We’ve
said this here at TotED before, but we’ll gladly say it again:
For our money, there seemed to be no genre that Hawks couldn’t tackle with the
greatest of ease, and there’s never been a more perfect romantic team than
Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, the latter becoming Mrs. Bogart in 1945, and
staying happy together until Bogart’s death in 1957. (Damn
cancer!) Admittedly, the kind of perfection I’m talking about has
nothing to do with such trifles as linear, crystal-clear plotting.
(Clarity? We don’t need no stinkin’ clarity!) The elements that made
Hawks’ best films so entertaining and unforgettable included charismatic actors
in memorable roles, whether they were big stars or character
actors; zesty direction; rapid-fire delivery, which inspired the late Robert
Altman’s directorial style; and those sleek, smart, bewitching Hawks women,
almost all of whom try to seduce the hero to one degree or another. I
know I’ve said this elsewhere, too, and I still mean it: I want to be a
Howard Hawks kind of woman when I grow up!
Screenwriter Jules Furthman (from the 1935 version of Mutiny on the Bounty; Nightmare Alley; Rio Bravo) and novelist/screenwriter William Faulkner (The Big Sleep; The Long Hot Summer; Intruder in the Dust) were no slouches in the excitement department when it came to crafting entertaining movies! Our story starts in: “Martinique in the summer of 1940, shortly after the fall of France.” Meet Harry Morgan (not to be confused with the co-star of the TV version of M*A*S*H), a rugged fisherman for hire (the ever-awesome Humphrey Bogart of The Big Sleep; Across the Pacific; All Through the Night). World War 2 is on, and Martinique is Vichy-controlled, so it’s not exactly the most carefree place in the world. War is Hell indeed! Harry and his first mate, Horatio (Sir Lancelot), charter fishing boats for tourists. Harry’s current client, Mr. Johnson (Walter Sande of Don Winslow of the Navy; The Blue Dahlia; Detective Mathews in the Boston Blackie movies), is a handful.
Johnson is an inept fisherman who blames others for his careless and expensive mistakes, as well as being a cheapskate and a whiner. Right now, he’s complaining about Harry’s longtime friend Eddie (three-time Oscar-winner Walter Brennan from Come and Get It; Kentucky; The Westerner; and the hit 1957 TV series The Real McCoys). Apparently Eddie’s cheerful blathering is getting on Johnson’s nerves—aw, poor baby, our hearts bleed for you! Hey, if Harry and Horatio can shrug off Johnson’s whiny personality—not to mention losing the rod and reel due to his ineptitude—he should be able to put up with Eddie’s gabbiness and occasional mistakes (which our hero matter-of-factly sets right). Eddie can’t help it, though, with his alcoholism:
Screenwriter Jules Furthman (from the 1935 version of Mutiny on the Bounty; Nightmare Alley; Rio Bravo) and novelist/screenwriter William Faulkner (The Big Sleep; The Long Hot Summer; Intruder in the Dust) were no slouches in the excitement department when it came to crafting entertaining movies! Our story starts in: “Martinique in the summer of 1940, shortly after the fall of France.” Meet Harry Morgan (not to be confused with the co-star of the TV version of M*A*S*H), a rugged fisherman for hire (the ever-awesome Humphrey Bogart of The Big Sleep; Across the Pacific; All Through the Night). World War 2 is on, and Martinique is Vichy-controlled, so it’s not exactly the most carefree place in the world. War is Hell indeed! Harry and his first mate, Horatio (Sir Lancelot), charter fishing boats for tourists. Harry’s current client, Mr. Johnson (Walter Sande of Don Winslow of the Navy; The Blue Dahlia; Detective Mathews in the Boston Blackie movies), is a handful.
Johnson is an inept fisherman who blames others for his careless and expensive mistakes, as well as being a cheapskate and a whiner. Right now, he’s complaining about Harry’s longtime friend Eddie (three-time Oscar-winner Walter Brennan from Come and Get It; Kentucky; The Westerner; and the hit 1957 TV series The Real McCoys). Apparently Eddie’s cheerful blathering is getting on Johnson’s nerves—aw, poor baby, our hearts bleed for you! Hey, if Harry and Horatio can shrug off Johnson’s whiny personality—not to mention losing the rod and reel due to his ineptitude—he should be able to put up with Eddie’s gabbiness and occasional mistakes (which our hero matter-of-factly sets right). Eddie can’t help it, though, with his alcoholism:
Johnson: “I don't see
why you want that rummy around.”
Harry: “Eddie
was a good man on a boat before he got to be a rummy.”
Johnson: “Well, he's no
good now... What do you look after him for?"
Harry: “He
thinks he’s lookin’ after me.”
So since then, Harry has
taken Eddie under his wing, looking after Eddie as if he was an addled but
endearing old dad. Harry’s kindness to Eddie endeared me to him right
away. Note that even with Eddie’s issues, he’s still more capable on the
boat than bumbling "Blame Game" Johnson, who comes mighty close to
getting tossed overboard when Johnson tries to get tough with Eddie (“Are you a
good swimmer, Mr. Johnson?”)! TH&HN has terrific atmosphere, thanks to
Charles Novi’s Art Direction, Casey Roberts’ Set Decoration, and Sid Hickcox’
cinematography.
I like the AMC Website’s response
to Eddie's recurring Dada-esque question: “Was you ever bit by a dead bee...a honey bee?” It’s a perfect Rorschach-style personality character test for every character that crosses Eddie’s path. Harry, of course, understands Eddie, so they’ve long since passed the “Dead Bee” test with flying colors. If Eddie’s question triggers confusion, impatience, and/or anger from others, we know these people are, if not full-tilt villains, then at the very least, they’re not Harry’s kind of people (or ours)! “Frenchy” Gerard (Marcel Dalio from Grand Illusion; Sabrina; Gentlemen Prefer Blondes), a member of the French Resistance, offers Harry big bucks to smuggle a good-guy member of the French Resistance out of the country. Being no fool, Harry sticks his head out for no one. But then along comes a woman who’s just checked in at Frenchy’s hotel: the sulky and sultry Marie Browning, played by native New Yorker and model-turned-actress Lauren Bacall in a film debut that puts the “WOW!” in the “Wow Factor”!
Although Marie seems cool, calm, and insolent, she’s actually living by her wits, starting with cozying up to the unsuspecting Johnson in the café and picking the big boob’s pocket. Granted, Johnson is getting a little too hands-on with Marie, but Harry isn’t letting her get away with it: “You ought to pick on someone to steal from who doesn’t owe me money.” Lucky for Harry, our gal Marie gains Harry’s trust when Johnson gets tripped up by his own lies about being penniless until the next day, when in fact Johnson was all set to hop a plane at dawn! But no sooner does Johnson begin to sheepishly sign his Traveler's Cheques than gunfire rings out in the café, leaving the joint in a mess and Johnson dead in the crossfire. As Harry says, “He couldn’t write any faster than he could duck. Another minute and his cheques would have been good.” Thanks to that vile Vichy gunfire, both Harry and Marie are in the soup, and we don’t just mean vichyssoise! Now the slimy Vichy Captain Reynard (Dan Seymour from Key Largo; Johnny Belinda; The Way We Were) and Lt. Coyo (Sheldon Leonard, who went from supporting roles like Another Thin Man in the movies to becoming a wildly successful TV producer) have Harry and Marie over a barrel.
Actual dialogue from the film:
“He couldn’t write any faster than he could duck.
Another minute and his chequewould have been good.”
Harry can tell that Marie’s life hasn’t been a bed of roses, unless
you count the thorns; during Reynard’s grilling, Marie takes a slap in the face
without batting an eye. She admits she’s trying to get home to the States: “I’d walk,
if it wasn’t for all that water.” In the great Hawks tradition, Harry and Marie get
closer, including cool pet names: “Steve” for Harry, and “Slim” for Marie—which were actually
Mrs. and Mrs. Howard Hawks’ pet names for each other in real life! The mating dance between “Steve” and “Slim”
is tantalizing, yet still yields Harry’s better instincts as he agrees to help
Marie get back home in exchange for smuggling Frenchy’s refugee
friends.
Well, they say that adversity brings people together in hard times, so our
heroes have no choice but to help Frenchy and his Resistance allies, and help
Marie in the bargain.
Actual dialogue from the film:
“He couldn’t write any faster than he could duck.
Another minute and his chequewould have been good.”
Cricket and Slim make beautiful music together at the café! |
Two’s company and a gaggle
of Resistance Fighters is a crowd when "Slim" and "Steve" are interrupted's by Frenchy and his Resistance pals! |
Will
the lovely and well-meaning but maddeningly
overprotective Hellene deBursac turn out to
be Hell on wheels?
“Harry, you was ‘fraid I’d get hurt. You was thinkin’ of
me!”
"That’s right, Eddie, this is all about you. Now
let me steer before we crash into a luxury liner or Nazis, will ya?!" |
Mme.
de Bursac goofs and ends up knocking herself out with Harry’s chloroform.
Thank goodness, we thought that dame would never shut up!
Thank goodness, we thought that dame would never shut up!
Now scram, toots, and let “Steve” and me catch up on our nookie!
Bacall wasn’t the only one making a film debut in TH&HN; so was Oscar-winning singer/songwriter Hoagy Carmichael (for Here Comes the Groom; Starlight; Gentlemen Prefer Blondes), playing piano man Cricket at the café. In fact, the catchy background music at the café makes me wonder if anyone considered making this a Broadway musical. I’d see it if I had the dough!
Whether Bogart and Bacall are being playful
or serious onscreen (or offscreen, for that matter), the sparks between them
are hotter than July 4th fireworks—and nobody even had to get
naked, at least onscreen!
Fun Fact: TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT came about on a bet between Howard Hawks and Ernest Hemingway! No comment on whether or not Hemingway punched anyone in the mouth a la Woody Allen's WITHOUT FEATHERS! :-)
ReplyDelete"To Have and Have Not" is not a movie I have ever been able to cozy up to, but your zesty, affection look at the picture has made me think that perhaps I should give it another go. Maybe I didn't have the right stuff in my glass the last time I came up against Steve and Slim.
ReplyDelete"Cheyenne" recycled a lot of Warner's flicks into TV episodes. Their take on "To Have and Have Not" was called "Fury at Rio Hondo". Dig the synopsis from the IMDb: "In a politically unrest Mexico full of revolutionaries, Cheyenne encounters a sexy, blond pickpocket singer who's involved with a con man who owes Cheyenne money from the past." Part of the fun of watching "Cheyenne" besides looking at Clint Walker is wondering where you've seen that plot before.
You're well on your way to making a THaHN convert.
Caftan Woman, your comments about TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT had me smiling, especially: "Maybe I didn't have the right stuff in my glass the last time I came up against Steve and Slim." Come to think of it, TH&HN just might be a good drinking game at that; I'll take lemonade, in a dirty glass! :-)
DeleteI'm tickled that you remember the Warner Bros. movies that often got recycled into TV series episodes, such as BRONCO; SURFSIDE SIX; CHEYENNE, as you mentioned; and my own favorite, an episode of 77 SUNSET STRIP (*snap* *snap*) that was recycled with scenes from STRANGERS ON A TRAIN, with Richard Long as the Robert Walker/"Bruno Anthony" character! I remember reading somewhere that this "recycling" was used during a writers' strike at Warner Bros.
I always enjoy your blog posts, C.W., but I'm especially glad to not only have you give TH&HN another try, but also revisit the movies and TV shows I enjoy so much! Thanks for the memories, my friend! :-D
Gee, I haven't seen "77 Sunset Strip" in ages. Richard Long could be so appealing, but he sure could turn in the baddie when required.
DeleteI'm not a big Bogart fan, but teamed with Bacall they are irresistible. You are correct when you say they are hot - and such a nice story that they lived happily for as long as the time they were granted together.
ReplyDeleteChick, you're absolutely right: while Bogart and Bacall are both excellent actors on their own, when the two of them work together, they're truly irresistible! Also, you put it beautifully when you said: "...such a nice story that they lived happily for as long as the time they were granted together." Just goes to show that when you find someone you truly love, it's important to make the best of their time together. Thanks so much for joining the TH&HN conversation!
