Greetings again from the darkness. In 2022, Kathryn Ferguson released a documentary on singer and activist Sinead O’Connor. It was Ms. Ferguson’s first feature-length documentary, after a few shorts and videos. This time out, her focus is on renowned actor Humphrey Bogart. Now, opening on your subject’s funeral might be an unusual way to begin a profile, but the star-studded service drives home the point that Bogart’s life touched many. He was true Hollywood royalty.
One would expect the profile of one of the biggest movie stars of all time to provide a chronological rundown of his films. Although his film resume is certainly not short-changed, the director takes a more personal approach by structuring Bogie’s life according to how the five most influential women impacted him. Those five are: his mother, Maud Humphrey, and his four wives (in order), Helen Menken, Mary Philips, Mayo Methot, and of course, Lauren Bacall. We are guided through each of these relationships, with neither good nor bad being withheld.
Much of the time is spent with narrator Kerry Shale reciting Bogart’s own words from writings, journals, letters, etc. Shale offers neither a mimic of Bogie’s distinctive voice nor a smooth sound for our ears. Still, there is heft and meaning to Bogart’s words, especially when they are synchronized with an incredible bounty of archival footage, film clips, and photographs. Numerous interviews are included from son Stephen Bogart, directors Howard Hawks and John Huston, and actress Kathryn Hepburn, as well as others. There is also plenty from Lauren Bacall, who famously met Bogart when she was a 19-year-old actress on the set of TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT (1944). The two were married from 1945 through 1957 (his death). It was a true love story, and not nearly as tumultuous as his time with third wife Mayo Methot, who shot at him and stabbed him!
There is a segment on Bogie’s first career – a baby model – and his own words describe this relationship with his mother as he looks back at his childhood. We hear about his time in the Navy, as well as his love of chess and the water … especially time spent sailing on his boat, Santana. We also hear about his quick temper and his alcoholism, and it’s fascinating to learn that it was actress Greer Garson who heard his cough and insisted that he see a doctor – a visit that resulted in a cancer diagnosis.
After years as a contract player in the studio system, it was HIGH SIERRA (1940) that set him on the road to superstardom. Bogart’s career included such iconic roles as Sam Spade (THE MALTESE FALCON, 1941), Rick Blaine (CASABLANCA, 1943), Philip Marlowe (THE BIG SLEEP, 1946), and Lt Commander Queeg (THE CAINE MUTINY, 1954). One of my personal favorites was his role as Dixon Steele in Nicholas Ray’s IN A LONELY PLACE (1950) with Gloria Grahame. When they hear the name Humphrey Bogart, many movie fans picture the trench coat, hat, and cigarette … or the broken love story that begins a friendship. But there was much more behind the scenes. After directing Bogie to his only Oscar in THE AFRICAN QUEEN (1951), director John Huston delivered the eulogy at the funeral for his friend, also putting the final touches on this in-depth profile.
Opens in select theaters on November 15, 2024
Posted by David Ferguson 
Movie Reviews from the Dark 