Humphrey Bogart

by David Thomson

"Look, I'm hardly pretty, he seems to say. I sound like gravel; I look rough and tough; and, honest, I don't give you the soft, foolish answers the pretty boys will give you. You may not like what I say, but you better believe it."

He became a legend as "Bogie," the world-weary, wisecracking outsider, but in reality Humphrey Bogart was plagued by doubts and demons. He was born upper-class yet made his name playing mavericks, drank with the Rat Pack, and met four wives on set--including his great love, Lauren Bacall--yet always mistrusted stardom. Here David Thomson, one of film's most provocative writers, reveals the man behind cinema's greatest icon.

Genres: Film, Biography, Nonfiction

144 pages, Paperback

First published August 27, 2009

About the author

David Thomson, renowned as one of the great living authorities on the movies, is the author of The New Biographical Dictionary of Film, now in its fifth edition. His books include a biography of Nicole Kidman and The Whole Equation: A History of Hollywood. Thomson is also the author of the acclaimed "Have You Seen . . . ?": A Personal Introduction to 1,000 Films. Born in London in 1941, he now lives in San Francisco.

Reviews

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

"[Actor Humphrey Bogart] died short of sixty, and convention said it was from the smoking and the booze and the not taking care of himself. Maybe it was just possessing too much irony or common sense to endure being a pliable ghost in strangers' dreams - 'Bogie.'" -- on page 2

Although I have not read any of his prior works, I am familiar with author Thomson's name being synonymous with film-related books. While his Great Stars series - other titles feature Bette Davis, Gary Cooper and Ingrid Bergman from the same 'Golden Age' era - are meant to represent easily and quickly digestible movie star bios for a 21st century audience, I'm not sure that was the way to go. Focusing on the calm-voiced tough guy performer - who had a solid 20-year leading man Hollywood career, bookended by performances as a hostage-taking ex-convict in The Petrified Forest (1936) and The Desperate Hours (1956) - the usually trenchcoat-attired and fedora-bedecked Bogart is likely best remembered for a string of silver-screen successes (and now inarguable classics) during the 1940's such as The Maltese Falcon and Casablanca, plus his marriage to much-younger occasional co-star Lauren Bacall. While this was a good start, the man really deserves a full-fledged treatment.

[Shiva Mr · Rating 3 out of 5]

این کتاب بیوگرافی کوتاهی از ستاره سینمای کلاسیک همفری بوگارت هست که دوست دارانش او را بوگی می خوانندش . این که چطور یک پسر ثروتمند منهتنی بازیگر تئاتر میشه و سپس از هالیوود سر در میاره و با کمپانی وارنر قرداد میبنده و نهایتا در ۴۰ سالگی با بازی در فیلم های شاهین مالت و کازابلانکا ستاره میشه. نویسنده بیشتر یک لیست کاملی از فیلم هایی که در اون ها نقش ایفا کرده تهیه کرده و به زندگی حرفه ایی اون پرداخته. بوگی با چهارمین همسر خودش لورن باکال که تا دم مرگ با او ماند چندین فیلم بازی کرد.

[Tom Stamper · Rating 4 out of 5]

This concise biography of Humphrey Bogart is as much as any casual fan of classic movies will need. It's just enough of his career progression and more focused on the deeper insights into his few great movies. Because Thomson is a film historian with a critics eye, his explanation of Casablanca or Treasure of the Sierra Madre is more rewarding word for word. And I agree with the author that Bogart's two films with Howard Hawks are superior to the more heralded Casablanca.

There is a good amount of the rivalry with George Raft for A pictures. Did Jack Warner really think that Raft was a superior talent? I didn't know that Bogart's first wife later played the role of his mistress. Only in Hollywood. Howard Hawks was not only his best director, he was the one who knew how to use Lauren Bacall. How many classic Bacall films can you name without Bogart as her co-star? But Bogart ruined his collaboration with Hawks by marrying Bacall.

Bogart was friends with director, John Huston, but also intimidated by him. If you take away Bogart's Hawks and Huston collaborations, Casablanca nay be the only one you would consider great. His 1950s output was largely disappointing. Barefoot Contessa is a bore. He is miscast in Sabrina. He is effective in a supporting role in Caine Mutiny which is likely the best effort. Most of the other pictures you have only seen if you are glued to TCM. And yet Bogart is maybe the greatest male star of classic Hollywood, because when he was great there may have been no one greater.

[Cailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely not as satisfying as a full-sized biography, and I feel some important stuff was left out. Bogart's story is an interesting one, and I enjoyed learning more about his start in the movie business.
The writing style was unusual, not bad, but surprising in the conversational way that the author chose to tell the story. In the attempts at brevity, I thought some sections of the book were glossed over.
Considering how short the book was, it was a decent read for me.

[Richard Moss · Rating 3 out of 5]

A slim biography of Bogie could never do him full justice, but this is a decent primer on one of the great stars of the 40s and 50s.

Thomson runs through the hits and misses of his film career, as well as his turbulent private life.

Bogart may have looked, and acted the rough diamond, but he was from a relatively privileged background, but he was the underdog in Hollywood for many years until his abilities were finally recognised.

Thomson isn't shy about sharing his opinions on Bogart's films - he is a critic after all. At times though his opinions tended to dominate the book when I really wanted to know more about its subject. Perhaps my back was put up though about his dismissive view of the great Casablanca.

He is good though on what made Bogart such a star, and how his insecurities and persona were harnessed by the best directors to such great effect.

Bogart's was a life cut short of course, and you can't help feeling there were many great performances that we never got to see.

[Judi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would've put this book down except the information itself was interesting. in his attempt to be conversational, the author is scattered, making him repetitive and a short book longer. his use of colloquialisms and his habit of jumping from subject to subject and then back again make for a frustrating and confusing read.

[Ian Mcalister · Rating 3 out of 5]

If this were written for readers of newspapers, it was great. I couldn't get carried away by the yarn, the style, or the thinness of the material, although it was all very interesting stuff. I'm glad to have finished it but for the future, as my old English tutor used to say, I'll beware of small books.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, it's a concise book. No words wasted.