 "BOGEY AND "SLIM" TALK UP A CLASSIC" | 2009-08-16 |
| - Reviewed By User: A30T2B7RFWGYNU |
Watching this one was a blast. This is a low-key, loquacious but thoroughly engaging Bogey-Bacall film [Bacall's first]. There's lots of tension and mystery [both sexual as well as situational] and a paucity of real excitment or violence until Bogey shakes things up at the end. As in several of his films [including CASABLANCA, 1942] Bogey plays a translocated American who gets himself involved in foreign sociopolitical conflicts. This time he plays a small-boat captain who takes folks out into the deep blue for bucks. This time the locale is the Caribbean island of Martinique, a territory of France. Some French undergrounders need his help---and his boat---to retrieve one of their key resistance leaders. Walter Brennan, who was so unforgettably great and nefarious in MY DARLING CLEMENTINE [1946], plays Bogey's long-time close but alcoholic first mate. Brennan is wonderfully endearing in this role as Bogey's leeching, bumbling but always cognizant and loyal friend. Bacall plays a dame who just drops into this exotic island from who knows where and who knows why. She's alluring, mysterious, mesmerizing and a pleasure to watch and listen to. The viewer is continuously fixated on her countenance and svelte moves throughout. The scene where she's in Bogey's room smoking a cig and conversing then emphatically tosses the cig over her shoulder as she leaves is as sexually cathartic as the famous "..you know how to whistle" quote. The banter and repartee between the two is now classic. Many parallels between this Bogey flick and CASABLANCA and other Bogart films. As in CASABLANCA we have a night club as the focal point of goings on, a great nightclub singer & music, a fugitive husband-wife duo that have to be scooped surreptitiously out of the country and a Frenchman who saves everyone's hide. Amazing how the French nightclub owner, who gives all the good guys refuge, resembles and sounds like actor Peter Lorre, while the corpulent Martinique chief of detectives reminded me of actor Sydney Greenstreet [both Lorre & Greenstreet starring with Bogey in the all-time classic MALTESE FALCON, 1941]. Both Bogey and Bacall are mysterious characters in this one with blurred pasts and uncertain futures. They seem to have a lot in common, though, including independence, guts, being streetwise and having a willingness to tackle the unknown and take risks. Unlike CASABLANCA, though, the unattached Bacall [aka by the cute moniker "Slim" in the film] falls for the hard-to-pin-down Bogart. She helps him as he reluctantly agrees to retrieve the unkown resistance kingpin using his boat. And just as we're being put into a trance by Slim's sleekness & style comes, right out of the blue, the 'lady in black'. Bogart arrives at the pick-up site only to find that the target to be brought back is accompanied by his wife. Actress Dolores Moran, with a remote resemblance to Ingrid Bergman, gives Slim a run for her money and she almost goes for Bogey who has nursed her spouse back from a bullet wound. Meanwhile, the nightclub owner gives everybody sanctuary at the club while the cops are hot on their trail. Things come to a head as the cops confront Bogart and Slim. Bogey finally cuts loose reaching for a gun in a desk drawer and blasting right through the desk cutting down the cops' gun-wielding bodyguard--very cool move. Bogey subsequently has the chief detective order no interference from his boys and has him sign harbor passes for their escape out of Martinique---a task made with alacrity when you have a gun barrel staring at you. Really lots of fun. Hoagy Carmichael, touthpick-in-mouth and all, was memorable with his catchy singing and songs---Slim's good-bye to her singing pal was touching. Why the intriguing Moran did not make it after this pic is beyond me. Brennan was great. Only beef is the happy but hasty ending: would have preferred some added beads of sweat as they try to get pass the harbor patrol rather than just walking out the front door with luggage.
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| "A Classic" | 2009-08-08 |
| - Reviewed By User: AS4C07SPGFQO |
| This is a film that, while it doesn't stand out in any category, manages to hit the perfect balance. A must have for anyone who really enjoys the films of the 40's. |
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 "Silver Screen Classic Romance -- Bacall's Premiere!" | 2009-05-25 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1C58YXM2A30CY |
Lauren Bacall's new film where Director Howard Hawks wanted to create a film star and he did so in spades! It's said that Lauren fell for Bogie during filming and Bogie's wife was a flipped out alcoholic causing him grief.
Despite the between-scenes soap opera, the film itself was quite well done. Loosely based on a Hemingway novel, who also helped put together the screenplay, it takes place in Martinique, a former French island now run by the Vichy French government (think Nazi with a French accent and skip the history lesson).
Bogie plays Captain Morgan, a world-weary boat for hire skipper with his sidekick (there's always a sidekick in these films!) a rummy played by Walter Brennan of all people! As an aside, I am amazed how some of these great actors later went on to silly sitcoms in the Sixties (Agnes Moorhead, Bewitched; Carolyn Jones, Addams Family and Walter Brennan in The Real McCoys).
The story itself is full of action and a lot of macho testosterone flying around. The best part is the confrontation with the Vichy government "gestapo" and how Bogie lays into him.
Film best noted for Lauren's line: "Just put your lips together and blow!" Baby!
The DVD is great, as it includes the original Lux Radio Theater broadcast from 1946. Also, Leonard Malton and other film historians relay their two cents into the plusses and minuses about the film.
See To Have and Have Not and the Big Sleep. Both iconic films from the most talented, intense couples to ever grace Hollywood (and I mean that up to the present time!).
Bogie and Bacall - The Signature Collection (The Big Sleep / Dark Passage / Key Largo / To Have and Have Not)
Dark Passage (Snap Case) |
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| "Classic Bogie!" | 2009-05-05 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1XRXSM4V26T4B |
| A great and enjoyable movie......a terrific character study...it is amazing how good Bacall is, at such a young age, she is unquestionally one of the best actors of the 20th century!!! |
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| ""You know how to whistle, just put your lips together and blow."" | 2009-04-05 |
| - Reviewed By bernie-at-nationwide-net |
This film starts on a black and white screen with a map and same type of narration that we find when we were watching Casablanca. The narration gives us a general background so that we know what context to the story we are watching.
The Germans just took over France in the price of gas is $.28 a gallon yet our story takes place in Martinique in the Southwest Indies. Harry Morgan (Humphrey Bogart) and out of work fishing boat owner is finally faced with making a decision. Harry's sidekick Eddie (Walter Brennan) inadvertently goes along for the ride. Soon everyone gets involved including Marie 'Slim' Browning (Lauren Bacall) a young lady who is down on her luck and just passing through.
Besides some heavyweight actors, this film also has some major name writers and director producers behind it. Into this new music from Cricket (Hoagy Carmichael), is a major background character in the film.
Of course, the film came out years before Blu-Ray yet many of the remastered versions make it feel like it was just written yesterday. The copy watched had an added 10/10/46 radio play of "To Have and Have Not."
So sit back, enjoy the film, and ask yourself what you would have done if you had lived in that time and place.
Casablanca |
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| "Great movie and a great DVD" | 2009-02-08 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1V3PCKVCJ3TTZ |
| What's to say? Bogart and Bacall. Great story, on a great DVD, and at a good price. Winner all around. |
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