WATCH NOW
Kathryn Ferguson’s documentary on Humphrey Bogart’s life is well-constructed and fun to watch a blend of voice-over narration with existing documentaries and interviews, including those from Dick Cavett. The documentary does not contain new filmed material though, which is what many viewers will be expecting.
Bogart’s parents were a distinguished New York surgeon and an artist, and a suffragist. Given their background, it would have been easy for Bogart to get stuck in the matrix of upper middle class and turn to a mundane life of a professional on the east coast. However, his academic underachievement outside of the classroom and passion for acting led him to an audition that took him from Broadway to Hollywood. His deep and unmistakable voice combined with rugged good-looks landed him tough guy roles under the studio master Jack Warner. This in-turn made him the face of masculine heroism. Something that was needed in the 30/40s when America stood up to the fascists. The peak of this was the portrayal of Rick, a grizzled romantic patriot, in Casablanca, America’s golden film.
Bogart had an extraordinary and almost laughable romantic life; Ferguson provides an interesting perspective of the four wives of Humphrey the First, reflecting on how each woman gave him what he wanted and needed. Stage actress Helen Menken was the one who brought him to Broadway, while mild-mannered actor Mary Philips sheltered him during the hard times when good roles had dried up. Mayo Methot, an unstable and excitable superstar who was more famous for trying to shoot and stab Bogart during their many arguments, instilled a sense of on and off screen self-importance. Finally, Lauren ‘Betty’ Bacall, a 19 year old who made Bogart shower with affection and embrace the responsibilities of fatherhood. She was the last wife, and the first not to be sacrificially replaced. Bacall was able to endure because Bogart’s other wives largely vanished from public notice after he moved on.
This is a revealing portrait of Bogart, who looked substantially older than his 57 years at the time of his death, a consequence of his excessive smoking and drinking – though the film does not shy away from his system of wigs. His post war anti McCarthy patriotic stance that he was able to partially retract is another history from which more could have been covered. All in all, this is a great biography of someone who single handedly seemed to rise above all the other actors of the golden age of Hollywood.
To watch more movies like (Bogard (1975)) visit 123Movies.
Also Watch for more movies like:
