MovieChat Forums > Sabrina (1954) Discussion > Why Bogart was cast . . .

Why Bogart was cast . . .

posted 9 years ago by Tullyboy
6 replies | jump to latest

Just watched "Sabrina" for the 10th time in my life and finally found out why Bogart plays Linus. According to TCM's host (Ben M), the role of Linus was originally intended for Cary Grant, but eventually went to Bogart. He took the part with the
intention of having his wife, Lauren Bacall, play Sabrina. When that didn't work out, he was quite displeased but already locked in for the part. He didn't get along with Holden at all and wasn't happy about working with Audrey. When later asked how he liked working with Hepburn, he 'famously' said, "It's okay, if you don't mind doing 20 takes", putting him in the short list of actors who disliked working with her. (This is pretty much verbatim from Ben's commentary.) As it turned out, Hepburn wound up being nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress for her performance.

I like Bogart a lot but casting him in this part, given the fact that Hepburn played Sabrina, makes him look miscast in the film. IMHO, she's too young and 'delicate' to be paired with a love interest so 'worn out' looking as Bogart. It's one thing to 'play against type' but I feel he seems far too old for her character to fall in love with here and there's just no chemistry between them. C'est la vie en l'industrie du film!

[–] maharani78 9 years ago

I said in another post that I dislike him but actually I thought he did a good job of appearing to be falling for Sabrina in a few scenes, although it's less clear why she would have liked him..Cary Grant I could understand haha

[–] xfastfurious15 9 years ago

^^LOL its funny because Audrey did do a film called Charade with Cary Grant and it was almost a perfect match!

I bet you're wondering what a place like this is doing in a girl like me-The Mummy

[–] leader-7 9 years ago

The insanity of all these analyses of everyone's age in the film is just ridiculous. First of all, Bogie and Bacall were 25 years apart as well, and they were a true love story. Audrey and Lauren were 5 years apart -- and those five years are de minimis when you're talking about a performance.

Additionally, while Bogie, chronologically, was 54, in the film he's at least 16 years younger -- because if you recall, when they introduce his parents in the library scene, with Sabrina as the voiceover, she says they were married in 1916.

So... let's all enjoy it, and not have "reality" infiltrate a great film, or allow "facts" to obfuscate the fun.

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[–] spookyrat1 9 years ago

Additionally, while Bogie, chronologically, was 54, in the film he's at least 16 years younger ...

He may have been playing 40, but looked all of 54. I love Bogey, but for goodness sake he was born in the nineteenth century 30 years before Hepburn, (who could get away with playing younger) and this is a rom-com! They don't make 'em like this any more.🐭

[–] cananny 9 years ago

When they were on the boat he did mention the age difference

[–] fbm72751 9 years ago

Bogie for the most part didn't get along well with young or upcoming people, William Holden especially even though he'd been around for awhile by 1954. Some years ago I had read that Bogart despised the new music that was gaining popularity in 1955-56 called rock and roll. Times were a changing !