Your TOP Bogart movie..?

[Inkstainedwretch]

Worst Bogie casting: "Sabrina." One of the few movies where he was clearly out of place. Bogie was a heavy drama guy. Romantic comedy was just not his style.

 

[Worf]

Worst Bogie casting: "Sabrina." One of the few movies where he was clearly out of place. Bogie was a heavy drama guy. Romantic comedy was just not his style.

No, he had the talent and the chops to pull it off, but let's face it, he was just too old for the role.... Plain and simple. Grant, who was younger would've killed in it.

Worf

 

[alsendk]

I am a sucker for romanticism, and love Ingrid Bergman in this role ... and it`s good to see a softer side of Bogie also, so Casablanca got my vote.

 

[Zombie_61]

I'm making my way through some Bogie DvD's. Watched Casablanca; Key Largo; The Big Sleep; Maltese Falcon and now The African Queen.

Which one is your favourite Bogie movie, and what makes you choose THAT ONE...?

"Favorite" being the key word in the first post, I have to go with The Big Sleep. It's probably not the best movie Mr. Bogart ever appeared in, and it's also probably not Mr. Bogart's best performance in a movie, but of the "Bogart" movies I've seen so far it's simply the one I enjoy watching most.

 

[Fading Fast]

No, he had the talent and the chops to pull it off, but let's face it, he was just too old for the role.... Plain and simple. Grant, who was younger would've killed in it.

Worf

I agree, I thought he did the romantic comedy aspect really well - he was just too darn old as it looked as if he was dating his daughter.

The thing I really like about this movie, and a big kudos to Wilder for doing it, is the movie has just a touch of fairy tale feel to it. It's not corny, camp or Disney, but it has a bit of whimsy, a bit of fantasy that strikes the right tone and balance. The movie sparkles because of this as it takes you to a world a little nicer than ours, but one still recognizable.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Worst Bogie casting: "Sabrina." One of the few movies where he was clearly out of place. Bogie was a heavy drama guy. Romantic comedy was just not his style.

I'll see your Sabrina and raise you "Swing Your Lady," a hillbilly-oriented musical comedy about pro wrestling. Imagine Bogart as Vince MacMahon, plunked down into the world of Li'l Abner. With songs, yet -- although thankfully, Bogart himself doesn't have to participate in these numbers. This picture would have worked great with Pat O'Brien in the lead, but Bogart trying to *be* Pat O'Brien is not something ever meant for the eyes of a suffering humanity.

 

[Inkstainedwretch]

No, he had the talent and the chops to pull it off, but let's face it, he was just too old for the role.... Plain and simple. Grant, who was younger would've killed in it.

Worf

That was my thought as well. Grant would have been perfect in that role. He was only 5 years younger than Bogie, but looked far more youthful at that time, and he was the best romantic comedy actor we ever had.

 

[Benzadmiral]

Anybody mention Across the Pacific? A good spy story, some lighter moments w/ Mary Astor, and Sydney Greenstreet, again, as a villain.

 

[Zombie_61]

Anybody mention Across the Pacific? A good spy story, some lighter moments w/ Mary Astor, and Sydney Greenstreet, again, as a villain.

An enjoyable movie if you can overlook the rather abrupt ending, which feels simplified and rushed. The thing I find most interesting about Across the Pacific is that it has the chemistry between Mary Astor and Humphrey Bogart that was lacking in The Maltese Falcon. I think it speaks to her skill as an actor that she was able to amplify or repress that quality in her performance depending on what the role required.

 

[Fading Fast]

Anybody mention Across the Pacific? A good spy story, some lighter moments w/ Mary Astor, and Sydney Greenstreet, again, as a villain.

An enjoyable movie if you can overlook the rather abrupt ending, which feels simplified and rushed. The thing I find most interesting about Across the Pacific is that it has the chemistry between Mary Astor and Humphrey Bogart that was lacking in The Maltese Falcon. I think it speaks to her skill as an actor that she was able to amplify or repress that quality in her performance depending on what the role required.

It's okay, but it never really works for me. There's too much of a "Casablanca" and "Maltese Falcon" weak echo - with an emphasis on weak. And beyond suffering by comparison, the end is a total mess.

As to Mary Astor, I recently read a short biography of her (reviewed here http://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/what-are-you-reading.10557/page-358#post-2157660 and finished here http://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/what-are-you-reading.10557/page-358#post-2159320) which made me like her and feel sorry for her. Sorry for her because of her horrible parents and one horrible husband after another; like her 'cause she fought through it all - with a lot of booze and sex - to drive her career forward.

One of my favorite things about "The Maltese Falcon" is the not-at-all-Hollywood relationship of Bogie and Astor, with him going a step further than Rhett and not only "not giving a damn" but letting her hang, literally - holy smokes, that's no usually Hollywood ending.

 

[Benzadmiral]

An enjoyable movie if you can overlook the rather abrupt ending, which feels simplified and rushed. The thing I find most interesting about Across the Pacific is that it has the chemistry between Mary Astor and Humphrey Bogart that was lacking in The Maltese Falcon. I think it speaks to her skill as an actor that she was able to amplify or repress that quality in her performance depending on what the role required.

That's right, the denouement seemed a bit hurried, didn't it? And I think the reason Mary and Bogart click nicely in this one is that they were dealing with a story with more lighthearted moments to begin with. Falcon has moments of humor, but not many, and none that I can recall between Sam Spade and Brigid. (Maybe a little gallows humor, but it's been a while since I've seen Falcon.)

