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Bogart and Bacall - Least interesting of their films together

posted 18 years ago by Bitbyadeadbee
20 replies | jump to latest

'To Have and Have Not' and 'The Big Sleep' succeed in large part because of the obvious chemistry between Bogie and Bacall. A big part of that chemistry was the flirty repartee that went back and forth between the two of them. There was a wonderful edge to their exchanges because neither was quite sure they could trust the other. Bacall's characters were always 'bad' girls in one way or another, which was precisely what drew Bogie's characters to her.

The relationship in Key Largo is much less interesting, because Bacall's character is a widow, and some kind of saint. There's no trace of the bad girl in her and that sucks all the interest out of the scenes between her and Bogie.

I was a little disappointed in this film the last time I saw it.

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] neilist 18 years ago

I could not disagree more. "TH&HN"," and "TBS" are great movies in their own right, and for their own reasons. But "Key Largo" ranks right up there with them.

My only "problem" with KL is that I would like to recut it a bit, here and there, and/or change some of the camera angles. For instance, when Bogie/McCloud is telling the story of how the younger Temple was in the Observation Post, there should be more development, in terms of reaction shots, Bacall/Nora is confused/starts to realize/and then finally appreciates what Bogat is doing for the father by "re-writing" the story so that the son is the hero.

The other shot that I would change is when Nora asks McCloud whether her husband suffered before he died. McCloud says "He never knew what hit him," and the following shot is Nora walking away. A better shot would have been a cut to McCloud's face, with an expression that makes clear that the son did NOT die easily, i.e., McCloud is re-writing that story to, in order to spare Nora the truth.

I met Bacall up in SF about 30 years ago. Even as old as she was at the time, she still had "It."

[–] udippel 9 years ago

Thanks for some valuable arguments. I don't have the same esteem for Key Large that you seem to have, and I could add a number more scenes that are seriously rather B-movie. Alas, that was also the time and the days when in Hollywood the directors and cinematographers (if they existed at all) would pass the camera to some make-up artist or a hairdresser, thinking it was way below them to care for details. Results often are the standard face or plot just in the center, acting, cut, next. Instead of actors walking in and out of the scene, acting out of the center, and so forth.
And Key Largo is an exemplary bad case in this respect. It still is a great movie as far as I am concerned, but one that could have been pretty much better for larger parts, including weaknesses in the plot.
This is why often I prefer European films, with directors working hand in hand with cinematographers as important contributors to the success.

In principle the plot is a plot written for the stage, everything in a single location - aside of the chase towards the end which was actually written for Have and Have Not.
Arsenic and Old Lace is already better, and Hitchcock's Dial M is much better in this respect; to name just two examples of the similar genre of what to make from stage plays when they are adapted to the medium 'film'.

[–] Death_to_Pan_and_Scan 17 years ago

I'll also disagree because there's also Dark Passage which, while still a pretty good film, is the weakest link of the 4 B&B films and relies on its masked Bogie and POV gimmicks for far too long.

Not because of the B&B chemistry in it, but as a whole, I think I actually prefer Key Largo to The Big Sleep, followed by TH&HN and then Dark Passage in last.

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If you're watching 'Fullscreen' DVDs, you aren't getting the whole picture.

[–] Goodbye_Ruby_Tuesday 17 years ago

I also think that Dark Passage is the weakest; ironically it's perhaps the most *interesting* but the weakest film because the experimentation doesn't pay off and gets tiresome after 15 minutes. I also think that Bogart's two biggest strengths were his ability to chew on great lines and to express so many emotions with his aged face....the film doesn't have a lot of great lines and his face is either non-existent or heavily bandaged for 2/3 of the movie.

I have mixed feelings about Key Largo, because every time I watch it I find new things to like or dislike about it. The performances are fine (it's a little ironic--and bittersweet--to see Bogart playing a WWII vet after appearing in numerous propaganda films) and the filmmaking is well-done, but it feels like it should've been a lot more suspenseful than it actually was. Also, Lauren Bacall wasn't given a lot to do, save that one scene where she spits in Edward G. Robinson's face.

I was born when she kissed me
I died when she left me
I lived a few weeks while she loved me

[–] davekingman 15 years ago

I think it's plenty suspenseful, thanks to Robinson, who is at his most menacing & the hurricane which increases the tension, the claustrophobia & the sense of helplessness. I love this movie- possibly my favorite of all time. Every actor plays their part perfectly no matter how small and is given at least one memorable scene.

[–] 14166637 17 years ago

Don't you get it ? It's called "Acting!"

That wise- cracking dame in "TH&HN" and the spoilt socialite beauty in "TBS" became sweet,wholesome young war widow in "Key Largo"- I'd just like to meet her once, before it's too late, and say "Thanks for everything"

[–] ladylavende 17 years ago

This was my first Bogart/Bacall movie, and I loved it. If it is the least interesting, as you say, then I am really looking forward to The Big Sleep and To Have and Have Not!

No, not the bore worms! http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=8093247

[–] gtj73 17 years ago

Completely disagree. Key Largo is actually my favourite Bogie/Bacall teaming, and probably my all-time favourite Bacall performance.

That house is not fit to live in. No one's been able to live in it. It doesn't want people.

[–] elliedramaqueen123 16 years ago

How can you say that Dark Passage is the worst film, Yes its true that bogie is hidden for half the movie however look at the end, a simple phonecall made the whole film worth it, The emotion in Laurens voice as she quietly whisper
"now hang up darling, just like that, hang up" it had me in tears

[–] csu16387 14 years ago

Well, their chemistry on-screen certainly isn't that of To Have and Have Not and The Big Sleep... but it's not supposed to be. Those films Bogie and Bacall made early on were with Howard Hawks, and he was able to use their greatest strengths on-screen (not to mention a lot of sexual tension and innuendo) and as they say the rest is history...

People expecting the same kind of dynamic in Key Largo may be disappointed, but in terms of personal preference I like KL better than The Big Sleep. It's tense, and at times downbeat, but Bogie here is sensational. It's one of his most underrated performances. Claire Trevor is fantastic as always, and Edward G. Robinson gives it his all here. He's over-the-top, sure, but Johnny Rocco IS an over-the-top character.

Great cast, great film...

"Now what kind of man are YOU dude?"

[–] stephen_chow79 14 years ago

Key Largo is my favourite of the 4 because of Edward G Robinson, he steals every scene.. there isn't really the same chemistry between Bogart and Bacall because of this... their best pairing for me is To Have and Have Not.

[–] Jessica_Rabbit69 13 years ago

I also think that Key Largo is the weakest of the 4 Bogart/Bacall movies. I still like it very much, but for me it's a Robinson/Trevor movie. Both of them steal the show.

"'To Have and Have Not' and 'The Big Sleep' succeed in large part because of the obvious chemistry between Bogie and Bacall. A big part of that chemistry was the flirty repartee that went back and forth between the two of them. There was a wonderful edge to their exchanges because neither was quite sure they could trust the other. "
That's exactly it.

Lauren Bacall is completely wasted in this film. She has absolutely nothing to do here. I really missed her wise-cracking dame. I realize that's not what she is supposed to be, but that's what made B/B movies so much fun. It's a great movie, but not a good showcase of the famous Bogart/Bacall chemistry.

Jessica Rabbit
"I'm not bad. I'm just drawn that way."

[–] Cherubim1 13 years ago

Edward G Robinson really stole the show in this film although Lauren Bacall's performance was very understated as well. She conveyed a lot with such little dialogue.

[–] SeanJoyce 13 years ago

If you look at it as a "Bogie/Bacall film"...then yeah, probably.

But if you look at it as a movie featuring Bogie and Bacall, then this is arguably the best film they appeared in together, with only The Big Sleep a worthy competitor.

"...if that was off, I'd be whoopin' your ass up and down this street." ~ an irate Tarantino

[–] mark-1589 10 years ago

Wow, anyone who cannot see the chemistry between them in this film is BLIND. You don't need flirtation for there to be a clear connection. I consider Key Largo Bogie and Bacall's very best film together.