High Sierra (1941)
In this classic Humphrey Bogart noir, a recently paroled man sets his eye on pulling one last robbery with his old cronies. He finds himself in a love triangle between Ida Lupino, a street-wise gal who’s been around, and Joan Leslie, a young girl who represents a fresh start. You’d never guess this unless you’ve seen both movies, but High Sierra was remade eight years later as a western: Colorado Territory starring Joel McCrea. Personally, I like the remake much better, but if you like gangsters better than cowboys, you might want to start with the original.
As much of a Humphrey Bogart fan as I usually am, he’s not very likable in this one. He’s been granted a parole, yet he’s still drawn to committing another crime; Joel McCrea breaks out of prison in the remake, so it makes more sense why he continues to thieve. Humph is also far too scowly for my taste. I like him much better when he’s smiling, or at least giving puppy-dog eyes to someone. In High Sierra, he’s either grouchy or tired, and his haircut doesn’t do him any favors. If this was the first movie of his I’d seen, I wouldn’t like him at all.
There are also a couple of features in this version that don’t stand the test of time and were subsequently cut out of the remake. Willie Best is Humph’s errand boy, and he’s given demeaning, humiliating lines and mannerisms. Joan Leslie’s major flaw is her club foot, and Humph thinks if he cures her, she’ll be so grateful she’ll fall in love with him. Paying for his old pal, Henry Hull, to operate on her foot is an added reason for why he wants to commit another crime, but he’d already planned it out before he met Joan and her father, Henry Travers, so it doesn’t really redeem him.
All in all, this isn’t as much of a classic as I’d been expecting. If you’re on the fence about which one to start with, I’d recommend the remake. High Sierra isn’t a movie I’d choose to rent again. You’ll get to see a really young Arthur Kennedy, though, as well as Elisabeth Risdon, Jerome Cowan, and Cornel Wilde in his first non-extra role.
Want to watch it? Click here to watch it on ok.ru. And thanks "Classic Movies Kristine Rose" for posting!
More Henry Hull movies here!
Be sure to check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of 1949's Colorado Territory here!
Be sure to check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of 1955's I Died a Thousand Times here!
As much of a Humphrey Bogart fan as I usually am, he’s not very likable in this one. He’s been granted a parole, yet he’s still drawn to committing another crime; Joel McCrea breaks out of prison in the remake, so it makes more sense why he continues to thieve. Humph is also far too scowly for my taste. I like him much better when he’s smiling, or at least giving puppy-dog eyes to someone. In High Sierra, he’s either grouchy or tired, and his haircut doesn’t do him any favors. If this was the first movie of his I’d seen, I wouldn’t like him at all.
There are also a couple of features in this version that don’t stand the test of time and were subsequently cut out of the remake. Willie Best is Humph’s errand boy, and he’s given demeaning, humiliating lines and mannerisms. Joan Leslie’s major flaw is her club foot, and Humph thinks if he cures her, she’ll be so grateful she’ll fall in love with him. Paying for his old pal, Henry Hull, to operate on her foot is an added reason for why he wants to commit another crime, but he’d already planned it out before he met Joan and her father, Henry Travers, so it doesn’t really redeem him.
All in all, this isn’t as much of a classic as I’d been expecting. If you’re on the fence about which one to start with, I’d recommend the remake. High Sierra isn’t a movie I’d choose to rent again. You’ll get to see a really young Arthur Kennedy, though, as well as Elisabeth Risdon, Jerome Cowan, and Cornel Wilde in his first non-extra role.
Want to watch it? Click here to watch it on ok.ru. And thanks "Classic Movies Kristine Rose" for posting!
More Henry Hull movies here!
Be sure to check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of 1949's Colorado Territory here!
Be sure to check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of 1955's I Died a Thousand Times here!