To Have and Have Not

Rating:
Summary: Holy Smokes --- what a pairing!
Review: Watching this movie can give you the vapors. Ye gods, has anyone's big screen debut been as sizzling as that of the 19-year-old Lauren Bacall's? Even 60 years later, Bacall's sensual presence absolutely smolders on the screen. While this is not the most gripping Bogart performance one is likely to think of, he is nonetheless fascinating to watch in this film. As the film progresses, it is unmistakeable that he is absolutely HOOKED by his co-star.

The storyline itself is a conventional thriller for its time, although it has the distinction of being the product of two of the greatest American writers, Hemingway & Faulkner. Not that they would have seen much merit in that --- Hemingway had a lukewarm attitude towards this work, and Faulkner hated every minute he spent in Hollywood, prostituting his talent (as he saw it).

This movie is not on a dramatic par with "Casablanca" or "The Maltese Falcon," and the subsequent Bogart-Bacall "Key Largo" has far more suspense & tension within it. However, none of these films can equal "To Have and Have Not" for on-screen chemistry, and there is indeed something to be said for that. In fact, I would be hard-pressed to come up with a film that surpasses "To Have and Have Not" in terms of chemistry, and that should be enough for anyone to consider this a classic.

Rating:
Summary: These 2 kids are HOT!
Review: I was fortunate enough to come across this film about 2 years ago and was amazed! The chemistry between Bogart and Bacall was nearly tangible. Bacall is young, beautiful and sultry. Bogart is rugged, brassy and handsome. Together the sparks fly. Oh Yeah...and I hear there's some sort of French Resistance setting,etc.......

Rating:
Summary: Underrated Bogie Film
Review: To Have and Have Not has more chemistry than Casblanca and is more fun that African Queen. The spark between Bogie and Bacall who met on this film make for great fireworks. Bogie plays American Harry Morgan, a boat captain who lives on French Martinique in the Carribbean. The year is 1940 and the Nazi loving Vichey French control the island. While Captain Morgan tries to make a living hiring out his vessel for big game fisherman, the Free French try to recruit Morgan into their cause. Just a whiff of this makes Vichey come after Bogie hard. At that point the movie becomes a waiting game for Bogie to join the free French and become the hero. Walter Brennan is wonderful as Bogie's alcoholic sidekick and is a good example of Howard Hawks theme of men taking care of other men.

The Special Features on this DVD are decent, but not great. There is a documentary about Bogie and Bacall meeting on this film and marrying, but it's familiar territory for any Bogie fan. An old Warner Brothers cartoon about Lauren Bacall complete with politically incorrect characters also makes it on the disk. The most interesting special feature is probably the later radio broadcast of the story with Bogie and Bacall providing the voices.

Rating:
Summary: All About the Chemistry
Review: TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT, made in 1944, has recently been brought out on DVD, and it's terrific entertainment. I was surprised (at my second lifetime viewing, first was about 1980) at how much of a knock-off of Casablanca this is, and at how little that matters, even for one so insanely protective of the Casablanca franchise as I am. You watch this one for the chemistry between Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, and it doesn't disappoint. She's 19, he's 45 and in his second unhappy marriage, but they are finding the love of their lives in each other here, and will soon marry and have three children before he dies of lung cancer in ten years. My recollection was that she's just a female version of Bogart (that's fine by me), very tough and very cool, but her softer side struck me this time-even better. Bogart plays a guy who does fishing charters from a French island in the Caribbean; she's stuck there for some reason; he tiptoes into World War II when he picks up a Free France guy and his wife. Legend has it that the director, Howard Hawks, made a bet with Ernest Hemingway that he could make a good movie out of Hemingway's worst book, so let's skip the synopsis and just say that the plot doesn't get in the way of things. (Hawks also made a bet that he could pull off a film in which a key player's face was shot in semi-shadow twenty different ways. Just kidding.) Walter Brennan has the chief supporting role, playing Harry Morgan (Bogart's) alcoholic sidekick, and Abdul from the Casablanca cast plays the local Vichy heavy to a T. The composer Hoagy Carmichael ("Stardust," "Georgia On My Mind"-no, they don't appear in this film, but a couple of good tunes do) has a significant part; Slim's turn as a torch singer is surprisingly effective, reminiscent of Meryl Streep in Postcards From the Edge. There are several iconic scenes in this movie-"You know how to whistle, Steve..." of course (he calls her "Slim," which she doesn't care for, so she simply gives him another name, too); but I also like the scene in which he asks her to walk around him once ("I get it. No strings."). Best of all is early on when she walks in his direction saying, "You know, Steve, most of the time I can tell exactly what you're going to say. The rest of the time? The rest of the time you're just a stinker." She kisses him for the first time. She kisses him again. "It's better when you help."