 

[Zombie_61]

That's right, the denouement seemed a bit hurried, didn't it? And I think the reason Mary and Bogart click nicely in this one is that they were dealing with a story with more lighthearted moments to begin with. Falcon has moments of humor, but not many, and none that I can recall between Sam Spade and Brigid. (Maybe a little gallows humor, but it's been a while since I've seen Falcon.)

You're right about Across the Pacific having a more lighthearted tone, at least in the first half of the movie when the characters are getting to know (and assess) each other, and the chemistry between Bogart and Astor serves those moments well. But the one thing about The Maltese Falcon that doesn't make much sense to me is that Brigid is supposed to be using her "feminine wiles" to throw Spade off guard, but the lack of chemistry between them makes their "flirtatious" scenes ring false. I suppose a case could be made that Brigid is out of her depth and not particularly adept at playing the seductress, but that just makes it more obvious that Spade is only playing along in order to get more information from her; we, the audience, are meant to know that, but Brigid isn't supposed to.

 

[Doctor Strange]

Across the Pacific's "rushed ending" has a well-known cause. From its Wiki article:

Director John Huston was called up to military service during filming; he claimed he left at the point near the end of the film in which Bogart is trapped in a house at gun-point. Vincent Sherman finished directing the film, minus the script which Huston took with him, explaining "Bogie will know how to get out". An implausible escape and plot wrap-up was shot, which Huston declared "lacked credibility".​

 

[green papaya]

I've watched The Maltese Falcon with numerous groups of people, including family, friends and several classes full of film students. I have yet to find anyone who figured out from the film alone that Cairo was homosexual. It always has to be pointed out to them, and then they ask, "how do you know that?" Then you have to point out the scented business card among other things.

Yes contemporary reviewers found the film complicated, as they did with the book, but I don't think any of them didn't understand the blackmail plot.

Most people I know don't get the fact that Marriott is either. I think the fact that he is "going out with women" throws them off.

Doug

or the part when BOGART slapped mr CAIRO and took his gun, he said:

"When You're Slapped, You'll Take It & Like It" - The Maltese Falcon

he got slapped like a woman and almost looked like he enjoyed it? or the part when BOGART disarmed mr CAIRO and took his pistol, then gave it back with no fear, then he points it at BOGART again and says he will search his office, and BOGART just puts his hands up and laughs at mr CAIRO.

 

[PeterGunnLives]

So... I actually think Cary Grant would have been too "easy" of a fit as romantic lead in Sabrina. Who wouldn't fall for him? Using Bogart instead kind of subverts the trope.

I vaguely recall some very early Bogart role in which he seemed more suave, complete with an upper crust "Mid-Atlantic" accent. I can't remember what movie that was, though. I wonder how different his career would have been if he had kept up that type of persona, instead of the gruff, world-weary character portrayals that we got accustomed to from him.

 

[Benzadmiral]

So... I actually think Cary Grant would have been too "easy" of a fit as romantic lead in Sabrina. Who wouldn't fall for him? Using Bogart instead kind of subverts the trope.

I vaguely recall some very early Bogart role in which he seemed more suave, complete with an upper crust "Mid-Atlantic" accent. I can't remember what movie that was, though. I wonder how different his career would have been if he had kept up that type of persona, instead of the gruff, world-weary character portrayals that we got accustomed to from him.

The stories I've heard about Bogart's early stage career in the Twenties was that he was often cast as the sort of upper-class fellow who wanders onstage swinging a racket, and says, "Anyone for tennis?" He was getting tired of that, and when he was offered the role of Duke Mantee in the stage version of Petrified Forest, he jumped at it.

 

[DNO]

I like Bogart as an actor and I certainly enjoy his 'noir' films but sometimes I think people underestimate his acting skills by concentrating on The Big Sleep or Casablanca (both films that I enjoy, by the way). Although he managed, like every actor, to make a few stinkers (still can't get used to him as a cowboy in Virginia City) he was more than capable in a different sort of role or even a light comedic role. As far as the latter, Beat the Devil (1953) and We're No Angels (1955) come to mind immediately. He was excellent playing alongside Peter Ustinov and Aldo Ray in We're No Angels. I also feel he excelled in The African Queen (1951) and in The Caine Mutiny (1954). The man had a lot more talent than just playing the fast talking wisecracking PI.

 

[Benzadmiral]

I like Bogart as an actor and I certainly enjoy his 'noir' films but sometimes I think people underestimate his acting skills by concentrating on The Big Sleep or Casablanca (both films that I enjoy, by the way). Although he managed, like every actor, to make a few stinkers (still can't get used to him as a cowboy in Virginia City) he was more than capable in a different sort of role or even a light comedic role. As far as the latter, Beat the Devil (1953) and We're No Angels (1955) come to mind immediately. He was excellent playing alongside Peter Ustinov and Aldo Ray in We're No Angels. I also feel he excelled in The African Queen (1951) and in The Caine Mutiny (1954). The man had a lot more talent than just playing the fast talking wisecracking PI.

His horse trainer role in Dark Victory with Bette Davis is a good example of his range.

 

[green papaya]

High Sierra (1941) was pretty good too

Heist gone wrong movie , Bogart gets out of prison and goes right back to crime

 

[Talbot]

We're No Angels is a very funny film.