To Have and Have Not

Rating:
Summary: Another Great Love Story
Review: TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT is an unabashed sequel made for the primary purpose of capitalizing on the previous success of CASABLANCA.

The similarities abound from the opening zoom-in view of a Caribbean map to the assortment of characters which includes a cynical American ex-patriot entrepreneur, an irresistable female, a piano player, a gang of obnoxious Nazis and several patriots who are resisting the Nazis. Besides Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, the cast includes Walter Brennan, Walter Sande, Marcel Dalio, Hoagy Carmichael, Paul Marion and Dan Seymour. Seymour plays Captain Renard of the local Gestapo police which represents quite a promotion from his role in CASABLANCA where he was only an obscure doorman. Sir Lancelot, who later achieved much fame in real life as a calypso singer, has the role of a helper on Bogie's fishing boat, the Queen Conch cabin cruiser out of Key West, Florida.

TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT is very much a love story in the style of CASABLANCA but the big difference is that Lauren Bacall plays a much more independent woman than Ingred Bergman's Ilsa.

We know that Bogie will probably end up on the side of the resistance fighters but will he also choose to give up his great love, the gorgeous Slim played by Bacall? That is the big question and the answer may surprise you.

Rating:
Summary: Bogie and Bacall sizzle on screen
Review: If ever two stars were made for each other on screen it would have to be movie greats Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall in "To Have And Have Not" a sultery Film Noir if ever there was one. The film literally oozes with seductive qualities in scene after scene aided beautifully by the shady photography so characteristic of this genre.

Made in the closing period of World War 2 it marked not only another Howard Hawks triumph both critically and financially but also featured a truly stunning film debut for the deep voiced Lauren Bacall. She would have to be judged one of the great discoveries of this mid 40's period and she proved her worth time and again in many great films over the years. One of the great romances of the Golden years of Hollywood began on this film and resulted in Bacall and Bogart continuing their love affair into the making of another classic "The Big Sleep" and becoming man and wife in real life. It is hard to believe in "To Have And To Have Not" that Bacall was only 19 years of age, she seems so assured and quite up to matching the veteran Bogart line by line. In the role of Mary (Slim) Browning a girl stranded in the colony of Martinique Bacall portrays a self sufficent woman living by her wits who comes across an unlikely object for affection in Bogart's Harry Morgan a fishing Boat owner who in between hiring out his vessel for fishing excursions through a set of circumstances finds himself working for the French resistance movement ilegally ferrying out supporters of the regime out of enemy territory. Theirs is a meeting of two unlikely characters but from their first scene the sparks fly as Bogart sees that Bacall is no pushover and Bacall realises that there is more to Bogart than the rough exterior indicates.

"To Have And To Have Not" would have to undoubtedly rank in the top 5 of Bogart' best films along with "The Maltese Falcon", "Casablanca" and "The Treasure of Sierra Madre" and others. It presented the unique image of a screen actor who didn't need to possess matinee idol good looks to be a romantic lead. That was Bogart's unique quality in film after film and in "To Have" he has the perfect vechicle for all his great qualities, a tale filled with romance, intrigue, action, gripping narrative. The film has it all. Based on a not very successful novel by Ernest Hemingway who often wrote about people living on the edge or those who had lost purpose in their lives, "To Have And To Have Not' deals with such a dislocated group. In the film most peoples lives are based on temporary arrangements with the prospects of their situation being altered at any moment whether it be by the war, another person's emotions or the environment they live in. This atmosphere gives this story alot of its raw energy and crisp tension that simmers throughout only to burst out near the exciting conclusion.

As charismatic as Bogart and Bacall are in this film the stellar supporting cast also add to the overraul class and effect that this story has. Lanky Walter Brennan, a performer in many a cornball story is most effective in the role of drunken Eddie a mate of Harry's who lives for his next nip of alcohol and is a loyal friend who gets caught up in all the action in Martinique. Dolores Moran as Hellene de Bursac who Bogart rescues from enemy teritory is also most effective in her small role. The big surprise is the appearance of Hoagy Carmichael as the piano player in the bar where Harry and "Slim '(Bacall) hang out and trade quips. His scenes are so like scenes from "Casabanca" but he brings a great 40's feel to his playing that is such a pleasure to watch and adds greatly to the authentic feel of the film.

