Bogart: Life Comes in Flashes (10/10)

by Tony Medley

99 minutes.

NR

It’s hard to believe that there has never been a documentary on the life of Humphrey Bogart, but this is the first one.

It’s told by Bogie himself, along with Lauren Bacall, and his three other wives. In fact, director Kathryn Ferguson did painstaking research and has Bogie telling the story of his life himself using previously unseen archives,
letters, and interviews from those closest to him.

Among those contributing to Bogie’s story in their own words are his third wife, Mayo Methot, who receives long-overdue credit for Bogie transforming from a character actor to a star, second wife Mary Philips, and first wife Helen Menken, both of whom contributed to his progression. Ferguson has heretofore concentrated on women and so she gives all of Bogie’s wives their due. Also contributing are Louise Brooks, John Huston, Katharine Hepburn among many others.

Those speaking create a web from which Bogie’s personality congeals, and it is complex. Here are some of the gems:

“I don't trust any bastard who doesn't drink. People who don’t drink are afraid of revealing themselves.” Bogie

“Bogie when he was drunk, he was a totally different fellow He had one thing that remained constant and that was his needling of phonies.” Peter Viertell, screenwriter and friend.

“He was always short-tempered but if you knew him you didn’t believe him. The dividing line was final and clear cut. You knew where you stood ten minutes after you met him.” Bob Schiffer, friend

“He either liked you or he didn’t like you.” Florence Schiffer.

“He was a searcher for a weakness in a person. He loved to goad. He would call it teasing. It was really testing. He loved to find where he could find a sensitive part of a person and he was a master at finding it.” Doris Bowden, friend.

“He was an unpredictable man. He didn’t walk around with a chip on his shoulder. He carried the chip in his hand and made sure you knew he had it and was going to put it on his shoulder any minute.” Joseph Mankiewicz, director and friend

“There were times when he would pick on people for no reason whatsoever, usually brought on by drinking. But occasionally he would go after somebody who had no defenses and who really shouldn’t be picked on.” Nathaniel Benchley, author and friend.

“He was serious. He was enormously fair. He was very much of a gent, very well born, frightfully good manners. Not a tough guy; he was the exact opposite.” Katharine Hepburn on The African Queen (1951).

There are clips from films, too. It tells about how Bogie and Bacall founded The Rat Pack. And it’s claimed that the noir In a Lonely Place (1950) captured feelings and personality that were shared by the real Bogart. He also expresses his disdain for Brando and The Actors Studio.

There is a lot more to this excellent film. Whether or not you are a Bogie fan, it’s one not to be missed.