon in the high mark-up area of California's desert, but obviously inflation has pumped up the price of sex even more than that of gas since WWII. Roy is a poor sap who's been watching too many doctor movies, and believes that he can get a girl half his age simply by underwriting a little cosmetic surgery. Of course, Humphrey himself is so soft that he felt terrible seeing Ida walking toward the gas chamber in THEY DRIVE BY NIGHT, so he writes her a get-out-of-jail-free card toward the end of SIERRA. Unfortunately, Ida's dog "Pard" (Zero) eats Humphrey's homework, so SIERRA concludes with Ida once again chamber-bound. Hanging, frying, or gassing women was a frequent theme of American flicks from this period (remember Mary Astor in THE MALTESE FALCON, among others), since it was the only way one infamous member of the MPAA censor board could get off. This Perv had little interest in seeing the MEN actually most guilty getting their just desserts on film: Note how "Louis Mendoza," SIERRA's "inside man," gets off Scot Free, along with ALL of the well-heeled Crime King Pins wearing suits more expensive than Roy's.
jb_campo
High Sierra tells the story of a gangster with a heart who has a chance and a desire to change. But can he really? Bogey gives a great performance as Roy Earle, who is let out of prison by his old boss, only to be signed up for the biggest event that will finally allow him to retire from his life of crime.He meets Ida Lupino, beautiful talented actress, who plays Marie, a down and outer, street-smart girl who has led a dubious life. Then he meets Velma, a sweet, unspoiled girl, who he is drawn to. Velma's father is played by that actor who played Clarence the angel in It's a Wonderful Life, and he was terrific too.The script is tight, and the dialog even better. Not much wasted dialog here, as Bogey was always one of the most economical actors ever. Will he find true love, will he be able to break out? Watch this gem to find out. You will love High Sierra.
kennethfrankel
The movie mentions that the dog belonging to Earl is named "Pard". They seem to imply that it is a strange name. In "The Virginian" (1914), a silent film, they use "Pard" to mean "Partner". Since this is set in the West, it may have been a common term in the past. Sorry, I need 10 lines. There seems no way to avoid getting trapped on the big mountain. It also would seem that the girlfriend, played by Lupino, would be charged today with aiding a criminal. There are several ways that could phrased. It is a shame that the 2 leads did not appear together again. Being trapped up there with no food or water, and no warm clothes at altitude could have been fatal.
