RIFLE RANGE BOY

The Enforcer 1951 This obscure film is one of those early films on hitman and people could not stomach the fact that a job could exist just to kill off somebody. An untiring effort by a dedicated Assistant District Attorney (ADA) to nail the boss of the organization against all odds and a pile of dead potential witnesses is the thrust of this show. Humphrey Bogart is the ADA who is seen working round the clock, wearing a bow-tie even way past night. Rather than working within the confines of his office within the boundary of the law, this guy seem to swashbuckling his way around the streets trying to nab culprits! Ricco is apprehended to testify against Mendoza, the gangster who is wanted for myriad of crimes. The highly agitated witness flips when an attempt is made on his life and he falls to his death, leaving ADA's case hanging. Having his only witness dead and his case reaching a dead end, the ADA goes through the case files to pick up points that they had missed.... ...

To have and have not! (1944) This Ernest Hemingway story based film is anything but the typical Hemingway type - the one which has a convoluted story with a lot of travel and scenes of Europe. Apparently, the story was modified from the real one. It is a simple story of an world-weary American boat captain and his tribulations of being a boatman set in the seaside town in 1940 France which was at war. Morgan (Humphrey Bogart), the boat man has to put up with dumb non-paying tourist who use his services to fish and French Resistance freedom fighters who plead with him to transport their agents. Along comes Slim (Lauren Bacall), Morgan's love interest, a mysterious wandering American tourist. Due to financial reasons when a would-be payer is shot, he relents to the Resistance's insistence. He picks up two agents from a hide-out island, an agent is shot during a shoot-out with authorities, manages to bring them across safely and nursed him to he...

The Treasure of Sierra Madre (1948) Don't be fooled by the rather uninspiring title. This the legendary John Houston directed film that showcases how wealth brings out the demon in Man. It was shot exclusively in Mexico, set in turbulent times of the 20s after the Mexican Revolution when bandits were scouting the periphery and American gold diggers were on the prowl. Dobbs is a financially challenged American seen wondering in the streets of Tampico. Set in this background starts our story. After being cheated of his rightful wage, Dobbs (Humphrey Bogart) pairs up with a fellow worker, Curtin, and decides to go on a gold excavating expedition after overhearing an old timer, Walter, talking about his gold finding escapades. Walter warns on the danger of acquiring great wealth but the duo thought that a little wealth would not hurt, considering the dire straits they were in. The expedition (with Dobbs, Curtin and Walter) starts in high spirits on a cordial note wi...

I do not know why this 1946 movie is called 'The Big Sleep', it definitely did not put me to sleep. Especially when America's No.1 male actor of all time, the cigarette lit macho icon, the smart-talking Humphrey Bogart acts in it delivering his punch dialogue in a matter-of-factly way as if he knew everything that is going on around. Set in a dark smoky environment to set the mood of the genre of the movie (film noir), most of the movie is shot in dim lighting and most characters puffing away like steam trains! FYI, Bogart succumbed to oesophagal cancer at the age of 57. Here he is paired with Lauren Bacall who acts as a sultry and flirty rich man's daughter. Bacall, almost half his age at that time, appear to blend quite well. This romance must have continued off-screen and ultimately wrecked his matrimony. Watching this movie, you would realise that many of things that most present viewers would know as a big 'No, No' in case of homicide like turning the...