As a movie enthusiast who has spent countless hours delving into the rich tapestry of Hollywood’s Golden Age, I find myself captivated by the complex and intriguing story of Humphrey Bogart, a man whose on-screen persona was as enigmatic as it was enduring. Having grown up in the shadow of such an icon, I can attest that there was far more to Bogie than meets the eye.
He was the gravel-voiced star of Casablanca, The African Queen and many other classic films from Hollywood’s Golden Age. But there was far more to Humphrey Bogart than meets the eye, as the great star’s 75-year-old son Stephen explains.
Stephen, an executive producer of the recent documentary ‘Bogart: Life Comes in Flashes,’ states that his father was more complex than people might assume,” Stephen explained. “He was a talented actor who preferred to chart his own course, and he lived before the era of ‘wokeness’ as we understand it today.
Originally from New York, and born into a wealthy family, Bogart transitioned from his naval service at the conclusion of World War I to stage performances and eventually Hollywood. There, he gained recognition for portraying rough characters in films such as The Petrified Forest, ultimately achieving stardom with the 1941 film noir, The Maltese Falcon.
From my perspective as a cinephile, the untold story of how I made it big in Tinseltown is seen through the lens of the remarkable women who surrounded me. My mother, Maud Humphrey, was one of them, as was Lauren Bacall, not just my mom but also Bogie’s screen partner in classics like The Big Sleep and Key Largo.
Kathryn Ferguson, director of Bogart: Life Comes in Flashes, notes that each individual made significant differences in his life and profession at pivotal points throughout his existence. It’s clear that he greatly benefited from these relationships. For instance, a brief marriage to actress Helen Menken concluded in 1927 after only 18 months, followed by a nine-year union with Mary Philips, his co-star on Broadway’s Nerves play.
After tying the knot with Bacall in 1945, Humphrey Bogart had quite a stormy seven-year relationship with his third wife, Mayo Methot. This tumultuous period was marked by constant quarrels and excessive drinking, earning them the tabloid moniker “the fighting Bogarts.
The filmmaker Ferguson, hailing from Belfast and known for the 2022 movie Nothing Compares about Sinead O’Connor’s life, points out that the stories of many women have been overlooked in history. “With the exception of Lauren Bacall,” she states, “these women have essentially been relegated to footnotes.” She expresses a deep curiosity about their lives, particularly her mother, Maud Humphrey, who was one of the most highly paid illustrators in 1899 when Bogart was born and a prominent suffragette.
According to Ferguson, Bogart’s mother is often missing from narratives about his life, yet she played a significant role as one of the most influential figures in his life. Their relationship was marked by difficulties; she found it hard to express love towards him and instead left him to be raised primarily by maids. As Ferguson explains, “Bogart had a rather complicated bond with women, which I believe stemmed from this lingering ‘mother wound’ throughout his lifetime.” However, it’s important to note that Bogart wasn’t entirely negative; he was supportive of his partners in various aspects. But, there were undeniably problematic characteristics as well.
It’s certainly troubling that he had such frequent fights with Methot, fueled by alcohol in their home, Sluggy Hollow. Notably, Methot once stabbed Bogie in the shoulder, but that wasn’t an isolated incident; she often showed signs of physical abuse, such as bruises on her face. Stephen expresses his disapproval, stating, “Their relationship simply degenerated into something that goes against the principles I uphold in my life.
If we’re talking about the challenging aspects of Bogart’s personality, it’s clear that he was a man molded from the stone of an earlier time. For instance, consider his cherished yacht, Santana. As Stephen humorously recounts, “He wouldn’t let women aboard because he couldn’t relieve himself over the side.” In today’s world, such a matter might not raise eyebrows, but during his era, Bogart was quite conservative, as his African Queen co-star, Katharine Hepburn, noted.
At the age of eight, Stephen had a unique bond with Humphrey Bogart, who tragically passed away at 57 from esophageal cancer. Interestingly, Bogart, along with his partner Lauren Bacall, also had a second child named Leslie Howard in 1952. However, the memories that stand out most for Stephen are not about Santana but rather his interactions with his father. For instance, Bogart was adamant that Stephen knew how to swim before he could join him on their boat rides. Reflecting on this, Stephen remembers being escorted to the boat by his father, despite a crew member accompanying them to maintain safety. This swimming test proved challenging due to the cold Pacific waters, but Stephen managed to pass it, an accomplishment that still leaves him in disbelief today.
Could Humphrey Bogart thrive in modern-day Hollywood? That’s a tough question to answer, acknowledges Ferguson. However, the influence of the iconic fedora and trench coat wearer remains strong. “It’s astonishing how many contemporary actors list him as their top inspiration,” notes Ferguson. “Clearly, he left an indelible mark on countless actors. It seems to be his nonchalance, his timeless coolness that resonates so deeply with people even after seven decades.
A performer who defied the Hollywood studio system and established his own production company to create content and manage his public persona was incredibly forward-thinking, or in other words, a very contemporary star. As Stephen puts it, “He had an exceptional eye for selecting the scripts he took on. He was a man who admired writers,” noting that his father was consistently attracted to stories centered around characters, such as the timeless story of avarice, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. “These days, it’s all about explosions and similar spectacles,” he laments. “Movies just aren’t what they used to be.” It’s safe to assume that if Bogart were still around today, he would undoubtedly be a force to be reckoned with.
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2024-12-10 18:04