DeleteThe dialogue in this film just knocks you out! Classic lines and Bogart and Bacall make the best of it. I have always been a huge Bogart fan and while I prefer Hawks THE BIG SLEEP, TH&HN ranks a solid second in the Bogart/Bacall pantheon . Bacall was one sexy dame, and I say that with all due respect. Those cat like eyes and her voice are celluloid fire as Bogart well knows when she tells him, "you know how to whistle don't you Steve...".
ReplyDeleteFabulous, entertaining review. Great job
John, your enthusiastic comments on TH&HN are so good, they would have been perfect for posters for the movie back in the day! You're right, the dialogue here truly does knock out us out, thanks to Jules Furthman's snappy dialogue -- and of course, the sizzling chemistry between Bogart and Bacall! Who wouldn't whistle? :-) Thanks so much for your praise, my friend!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteFrom our longtime pal Michael Wolff:
ReplyDelete"Say Dorian . . . you ever been bit by a dead bee?
One of my absolute favorites if only for the obvious on-screen chemistry going on between Bogart and Bacall. The ending, where everyone happily bounces off the set (well, Bogart doesn't quite bounce, but you know what I mean) is especially one of my favorite conclusions to a film. Also some great music courtesy of Ian Fleming's inspiration for James Bond's appearance: Carmichael . . . Hoagy Carmichael. Bogart sure had an enviable talent for attracting musicians whenever he did cafes or saloons or nightclubs.
Oddly enough, considering the storyline, the action scenes are really sub-par in comparison to the character development going on. And not just Bogart and Bacall. Besides Walter Brennan and Hoagy Carmichael, this film features a nicely oily performance by Sheldon Leonard. And Sidney Hickox's cinematography manages to do wonders with the few sets the film had to work with (as well as the "ocean" scenes).
Sorry to comment and run, but I've beaten ol' Buddha's gong and the Hong Kong police are after me."
My response:
"Michael, I knew you just had to be a fan of TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT as well! I totally agree that the amazing chemistry between Bogart and Bacall is what makes TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT so irresistible. It always has me smiling every time I watch it, and it certainly seems to me that between the great cast and crew, the music, the film's breezy attitudes, everyone working on the picture sure does seem to be having a great time. Interestingly, when I watched TH&HN on TCM's "The Essentials a while back, co-host Drew Barrymore seemed to be surprised, perhaps even slightly baffled, with the playful ending where Bacall starts a little shimmy which leads to her, Bogie, and Walter Brennan leaving as jaunty traveling music swells. Drew seemed to be somewhat taken aback, though she admitted she enjoyed it. Drew may not get it, but I do: It's called a happy ending! Sometimes the simplest endings are the best ones! :-D Thanks for being the first to comment on TH&HN!"
From our friend and fellow blogger Dawn Sample:
ReplyDelete"This is a wonderful adventure film, where sparks fly between Bogart and Lauren Bacall, who was amazingly cool and smooth at the age of 19... Lauren Bacall has become one of my favorite classic movie stars of the 1940's. Love the little dance that Lauren does at the end..."
We couldn't agree more, Dawn, especially since they stayed happily married together for the rest of Bogart's life, bless them!
DorianTBJune 18, 2013 at 10:31 AM
From our pal Dawn Sample:
"I'm delighted to hear that you enjoy TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT as much as all of us here at Team Bartilucci HQ! Lauren Bacall's little shimmy at the end always makes me smile. You're right, she did look cool, smooth and poised -- but ironically, for all of Bacall's poise, even she was a little nervous at first! Bogie put her at ease, love bloomed, and the rest of history! :-) Glad you dropped by to join the TH&HN fun!
Delete
Well, you did it again! Fabulous post and an affectionate tribute to one of the best screen couples of all time! Thanks for all the background and the trivia, thoroughly enjoyed
ReplyDeleteGwen, thanks so much for your kind praise for my TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT post! I'm glad you enjoyed the trivia and background info, too. Bogart and Bacall are always wonderful movie company, but I especially enjoy their playful air and joy in being in each other's company in TH&HN!