Humphrey Bogart is certainly watchable in almost any film he made, good or bad but rarely has he had such a great role as that in "To Have And To Have Not" Certainly the film has a "Casablanca" feel about it but it should be judged on its own merits with an exciting storyline, sultry leading lady, plenty of adventure and humour and a beautiful seductive look to it that makes it one of the great romantic films of the mid 1940's. Enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: "Anybody got a match..."
Review: In my opinion this movie, which is often compared to Casablanca, is the better of the two. It is fantastic - the atmosphere is perfect, the script is witty and entertaining, the plot is interesting, and, most of all, as has already been remarked, the chemistry between young Lauren Bacall and Humphery Bogart is incredible! The two stars actually fell in love during the filming, and you can feel this in the movie. Bacall is stunning and looks far older than her 19 years, and Bogart is as always perfect in his role.

The origin of this movie is also quite interesting. It is said that, one day, while fishing together, director Howard Hawks told Ernest Hemingway that he could make a hit movie even out of his worst story. Annoyed, Hemingway responded by inquiring which story Hawks considered to be his worst. When Hawks explained that it was To Have and Have Not, Hemingway expressed skepticism that the story could ever serve as a successful movie. But Hawks clearly proved otherwise (although he cheated a little b/c the adaptation is pretty different from the story).

Anyhow, this movie is very similar to Casablanca in the sense that it is about a cynical American who gets drawn into helping French Resistance fighters get free. It is a great movie - good for the whole family. I don't know how else to recommend this: buy it and enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: Watching two stars fall in love can be so much fun.
Review: I'm not in a position to say how closely the film version of 'To Have and To Have Not' follows the Hemmingway source novel (not very much, from what I understand), but I can say that the film is an absolute gem. Bogart plays a skipper of a fishing boat. As in Casablanca, he is trapped in foreign territory belonging to Vichy France. He cares little about the political situation until his hand is forced and he throws in his lot with the Free French. He's the cynic who turns freedom fighter, and no one does this more convincingly than Bogart. Lauren Bacall is the girl with whom he falls in love and who is the unwitting reason for his conversion. Its incredible to think that this is Bacall's screen debut. She was only nineteen when she made this film, yet her performance sizzles. She oozes more sex appeal than Mae West, and yet has more class than Lana Turner. Bacall and Bogart fell in love while making this film, and it shows. The electricity they generate between the two of them could power Las Vegas for a month.

The dialogue, written by Jules Furthman and William Faulkner, is as sharp as a knife. Howard Hawks' direction is as masterly as always. Add a good supporting cast, especially Walter Brennan as a 'rummy' and a guest appearance from the singer Hoagey Carmichael, and you have all the ingredients of a classic film, which this certainly is.

Rating:
Summary: This Movie Makes Me Wish I Could Whistle...
Review: There aren't any words, really, to discribe how AWESOME this movie is. There are a lot of people out there who think this is just a rip off of "Casablanca"--shame on you! This is such a wonderful film, and mainly because there is palpable affection between Bogie and Bacall. Seriously! Look closely in some scenes, especially in one of their first scenes together. Bogie is trying to reprimand her, but he can't supress a smile. Also, in all of his other films, he doesn't look like he's really enjoying the love scenes (allegedly, he didn't like to do them)...but OH BABY does he enjoy the smooching with Bacall! It's so lovely to be able to watch two people falling madly in love. Why oh WHY is this movie not on DVD?!?!?!

P.S.--Humphrey Bogart is WAY HOT in this movie!

Rating:
Summary: You can't afford to not have this
Review: I think that the1944 classic "To Have and Have Not", which features one of Humphrey Bogart's best roles as Harry Morgan, the film debut of Lauren Bacall as "Slim" and an excellent supporting role by Walter Brennan as Eddie, Harry's drunk friend, is a great movie. The dialogue in here is sharp and witty, the most famous being said by Slim to Harry: "You know how to whistle, don't you? You just pucker your lips and blow". A personal favorite of mine is Eddie's question to about half the other characters in the film: "Was you ever stung by a dead bee?"

