High Sierra (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]

It’s no wonder that Bogie became a big star after this film; Bogart takes this challenging role and succeeds amazingly! Playing bad guy Roy Earle, Bogart has the viewer rooting for the villain up to the end at the base of picturesque Mount Whitney (then the highest point in America). Shortly after came “The Maltese Falcon” and “Casablanca” and the rest is history! Enjoy!

One of my favorite Bogart films

Film Noir + WesternDuring Hollywood’s Golden Age, Warner Brothers produced three versions of W.R. Burnett’s 1941 novel ‘High Sierra’.The first two, both directed by Raoul Walsh, are in this two-disc Blu-ray from Criterion:--- 1941: ‘High Sierra’ starring Humphrey Bogart and Ida Lupino, screenplay by W.R. Burnett and John Huston.--- 1949: ‘Colorado Territory’ starring Joel McCrea and Virginia Mayo, screenplay by Edmund H. North and John Twist.‘High Sierra is a five star gangster film - Eddie Muller called it “Film Noir and a genuine watershed in the history of Hollywood”.‘Colorado Territory’ is a Western (Colorado became a state in 1876).It’s not unusual for studios to remake successful films, but this usually involves some bad blood with the original director.I had assumed that remaking ‘High Sierra’ as a Western was the studio’s idea, but it turns out that the remake was director Raoul Walsh’s idea.The script for ‘Colorado Territory’ is about 85% identical to ‘High Sierra’The farmer’s daughter is nastier in the remake, and the ending is slightly different.Surprisingly neither W.R. Burnett nor John Huston received a writing credit (perhaps they were unhappy with the idea of a remake).One actor is common to both films: Henry Hull, who played “Doc” in ‘High Sierra’ and the migrant farmer in ‘Colorado Territory’.I wasn’t expecting much from ‘Colorado Territory’, but it turned out to be a pleasant surprise.At least a 4½ star Western, which is what I should have expected from Joel McCrea and Raoul Walsh.One improvement over the original: the lengthy train robbery scene at the heart of the film is a lot more exciting than the perfunctory hotel robbery in ‘High Sierra’.One thing I miss is Pard the dog, played by Zero (Eddie Muller claims that Zero was Humphrey Bogart’s dog in real life).Joel McCrea has a horse.‘High Sierra’ is presented in a beautiful new 4-K digital restoration, though someone failed to notice the hair in the frame for seven seconds (@ 1:24.20).‘Colorado Territory’ is an unrestored print, kind of beat up in places. But the actual cinematography is impressive and well-captured on Blu-ray.Both films have English SDH subtitles.Neither has a commentary track, but Criterion does provide four hours of nicely done bonus features:--- “Curtains for Roy Earle” (15 minutes) featurette carried over from the 2003 DVD (everything else is new to disc).--- “Bogart: Here’s Looking at You” (50 minutes) a 1997 documentary from British television.--- “The True Adventures of Raoul Walsh” (95 minutes) a 2019 documentary about the director.--- Interview with screenwriter W.R. Burnett (15 minutes) from 1976.--- New featurette on African-American actor Willie Best (15 minutes).--- New conversation between critics Dave Kehr and Farran Smith Nehme (20 minutes).--- Radio adaptation from 1944 (30 minutes) starring Bogart and Lupino.--- Booklet essay by Farran Smith Nehme.--- Movie trailer.One regret:In 1955, Warner produced ‘I Died a Thousand Times’ a third adaptation of ‘High Sierra’, this time starring Jack Palance and Shelley Winters.Directed by Stuart Heisler, with screenplay by W.R. Burnett (no credit for John Huston).A 95% faithful reproduction of the 1941 film, but this time it was filmed in Color and Cinemascope.It’s a lesser film, but it would have been a nice addition to this collection (available on DVD from Warner Archive).

No spoilers. This is one of those Noir defining films, like "In A Lonely Place" or "Key Largo". The technical elements are perfect: cinematography, sound, lighting, all are top of the game. The performances are first rated. If you love Noir, or you are discovering the genre, this is one of those quintessential films.Great print. This is the one to buy.

Bogart together with Ida Lupino creates a classic professional criminal and his moll with the Sierra Nevadas as the backdrop. Bogart is the pro criminal with a soft spot for dogs but, at least initially, resistance to Lupino who is there when Bogart's character meets the robbery gang that is assembled. Lupino is the girlfriend of one of the gang but wants to be with Bogart after meeting him.The movie is excellent on many levels not the least of which is the acting by both Lupino and Bogart. The gang provides additional support though they are not the professionals of the level of Bogart's character. Of course this fact and the change that occurs with Bogart about getting rid of Lupino as a woman complicating what should be a professional criminal enterprise, makes for issues.This Criterion Collection Blu-Ray in black and white is a great addition either to your Bogart or Lupino DVDs.This movie qualifies quite well also for your Film Noir niche of movies under all the qualifying factors.

The Criterion Collection releases this overdue[2-disc]1941 Raoul Walsh directing, Humphry Bogart starring film based on a book by W.R. Burnett about a pardoned criminal named Roy Earle trying to go straight but talked into doing a jewel heist with inexperienced partners that goes quite bad... Ida Lupino costars. Well made an exciting film helped propel Bogart to stardom.Looking superb in HD, a definite upgrade from the 2003 snapper case DVD, porting over those extras, but including many new ones, including an episode from "The South Bank Show" from 1997 looking at Bogart's career, an interview about the career of costar Willie Best, archival interview with writer Burnett, and a radio adaptation from 1944.Disc 2 contains the 1949 film "Colorado Territory", also directed by Walsh that was a western remake starring Joel McCrea and Virginia Mayo that is quite good actually, the plot fitting in well with that period, and worth watching. Also includes a conversation about Walsh by two film scholars and a documentary about the director, who is certainly well covered here!

I’m a fan of both Bogart and Lupino. This movie pairs the two consummate actors in a compelling crime drama.

Great cast. This film noir helped make Bogart a star

Pristine transfers and informative, entertaining extras.

Haven't seen this for years at least 30 but not disappointed Bogart shows how it was done a true classic.

This was one of Bogarts great movies hard to find and under rated great cast story and a timeless classic you will love this movie.

Brilliant picture, fantastic extras, a first class release by the criterion collection.

Liked everything about the product!