DeleteGreat look at a favorite of mine, DorianTB! I've always loved TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT...If pushed to pick, I often say, "CASABLANCA is the BEST movie Bogart ever made, but THAHN is my favorite." I just love this film's loosey-goosey vibe, the chemistry between the leads is phenomenal, the supporting cast is great and it contains a few of my all-time favorite scenes, such as when Bogie gets irked when that Vichy goon slaps Bacall and snarls, "Why don't you try and slap me?" Or at the end, where Bogie does that awesome move of shooting said goon through his desk, then lifts the gun out, hand shaking, and says something like, "Gee, look it that...That's how close you came," to slimy baddie Dan Seymour. That's some fist-pumping stuff right there.
ReplyDeleteJeff, I totally get why you feel that "CASABLANCA is the BEST movie Bogart ever made, but THAHN is my favorite"! Bogart and Bacall's "loosey-goosey vibe" won my heart. "Slim" and "Steve" are the kind of couple that many of us would love to be friends with in real life. I salute your great taste in classic movie couple, and I'm delighted you enjoyed the post as much as all of us here at Team Bartilucci enjoyed working on it! :-) You're always welcome to drop by TotED anytime!
DeleteKind Comments from our pal Ruth of SILVER SCREENINGS:
ReplyDelete"I laughed when you asked, "Clarity? We don't need no stinkin' clarity!" And it's true. Who needs a story with that intense Bogie-Bacall chemistry!
Sooo many great lines in this movie, and your review has done it justice. I've said it before - you have some of the best photo captions in the blogosphere!"
My reply to Ruth:
"Ruth, you're so right about Bogart and Bacall's intense chemistry; it just can't be beat! And thank you most kindly for your praise of my captions; you're a sugar bowl with two handles, my friend! :-D"
Great post, as usual, Dorian. I'm afraid I'm with Caftan Woman on To Have and Have Not: never quite warmed up to it, diverting though it is. I've never read Hemingway's novel, so I don't know anything about it, but if Hawks's recipe for making a good picture out of "that bunch of junk" was to reshape it in the form of Casablanca -- well, that'd probably work with any book ever written.
ReplyDeleteWhat I can warm up to is the interplay between Bogie and Bacall, naturally; who couldn't? It's easy to believe what a splash she made in this picture -- because she still does. Not bad for an 18-year-old first time out of the chute, fearlessly going where Bette Davis, Ann Sheridan, Ida Lupino, Mary Astor and Ingrid Bergman had all gone before -- not to mention snagging the leading man in real life!
Something else your post showed me that I'd never noticed before: In that "complimentary breakfast" still, Bacall actually looks like a child dolled up in her mother's clothes; I half expect Mommy to burst into the room and snap, "Just what are you doing, young lady? Wash that paint off your face at once!" Maybe that was part of the charge of Bacall in 1945: the sense that behind the husky voice and knowing eyes was a flirty little girl.
Jim, I must confess I've never actually had the opportunity to catch up with the original novel TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT -- I just wanted to see Bogart and Bacall do that voodoo that they did so well onscreen! Apparently that's just as well, judging from what you, Caftan Woman, and others said; after all, even Hemingway himself disliked the story, having only done it on a bet! :-)
ReplyDeleteI very much enjoyed what you had to say about Lauren Bacall's debut, which was indeed pretty darn impressive considering the great stars considered before Bacall knocked it out of the park! You also cracked me up with your take on my "complimentary breakfast" gag! :-) Just goes to show that chemistry is powerful stuff, onscreen and off! Thanks for coming to ToTED on this lovely summer day!
This movie truly is magical. David and I saw it on the big screen and the chemistry between Bogie and Bacall was amazing! I agree with you about Howard Hawks. He (along with Michael Curtiz) was daring and diverse director. He could work in any genre and make the genre work!
ReplyDeleteGilby, you and David are a lucky couple indeed, having been able to see Hawks' TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT on The Big Screen as the movie gods intended! Your comments about Michael Curtiz reminds me that I haven't caught up with as many of Curtiz's films as I should have (haven't been avoiding them, just been ridiculously busy), and I hope to fix that sometime soon.
