This TV documentary came out in 1996, the same year Humphrey Bogart's son Stephen had his book published - 'Bogart: In Search of My Father'. Stephen was only eight years old when his father died in 1957, and after many years decided that he needed to get to know his Dad as a man and real live human being instead of just a famous actor. Admittedly, the documentary, which runs a scant forty six minutes, can't be considered a definitive treatment, but appears to be a good starting point for anyone interested in Bogart's career.
A number of people are interviewed in the film, most notably Bogie's fourth wife Lauren Bacall, director John Huston and movie historian Robert Sklar. All offer their own unique, personal insights into the man and the actor, with intervening clips of some of his better known movie roles. It was his tenth film, "The Petrified Forest" that put Bogart on the Hollywood map, one that typecast him for part of his career as a screen heavy. Even so, he often found himself in support roles to actors like James Cagney, George Raft and Edward G. Robinson, all of whom he appeared in pictures with.
It was 1941's "The Maltese Falcon" which rebooted Bogart's career by casting him as a tough guy that wasn't a villain, gangster or an outlaw. The following year saw Bogart enhance his appeal as a leading man by playing opposite Ingrid Bergman in a role that expanded his range as an actor. That film was "Casablanca" which has stood the test of time and remains my very favorite movie of all time. To my mind it has everything - drama, mystery, espionage, patriotism, romance, humor and song - an unbeatable combination that places it at the top of many film critic Best Lists.
An interesting item revealed by Bogart's son was how he came by his name Stephen. It was the name Lauren Bacall used when referring to Bogie's character Harry Morgan in the 1944 film "To Have and Have Not". It was their first picture together and the one that led to their eventual marriage of a dozen years. It came at a time when Bogart's third marriage to actress Mayo Methot was enduring a particularly rocky time. Right after Bogart divorced Methot, he married Bacall eleven days later.
Serious fans of Humphrey Bogart may not learn much new in this documentary style program, but it still comes across as entertaining and knowledgeable. To learn even more, one can get a nicely detailed take on the life and character of Humphrey Bogart by sourcing his son Stephen's book which contains even more insight into the life of the celebrated actor.
A number of people are interviewed in the film, most notably Bogie's fourth wife Lauren Bacall, director John Huston and movie historian Robert Sklar. All offer their own unique, personal insights into the man and the actor, with intervening clips of some of his better known movie roles. It was his tenth film, "The Petrified Forest" that put Bogart on the Hollywood map, one that typecast him for part of his career as a screen heavy. Even so, he often found himself in support roles to actors like James Cagney, George Raft and Edward G. Robinson, all of whom he appeared in pictures with.
It was 1941's "The Maltese Falcon" which rebooted Bogart's career by casting him as a tough guy that wasn't a villain, gangster or an outlaw. The following year saw Bogart enhance his appeal as a leading man by playing opposite Ingrid Bergman in a role that expanded his range as an actor. That film was "Casablanca" which has stood the test of time and remains my very favorite movie of all time. To my mind it has everything - drama, mystery, espionage, patriotism, romance, humor and song - an unbeatable combination that places it at the top of many film critic Best Lists.
An interesting item revealed by Bogart's son was how he came by his name Stephen. It was the name Lauren Bacall used when referring to Bogie's character Harry Morgan in the 1944 film "To Have and Have Not". It was their first picture together and the one that led to their eventual marriage of a dozen years. It came at a time when Bogart's third marriage to actress Mayo Methot was enduring a particularly rocky time. Right after Bogart divorced Methot, he married Bacall eleven days later.
Serious fans of Humphrey Bogart may not learn much new in this documentary style program, but it still comes across as entertaining and knowledgeable. To learn even more, one can get a nicely detailed take on the life and character of Humphrey Bogart by sourcing his son Stephen's book which contains even more insight into the life of the celebrated actor.