When it comes to the stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age, Humphrey Bogart stands out as a definitive legend and cultural icon of the silver screen, having starred in numerous classic films, including The Maltese Falcon, Casablanca, and The Big Sleep. Born in New York City, Bogart initially established himself on the Broadway stage. However, following the infamous stock market crash in 1929, theater productions began to decline, prompting Bogart to try his luck in the movies.
By the 1940s, Bogart had become one of the most popular leading men of American cinema, ultimately solidifying his legacy as one of the greatest actors of all time. While Bogie starred in an abundance of first-rate classics, some titles, such as High Sierra and The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, are cinematic masterpieces that effectively capture his impeccable talent and cinematic charisma.
8
‘The Petrified Forest’ (1936)
Directed by Archie Mayo
Bogart originally starred in the stage production of The Petrified Forest, which tells the story of a failed writer turned poor drifter, Alan Squier (Leslie Howard), who, after stopping in at a roadside diner, forms an immediate connection with a young waitress, Gabrielle (Bette Davis), over their mutual love of art and literature. Bogie plays a ruthless gangster, Duke Mantee, who is on the run from the police and flees into the diner where he holds everyone inside hostage until his girlfriend arrives in their getaway car.
Despite earning immense praise for his performance in the play, Warner Bros. initially didn’t want to cast Bogie in the film version as he was an unknown actor at the time. Leslie Howard, who also starred in the stage play, had the final say in the production and told the studio that if Bogie didn’t play Mantee, then he would walk, forcing Warner Bros. to cave to his demand. Bogart delivers a chilling and menacing performance that defies the traditional gangster archetype, providing gripping depth and sinister charm that, without question, is the main attraction of The Petrified Forest.
7
‘High Sierra’ (1941)
Directed by Raoul Walsh
Bogart earned his first major leading role in Raoul Walsh‘s High Sierra, starring as a reputable thief, Roy Earle, who, after being paroled from prison, is hired by his aging former boss (Donald MacBride) to plan one final job for him before he retires. When the heist goes south, Earle goes on the lam and tries to hide out in the Sierra Nevada mountains, but with the police quickly on his trail, he’s forced to fend them off even if it costs him his life.
Early on in his career at Warner Bros., Bogie was type-cast in bit parts as a supporting gangster or villain, but High Sierra changed the trajectory of his career forever and marked his final film as a gangster. High Sierra gave Bogart the opportunity to play a character with genuine depth and substance, proving his impressive range and potential as a major box office draw. Bogie gives a sharply intense performance and provides his character with an intriguing balance of callousness and vulnerability that ultimately humanizes Earle in the eyes of the audience, making it an essential Bogie classic.
High Sierra
- Release Date
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January 25, 1941
- Runtime
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100 minutes
6
‘The Treasure of the Sierra Madre’ (1948)
Directed by John Huston
Bogart stars in John Huston‘s neo-Western classic, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, as a down-on-his-luck American, Fred C. Dobbs, who, along with his friend (Tim Holt), teams up with a veteran prospector (Walter Huston) to try and strike it rich in the Sierra Madre mountains in Mexico. Eventually, the trio are successful in their search for gold and, while they try to fight off any bandits who try to steal their newfound fortune, their own thoughts of greed and paranoia soon become the greatest threat to their treasure.
By 1947, Bogart was a household name and universally known for his dramatic and heroic roles, but his riveting performance in The Treasure of the Sierra Madre turned the tables on audiences by revealing an intriguingly darker side that ultimately showcased his talent as a versatile performer. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre was both a critical and commercial success, with many critics citing Bogart’s performance as one of his finest in recent years. Despite the universal praise, Bogie didn’t receive an Oscar nomination, which today continues to be a topic of discussion and criticism. The movie did earn four Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, and went on to win for Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor for Huston.
5
‘The Harder They Fall’ (1956)
Directed by Mark Robson
The Harder They Fall is a gritty film noir and boxing drama starring Bogie as a former sportswriter, Eddie Willis, who is hired as a public relations man by a crooked promoter, Nick Benko (Rod Steiger), to hype up his new fighter, Toro Moreno (Mike Lane). While Moreno fits the physical bill of an intimidating opponent, he’s unaware that all of his matches have been rigged, and when he has a chance at winning the title against a reputable boxer, Willis debates whether to tell Moreno the truth behind his so-called success.
The Harder They Fall was Bogie’s final film before he died from esophageal cancer the following year. Even though the film fell short of being a major knockout, Bogie’s performance is the silver lining of the movie and easily one of the actor’s most overlooked roles. Despite his poor health, Bogie carries on with unwavering determination and delivers a powerhouse performance with raw tenacity and sheer resilience that only a talent of his caliber could achieve. The Harder They Fall is a fitting final role for Bogie, and while the movie itself has some minor flaws, Bogie’s performance alone makes it all worthwhile.