DeleteBy the way, Gilby, I hope you and everyone else here have been watching film historian Eddie Muller's noir writers' series of film noirs on Friday nights in June on TCM, because on July 28th, the lineup includes THE LEOPARD MAN; DEADLINE AT DAWN; MURDER, MY SWEET; and for us Bogart and Bacall fans, THE BIG SLEEP! Rev up your VCRs! :-D
Thanks for the heads up. I LOVE Murder, My Sweet. Even though Bogie is probably my favorite actor, Dick Powell is a great Philip[ Marlowe. The Leopard Man is a fantastic Val Lewton classic -- I adore Margo and she is excellent in her role. The Big Sleep is one of those movies that I find myself in the minority -- I like its flow(Many say its confusing). That was another Bogie and Bacall that the Loews showed and you're right, just as the movie gods intended!
DeleteGilby, you're a gal after my own heart! While I love Humphrey Bogart's Phillip Marlowe the most, I must say that Dick Powell's performance of Marlowe in MURDER, MY SWEET (based on Chandler's novel FAREWELL, MY LOVELY) came a very close second. How close? THISCLOSE! :-) Just for the fun of it, here's my link to my blog post about MURDER, MY SWEET from last year:
ReplyDeletehttp://doriantb.blogspot.com/2012/03/murder-my-sweet-tough-guys-dont-sing.html
I must admit I haven't had a chance to see THE LEOPARD MAN yet, but I'm looking forward to watching it this Friday for Eddie Muller's Friday Night Spotlight, along with MURDER MY SWEET, DEADLINE AT DAWN, and of course, THE BIG SLEEP! Its labyrinthine plot may not always make sense, but with Bogie and Bacall and those great Warner Bros. actors, I'm always happy to come along for the ride!
Our Pal Joey, a.k.a. the fabulous Jo Gabriel of THE LAST DRIVE-IN, joins the TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT convo! Here's what she had to say:
ReplyDelete"What could be better than Jules Furthman, Hoagy Carmichael and the undying chemistry of Bogie and Bacall- though I haven't seen TH&HN in years, as always your witting recounting of these glorious classics just make me want to take out the dvd and watch it right now, even if it is only 8am--
And I haven't even been bit by a dead bee, honey or otherwise! Wonderful overview Dor - you're a bowl of lime jello with whipped cream on the top-Cheers your Pal Joey"
My reply to Jo:
"Joey, you're a sweetie and a gal of great taste in all things, considering you not only love the delightful TO HAVE & HAVE NOT, but also lime Jello with whipped cream! :-) (Now I'm thinking about making Jello -- but I digress :-))! I hope you'll get a chance to sit down and catch up with TH&HN again soon -- just as there's always room for Jello, there's also room for TH&HN at any time of the day! :-) We're always happy to have you join the Bogie & Bacall chat at TotED anytime, Jo!"
So this is where everyone is hanging out! I had to come see why Bogie was harassing babies. And I was hoping that the title meant that he was trying to tame the leopard from Bringing Up Baby. (None turned out to be true but that's okay because you've done it again with a fun little review of a good film.)
ReplyDeleteAs you mention regarding Hemingway's books, this one isn't his most interesting and I do wonder if audiences from this time, saw the title and came in not expecting much other than getting to catch up on their sleep. Of course if you want to change opinions you get Bogie and Brennan to change minds.
I loved your captions here and your take on the film made me think of a few little scenes that I had forgotten.
Well done, my friend! Bogie didn't get mauled but her performed his pants off. Your last little quip had me smiling. Yep, this one! "Whether Bogart and Bacall are being playful or serious onscreen (or offscreen, for that matter), the sparks between them are hotter than July 4th fireworks—and nobody even had to get naked, at least onscreen!"
See ya around!
Page
Page, we're delighted to have you saunter along to Frenchy's Cafe (or TotED's version of it :-)) and join the fun, frolic, and intrigue of TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT! Many thanks for your enthusiastic praise, my friend, especially the captions! Sorry there were no leopards available, but as a consolation prize, Vinnie and I can suggest THE LEOPARD MAN on TCM this Friday night during film noir film historian Eddie Muller's stint -- also including the ever-awesome Bogart and Bacall again in THE BIG SLEEP. There's no getting rid of these two lovebirds, and who'd want to? :-D Thanks for hanging out with us to talk Bogie and Bacall, Page; you're welcome anytime!
DeleteP.S.: If you still haven't had enough of Bogart and Bacall, keep an eye out for them in DARK PASSAGE this coming weekend!