The guilty is innocent unless proven otherwise!

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....
In a series of flashbacks the other witness' stories are compiled through the case files and taped interview. Bit by bit, further evidence is revealed and finally the truth comes out. One of killed witnesses was of mistaken identity.
The witness was identified and brought to the court to give evidence against Mendoza.
This film is based on the a real life case from the police files named 'Murder Inc.'.

Quotable quote
Our kind of law is designed to protect the innocent. It is not enough that we know a man is guilty. We have to prove it.

"If you want anything, just whistle..."

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 health. Morgan manages to dodge the advances of the investigation authorities and sail away into the sunset with his love of his life.
This film is no mean Titanic in production or story but it wins in other subtle ways. Bacall's debut performance is brilliant. It shows the perfect chemistry and verve that sparks between this two actors and must have been the hotbed of the start of a long lasting of a strong on-screen and off-screen relationship. Personally I have not seen any pair ever forge such vibes ever in my novice and limited experience.
The music score, made mostly by the music director (Hoagy Carmichael) who was seen as the pianist at hotel lounge that Morgan resides, is quite catchy. Bacall tries her hand (voice) at one of the songs played. Unfortunately, her voice sounds too rough, probably due to all those smoking. Still, she was only 19 then and had an amazing thin disappearing waist!
Morgan's alcoholic sidekick on his boat provides a few thinking comical moments. A good watch!

Memorable quote from the film, "You know how to whistle, don't you, Steve? You just put your lips together and... blow."

Money brings out the demon in you!

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 with Dobbs contributing wholly his lottery winnings. After a tedious search, they strike gold. At one juncture, Walter saves Dobbs from a cave-in. When the gold discovery gets handsome, suspicion set in amongst them, each watching suspiciously at the other, hiding their loot in a safe place and ever willing to draw their guns at slight agitation!

Whilst picking some supplies from a local grocer, a fourth American, Cody, follows their trail and demand to be included in their hunt for gold. The trio decide to gun him down just to be interrupted by a band of bandits. A duel ensues. The four fought gallantly but Cody succumbs to injuries. Rummaging through his pocket, they discover a touching letter from this decent man's loving wife and son.
They unanimously decided to offer a quarter of their findings to his widow.

Walter, who is pally with the locals, gets called to help to save a nearly drowned child. Having successfully saving the child, he is honoured by the locals. Leaving the remaining duo with his gold, he follows the Mexicans.

Tension builds up again between the ever-suspicious duo after they took a wrong trail. It is amazing to see how this two drinking buddies who had survived poverty and travelled through thick and thin could transcend to be at each other's neck all because of gold. Just like Walter had said earlier, "Gold has that effect on men".

Dobbs shoots Curtin. Thinking that Curtin is dead, Dobbs continues his tortuous journey. Meanwhile, Curtin crawls to the safe arms of a group of locals and is united with Walter.

Dobbs eventually reach a stream to quench his thirst but is attacked and hacked to death by outlaws. The bandits tried to sell Dobbs' donkeys and animal hides but is recognised by the buyer's assistant. The federal police is informed and swift justice is served - they dig their graves and the cops shoot them! Walter and Curtin arrived at scene to hear that the robbers had dropped their pouch of gold dust near the robbery site as they thought that it was just sand increasing the load of donkeys. The duo rush to the scene but a storm had hit the place and their merchandise had been blown all over the place! The disappointed duo go separate ways...

This movie would not excite the masses. There is no scenes of glamorous dances, pretty dresses or in fact there was no love interest except for gold! It is pure power of story that manage to put out in the open the demonic qualities of man. No other Hollywood movies with desert and sand could be more exciting!

Not a yawn!

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 body and touching things in the crime scene, is done. Well, viewers at that time were not exposed to 'CSI' and 'Law and Order'!

The police appear toothless and have to depend on Bogart to set things up who is at the liberty of doing what he pleases (with the interest of his paying clients at heart) which in the present day, be known as obstructing justice and tampering with evidence.The highlight of the film is the powerful dialogues and witty, incisive talks.

A General Sternwood hires Marlowe, a P.I., (Bogart) to investigate the debts of his gambling daughters discretely. Marlowe's work uncovers General's two pretty daughters who are pretty wild, the murder of the creditor (blackmailer), a gamut of a topsy-turvy rollercoaster of an adventure where the bad guys get killed or caught, and the good guy (Bogart) get the girl. Interestingly, I found a glimpse in one of the scenes of Marlowe spotting a wedding ring! Interesting!

Some lines of interest...

Sternwood: How do you like your brandy, sir?
Marlowe: In a glass.
Sternwood: I used to like mine with champagne. Champagne cold as Valley Forge and with about three ponies of brandy under it...I like to see people drink...You may take off your coat, sir...Too hot in here for any man who has any blood in his veins. You may smoke, too. I can still enjoy the smell of it. Nice state of affairs when a man has to indulge his vices by proxy.  

The emaciated Sternwood describes the dreariness of his existence. The humid hothouse is necessary for his survival, and he is waiting for death - the "big sleep" of the title - in the temperature-controlled greenhouse:

Sternwood: You are looking, sir, at a very dull survival of a very gaudy life - crippled, paralyzed in both legs, very little I can eat, and my sleep is so near waking that it's hardly worth the name. I seem to exist largely on heat, like a newborn spider. The orchids are an excuse for the heat. Do you like orchids?
Marlowe: Not particularly.
Sternwood: Nasty things! Their flesh is too much like the flesh of men, and their perfume has the rotten sweetness of corruption.