However, while I don't really hold it against this film, a lot of plot elements in here reminded me of "Casablanca" (And, though officially based on Hemingway's novel, some say this was actually a remake of that film). It is mostly in the plot details: Harry Morgan is a refuge from America and refuses to get involved with the work of some Free French fighters. But he eventually decides to but only for the personal needs of himself and another runaway (Slim). Harry, like Ric Blaine, also has to leave at the film's end. The locale of Martinique is a strange and exotic one, much like French Morocco. There is also a club called Hotel Martinique that reminded one a lot of Rick's Café, such as a pianist (A major difference between the two places is that Morgan doesn't own the Hotel and the pianist is caucasian)

But remakes of films are very common and this movie breaks no laws by replicating another movie. I must also say that while this movie is worth watching on video or television, the only one you need to have is the DVD, whenever that'll be released.

Rating:
Summary: Bacall is truly beautifull!
Review: Lauren Bacall was only 20 years old when they filmed this movie in question, i.e., To Have and Have Not~VHS and already she is an accomplished actress. Her beauty is stunning and there is not doubt why Humphrey Bogart fell in love with her during the making the of this classic. The story is well written and the dialogue feels very authentic. Eddie is a funny side kick and his boozing is quite funny. An Awesome movie that has a an excellent musical score that sets the perfectly. Highly Recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Shouldn't work -- but it does
Review: The only reason this film works is due to the excellent performances turned in by all the primaries. It's almost as if they all knew they had a hokey script on their hands, but still had fun doing it anyway. I have three questions to pose about the plot:

1) What was the point of Dolores Moran's character? It was obvious that her hubby would've been a coward had she been there or not. They must've just thrown her in to give Bacall's character a reason to be jealous (and also to add to the trailer "...And introducing two new talents!").

2) Is it a requirement to have a "fat man" in a Bogart flick?

3) Do you think they had to pay Bogart any extra money to wear the captain's hat and scarf? To maintain all the respect I have for the man, I sure hope the answer is yes, and a lot of extra money at that.

I believe this is the first movie I have ever seen where the movie gets better as the dialogue and action get cheesier. All of Bacall's conversations, especially with "Steve" and Cricket are hilarious. Of course, most people know about the whistle line, and "It's even better when you help" kissing scene. But the one that always gets me is closer to the end, where she suggests that Bogart needs a shave, then gives him a little love slap on the face. Now, don't think all the "best" lines were given to Bacall. Bogart has a particularly great scene on the boat, right before they start shooting it out with the patrol, where he tells his passengers to get down WITHOUT MOVING HIS LIPS. Who knew the tough guy also had ventriloquism on his resume?

In short, this is a highly entertaining film, classic only as the first pairing of Bogart and Bacall.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful classic!
Review: I highly recommend this film. It's a great drama.
I'd give it ten stars if I could.

Rating:
Summary: Lauren Bacall... What a babe!!!
Review: This is the second movie I watched among Boggie/Bacall movies (the first one was "The Big Sleep") and without hesitation it became my all time best!!! Whenever I watch it, I just keep amazed by how modern and exiting this movie still is. (I mean my parents didn't even graduate from college when this movie was made!!!) Boggie and Bacall together make irresistible and unforgettable moments every second. I can sense their love and passion for each other every time I watch it. The director Haward Hawks brings his usual toughness and playfulness into the exotic location and intense but amusingly relaxed plot. We all know what Boggie does for his movies, but folks, this movie is surely for grand introduction of gorgeous Lauren Bacall. To me, what defined the golden era of Hollywood was not Marilyn Monroe; it was an actress like Bacall whose beauty and grace shadowed even the dark side of that era. I strongly recommend this movie to any young moviegoers who want to know what the golden era was all about and how contemporary directors like Spielberg and Lucas become what they are now...