4
‘The Big Sleep’ (1946)
Directed by Howard Hawks
Bogart stars in Howard Hawks‘ 1946 classic film noir The Big Sleep as Raymond Chandler‘s infamous private eye, Philip Marlowe, who is hired by the prominent General Sternwood (Charles Waldron) to settle his youngest daughter’s gambling debts. What starts out as a seemingly simple case of blackmail soon becomes a case of multiple murders with a potential connection to Sternwood’s son-in-law and husband of his oldest daughter, Vivian (Lauren Bacall), who mysteriously disappeared a month ago.
The Big Sleep is considered to be one of the best film adaptations of Chandler’s work and marked the second film starring Bogie and Bacall, who were one of Hollywood’s most beloved cinematic couples. Bogie gives a stellar performance as the clever Marlowe, presenting his character with an effective combination of alluring wit and tedious uncertainty that makes him the film’s greatest asset. The initial response to the movie was somewhat lukewarm as some critics felt the plot was complex and at times hard to follow, but despite the minor criticism, Bogie’s performance is essentially the film’s saving grace as well as one of his most iconic.
3
‘In a Lonely Place’ (1950)
Directed by Nicholas Ray
Bogie takes on an emotionally complex and violent role in Nicholas Ray‘s In a Lonely Place as a short-tempered Hollywood writer, Dixon “Dix” Steele, who becomes the prime suspect in the recent murder of a young woman who had visited Steele on the night in question. When Steele states that the victim left his place very much alive that night, his new neighbor, Laurel Gray (Gloria Grahame), backs up his story, and the two begin a romantic relationship. As Steele’s temperament turns controlling and volatile, Gray begins to question his sanity as well as his claims of innocence.
The beauty of Bogie’s flawless performance in In a Lonely Place lies in the initial presentation of his character, who audiences immediately sympathize with, as he appears to be an overall generous and stand-up guy. As the movie progresses, Steele begins to reveal his true unhinged nature, gradually building up an unsettling intensity that eventually boils over into chaos. By the end, audiences are fully aware of Steele’s violent tendencies and hostility, but Bogie’s brilliant portrayal of a tormented man caught in the tainted grasp of Hollywood leaves Steele to be as much of an enigma as he was in the beginning for audiences.
2
‘The Maltese Falcon’ (1941)
Directed by John Huston
Bogie stars in John Huston’s directorial debut, The Maltese Falcon, as the smooth-talking private investigator, Sam Spade, who agrees to help a mysterious woman, Miss Wonderly (Mary Astor), find her sister, whom she believes has run off with a man. As Spade conducts his investigation, he soon finds himself entangled with a group of seedy characters who are all in search of a priceless jewel-encrusted statue known as the Maltese Falcon.
The Maltese Falcon is the best detective film noir of all time and showcases Bogie at his finest with a career-defining performance that makes the film one of his essential masterpieces. Bogie portrays Spade with a debonair sense of style and a fascinating aura that not only laid the groundwork for the genre’s hardboiled private eye but also made Bogie a signature staple in the world of noir. The monumental success of The Maltese Falcon skyrocketed Bogie’s career to astronomical heights, paving the way for his rise to stardom and becoming one of Hollywood’s biggest box office draws.
The Maltese Falcon
- Release Date
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October 18, 1941
- Runtime
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100 minutes
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Humphrey Bogart
Samuel Spade
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Mary Astor
Brigid O’Shaughnessy
1
‘Casablanca’ (1942)
Directed by Michael Curtiz
Bogie delivers a tour de force performance in Michael Curtiz‘s romantic war drama, Casablanca, as a cynical American, Rick Blaine, who, during World War II, owns and operates one of the hottest nightclubs in Casablanca. While Blaine has carved out a contented life for himself, his world is unexpectedly turned upside-down when his former flame, Ilsa Lund (Ingrid Bergman), arrives in town with her husband and famed rebel, Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid). When enemy troops learn of Laszlo’s presence, Lund desperately turns to Blaine to help them escape, forcing Blaine to choose between his moral integrity and the woman he loves.
Casablanca was a surprising success that earned Bogie his first Oscar nomination for Best Actor and is widely considered to be one of his most renowned contributions to classic cinema. Bogie conveys a natural poise as the bitter and emotionally guarded Blaine, who, despite his self-serving moral code, chooses to face his past with class and dignity instead of the expected spite and resentment, redeeming his character as both admirable and selfless in the end. While Casablanca is universally known for its memorable quotes, outstanding performances, and sentimental love song, As Time Goes By, performed by Dooley Wilson, there’s no denying that Bogart’s performance is the heart and soul of this classic masterpiece.
Casablanca
- Release Date
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January 15, 1943
- Runtime
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102 minutes
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Humphrey Bogart
Rick Blaine
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