Listen to film Historian, author and Criterion contributor Samm Deighan dissect the classic Raoul Walsh film HIGH SIERRA. The in-depth discussion goes from Bogart to ..Ken Russell?, Hays Code,  Film Noir and Cagney.  She offers answers to the questions: What makes this film so mysterious? Why is Bogart so magnetic on screen? Is this really Film Noir?
High Sierra a classic crime drama, a gangster film, or a "proto-noir" that paved the way for a new genre? We unpack its unique position in film history, bridging the gap between the 1930s gangster era and the classic film noir movement of the 40s and 50s.
video and edit by Zeb Schmidt, Produced by Paul Kazee and guest host Kyle Avary
In this episode, we discuss:
    Humphrey Bogart's Breakout Role: How Bogart, with the help of his friend and screenwriter John Huston, landed the role originally meant for another actor and how it became a major turning point in his career.
Themes of Fatalism & The American Dream: We analyze the predetermined path of Bogart's character, Roy Earle, an ex-convict trying to go straight by pulling off one last heist. Does society ever really make room for someone like him to reform? 
The Women of High Sierra: A close look at the two women in Roy's life, the loyal Marie (Ida Lupino) and the wholesome Velma, and what they reveal about his desires and fantasies of domestic life.
Beyond the City Streets: What sets High Sierra apart from other film noirs? We explore the symbolic use of the vast mountain landscape as a character retreats from the constricting social mores of the city, seeking a freedom he can never truly have.
The Hays Code's Influence: Learn how the Hays Code demanded that any character who commits a crime on screen must be punished for it, shaping the film's fatalistic conclusion.
If you're a fan of Humphrey Bogart, Ida Lupino, Raoul Walsh, or classic film noir, you won't want to miss this discussion. We also touch on other essential films like The Maltese Falcon, White Heat, In a Lonely Place, and They Drive by Night.
What do you think? Is High Sierra the film that best defines Humphrey Bogart's career? Let us know in the comments below!
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#HighSierra #HumphreyBogart #IdaLupino #FilmNoir #ClassicFilm #RaoulWalsh #JohnHuston #CrimeDrama #GangsterMovies #CinemaHistory
Time Stamps:
0:00 - Intro to High Sierra (1941)
1:04 - The Movie That Launched Bogart into Stardom
1:55 - A Bridge Between Gangster Films & Film Noir
4:10 - The Theme of Fatalism in High Sierra
5:11 - An Old Generation of Gangsters vs. The New
8:44 - Ida Lupino as the Emotionally Complex Female Lead
9:06 - What Was The Hays Code?
11:30 - Class and The American Dream
16:17 - The Symbolism of the Mountain Landscape
21:18 - Is Roy Earle an Anti-Hero?
23:55 - The Women in Roy's Life: Marie vs. Velma
28:08 - Ida Lupino's Must-See Performances
33:08 - Other Essential Humphrey Bogart Films
36:42 - More Films by Director Raoul Walsh
39:11 - What Was the First Official Film Noir?
48:02 - The Strange Role of Pard the Dog
Samm is the author of some incredible books including:
Revolution in 35mm: Political Violence and Resistance in Cinema from the Arthouse to the Grindhouse, 1960–1990 (PM Press, 2024), co-edited with Andrew Nette
https://pmpress.org/index.php?l=product_detail&p=1656
The Legacy of WWII in European Arthouse Cinema (McFarland, 2021)
https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/the-legacy-of-world-war-ii-in-european-arthouse-cinema/
Fritz Lang’s M (Columbia University Press, 2019)
https://www.amazon.com/M-Devils-Advocates-Samm-Deighan/dp/1911325779
Lost Girls: The Phantasmagorical Cinema of Jean Rollin (Spectacular Optical, 2017)
https://www.spectacularoptical.ca/store/product/lost-girls-the-phantasmagorical-cinema-of-jean-rollin/

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