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful
Review: Well made suspense romance story starring Bogie and Bacall. They are so good together...Also see The Big Sleep. Hawks was a genius.

Rating:
Summary: HEMMINGWAY'S SAGA HITS THE BIG TIME!
Review: "To Have And Have Not" is the film credited with launching Lauren Bacall's career. Bogart is a sea captain in Martinique who meets up with a mysterious stranger on a quest across the tropics for adventure. Like most of Warner's adventure films of the period, its not the story, so much as it is the atmosphere that makes up the sum of this film - though in this instance - no less than literary giant, Ernest Hemmingway, is responsible for the framework on which the film's plot is based.

TRANSFER: VERY NICE! - Again, Warner outdoes the competition when it comes to remastering their catalogue of great films for the DVD consumer. The gray scale is outstanding and fine detail is rendered with remarkable clarity. Blacks - for the most part - are black. The stock footage - used during the fishing trip sequence - is obvious, riddled with excessive grain and slightly out of focus rear projection. However, that's to be expected. The rest, as they say, is the stuff that dreams are made of! The audio is MONO but cleaned up and very well balanced.
EXTRAS: Once again, Warner gives us a featurette that, although short, covers a lot of ground regarding the film's production. There's also a Warner Brothers cartoon and the film's original theatrical trailer.
BOTTOM LINE: This IS vintage Bogart and Bacall. It's also a fine example of what classic movies can look like on DVD if a studio is willing to take the interest and the time. A definite YES!!!

Rating:
Summary: A rare moment in History
Review: This a true masterpiece in very sense of the word. A classic movie yet one made for now. Bogart and Bacall are true masters of the screen. I wasn't even born for another 15 years after this film was released but I can only say that if you watch this film in the right state of mind it will change your life. It has everything you would want from a movie. Intrigue, romance, action, adventure and glorious black and white! If I could give this 6 stars I would. Please buy and watch this film you will not regret it.

Rating:
Summary: Bogart & Bacall's first film together is a film classic!
Review: Very loosely based on Heminway's novel, "To Have And Have Not" is a brilliant film long overdue on DVD. The studio film, smartly directed by Howard Hawks, is a true classic. Great character development, story, acting, noir photography and a crisp script that keeps you involved throughout.

The ensemble cast works very well together. "To Have And To Have Not" is simply one of Bogart' best films along side of "The Maltese Falcon", "Casablanca", "The Big Sleep" and "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre". Lauren Bacall's film debut is a knockout and led directly to her being cast in "The Big Sleep". Walter Brennan is a real gem of an actor and is a big plus here. Dolores Moran is a great foil for Bacall. Hoagy Carmichael is so natural in his minor role that you wish he had been in more film classics. All the supporting roles are well done.

Adventure, romance, inrigue, humour and some crackling good dialog keeps this 1944 classic forever young.

Thanks, Warner, for bringing it to disc!

Rating:
Summary: AMAZING!
Review: This would have to be one of my favorite movies of all time. The movie features great acting and a fabulous script. Lauren Bacall is absolutely stunning. And everyone knows that it has one of the most romantic scenes in cinema, with the "you know how to whistle?". Everyone should own this movie.

Rating:
Summary: Bogie and Bacall's greatest film together
Review: As soon as I saw Bogart in Casablanca, I knew I wanted to see more of his films. I had heard of the legendary "Bogart and Bacall" duo, so I wanted to see one of their movies together. The one I wanted to see most was To Have and Have Not. Ironically, it was the last one I saw.
Bacall's screen debut is excellent, and I am astounded by her talent. I'm so happy that her singing voice wasn't dubbed, because her own voice is exactly the kind you'd expect to hear from her. Bogart's quite good himself, as the famed "gangster" Harry (or Steve) Morgan.
The story will keep you on the edge of your seat, wanting more and more...and then it's over. When I saw the trailer for this movie, they kept on bringing up Dolores Moran's character, and making you think that she had a thing for Bogart. But we learn early on that she's already married, and doesn't really have too much interest in him.
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