MovieChat Forums > The Maltese Falcon (1941) Discussion > Humphrey Bogart Question

Humphrey Bogart Question

posted 11 years ago by thomaswilliamboner
10 replies | jump to latest

I am watching The Maltese Falcon for the first time since I was a teenager. It's a very good movie. I have to say Humphrey Bogart is excellent in this movie. I have seen him in this, Casablanca and Key Largo. I think he was very underrated as an actor, I know other actors like Spencer Tracy and Clark Gable were considered better actors at that time, why though? Bogart seems to be doing method acting before Brando. I would put him in the top ten actors of all time. My question is why was he underrated?

[–] Nikostratos 11 years ago

I think that Bogie was type-cast early on by the studio (WB) and relegated to playing small-time gangsters that usually get killed in the end. Between the early to late 30's, he rarely had leading roles, he was always billed 2nd or 3rd to guys like Cagney, Robinso, Tracey, Pat O Brien and even Errol Flynn.
It wasn't until Casablanca and The Maltese Falcon that his A list status was cemented.

Formerly tdnh_2000

[–] jrl0726 11 years ago

There are two major reasons. First there is the long time he was behind many of the male stars at WB. Then after he gets his chance and blazed by them all and became the number one film star in the WORLD, he dies at a relatively young age for a top film actor. It was during this later part of his career 1948 to his death in '57 that he delivered his greatest performances and if he had lived healthy for even 10 more years he would be universally recognized as he now is, film's greatest all-time star but he would also, be renowned as one of the all-time great actors.

[–] Ace19444 11 years ago

He's also great in The Big Sleep, another noir with him as a PI. Great ending to that one

[–] jdreck 11 years ago

http://www.imdb.com/list/ls003443095/

[–] TwoThousandOneMark 10 years ago

He & his roles just never seemed to be as blockbuster popcorn as some contemporaries Cary Grant & James Stewart... who seemed to star in more mainstream, accesible roles & films.

[–] Cocktailsfor2 10 years ago

Bogart seems to be doing method acting before Brando.

Bogie wasn't a Method actor.

An outstanding actor? Yes, and, as explained by others in the thread, not a top-billed lead until much later in his career, but most assuredly not a Method actor.
______________________________________
"Leave the gun. Take the cannoli."

[–] liscarkat (19418) 6 years ago

"most assuredly not a Method actor."

One of the reasons he was so good.

[–] the-spy 9 years ago

you make some good points. spencer tracy often gets listed as the greatest actor of all time, even bogart and gable said as much - the reason they gave is you "can't see the wheels turning" while tracy acted.

i don't think gable ever had a better reputation as an actor than bogart, either today or back in their time. gable was a bigger star probably, but for the most part didn't show (or get opportunities to show) the acting range that bogart did.

bogart referred to method acting as "scratching your ass and mumbling". if anyone displayed method acting before brando, i would say john garfield and montgomery clift.

[–] jrhpax 9 years ago

John Garfield and Montgomery Clift both studied with Lee Strasberg, and both were pioneer Method actors -- especially Garfield, who was seven years older than Clift and was a star a lot earlier.

[–] anthny_platt 9 years ago

I agree with everyone in the thread so far.

The local PBS movie club host is constantly comparing typecast actors to Steve McQueen and Bogart. Yeah, McQueen, Robert Mitchum, and a thousand others. But Bogart?

To my mind, the somewhat dim, rather malleable Mr. Olnott from African Queen is about as different from brilliant and decisive Sam Spade as it's possible to get, yet he was believable in both roles. Likewise the smart, affable character from Beat the Devil as compared to the commanding and decisive, but not overly bright first mate from Action in the North Atlantic. Both believable performances. And then compare his evil character from Twentieth Century to the character who starts out likeable, but then gets gold fever, and we see him lose his mind.

I say it's past time that Bogart got the credit he deserves.