MovieChat Forums > High Sierra (1941) Discussion > Why did he rob the store?

Why did he rob the store?


He was about to pick up $30000 that night

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Good question! I just watched it on TCM and didn't even think of it, until I saw your post, although this is one of my favorite Bogart films. He says; I'll have a pack of cigarettes, and then pulls out the .45.

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i think he gave Marie all the cash he had when he put her on the bus...

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Apparently he robbed the store because the script lacked any other motivation for the local cops to start chasing him.

It didn't make sense to rob a store in the middle of town instead of some lonely gas station. So the robbery seemed like an impulsive move when he didn't have money for cigarettes. But he still had cigarettes much later in the mountains, as he's shown tossing an empty pack.

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Apparently he robbed the store because the script lacked any other motivation for the local cops to start chasing him.


Na, that's a silly excuse. They very easily could have had him stop to get gas and the station attendant recognize him but not let on that he recognizes him like the hotel worker he stuffed in the closet.





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He gave all his money to Marie and couldn't afford to buy anything. That is why he held up the store. He was on his way to get his cut, he didn't have it yet when he robbed the store.

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He gave all his money to Marie and couldn't afford to buy anything. That is why he held up the store. He was on his way to get his cut, he didn't have it yet when he robbed the store.


So what? Just because you are broke doesn't mean you need to steal. Especially when you are hotter than a firecracker at the moment. He could have waited.




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He was running out of gas, and he didn't have any money left.
So there was no other choice.

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There a clear shot showing the gas guage - he was running out of gas. He would need to refill to get to his destination where he would pick up the $30K. However, he didn't have any money after giving it all to Marie.

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There a clear shot showing the gas guage - he was running out of gas. He would need to refill to get to his destination where he would pick up the $30K. However, he didn't have any money after giving it all to Marie.


This.

Very good. But brick not hit back!

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There a clear shot showing the gas guage - he was running out of gas.


Yeah, that's the reason, except the shot wasn't exactly clear, it was very brief, hardly enough time to read the gauge. In fact, the audience needed to see the reason for the robbery, that is a refill at a gas station. As it is, the chase starts almost immediately after he leaves the shop; from then on his car seems to have all the fuel it needs, making the robbery looks pointless.

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The film is a masterpiece !
The character{BOGART}robbed the store because he was a thief/the big man walking in became the problem and so forth.
I was a thief for many years and {WE}have an obsessive personality.
There is your answer.
Southern California when it was clean and fresh.Americans today are weak and GAVE it away to third world savages............WITHOUT A FIGHT.
I am a crippled old man,but I fight when they come!

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