Review of High Sierra (1941) by Ken D — 30 Nov 2010

The proverbial swan song of the gangster genre that dominated the box office during the 30's, but which after the new Production Code was pretty much doomed to disappear. This movie also set Bogart apart from his fellow gangster flick regulars at Warner's (they were dubbed Murderer's Row) and the story of how he got the part is legend in itself. In any case, this would be the last movie for which he did not receive top billing, with the Maltese Falcon only just around the corner, and Casablanca & To Have and Have Not amongst others looming in the years ahead.

It's probable that the reason this movie still slipped in despite the newly enforced Code, is the much layered character of Earle who is yes, a murderer and a thief, but also a kind human being. The villain with a heart of gold is no news to us of course, but in this genre it was unusual to say the least. Add to that the magisterial performance by Bogart and a strong showing of the supporting cast (not to mention an adorable dog, in effect 'played' by Bogart's own pet) and you have a movie that transcends its own genre, and preludes the transformation of it into the Film Noir genre, which Bogart would go on to rule undisputed.