High Sierra (1941)

 Raoul Walsh's "High Sierra"


After Humphrey Bogart worked with Raoul Walsh in supporting roles on "The Roaring Twenties," and "They Drive by Night," Bogart was itching for a starring role. Walsh, however, felt that Bogart was not leading man material. Bogart's friend and drinking partner, John Huston, had just penned an adaptation of W.R. Burnett's 1940 novel "High Sierra," and convinced Walsh to let Bogart play the leading role. Bogart would go on to star in Huston's directorial debut "The Maltese Falcon" the very same year. 

The plot of the film centers on a career criminal who attempts to pursue one last 'heist' before driving off into the sunset. The film is thematically persistent with that of the 1930s gangster flick. However, due to the popularity of the emerging 'film noir' movement, the film offers a more fatalistic view of the lead character. Bogart's character is far more complex than the typical 'gangster' archetype typically found in 1930s gangster films. 

The film ended up being a success for Warner Brothers. Because of the success of the film, Humphrey Bogart's first leading role became many subsequent leading roles. Bogart eventually became one of the biggest stars in Hollywood. Because of this, "High Sierra" is considered the ignition point for one of Hollywood's biggest actors ever.



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