One can argue about his acting skills, though I think he could act well when given the chance (e.g., The African Queen), but his "screen presence" - like Gable and Grant - was unmistakable.
Sometimes I wonder if such photos were truly "banned" or just taken by studio executives for their own entertainment. How could anyone think this might be acceptable in the 1930s? I read that record producers often would record risque blues songs with no intention of marketing them. They were for their own use (e.g., playing them at parties).
I have to come to really appreciate Bogart Maltese Falcon Treasure of Sierra Madre Casablanca he’s like early proto anti-hero he’s great I’m not overly fond of African Queen though just a little toooooooo……idk
In A Lonely Place - it features perhaps Bogie's most complex characterisation. Add in Gloria Graham and the dazzling direction of Nicholas Ray and you have one of the best noirs, imo. Over-rated, it is not!!!
That's why I like him in that movie. I'm not a big fan when he plays inside what Hollywood producers thought was his wheelhouse. Not that it's bad by any means if you like the gruff and tough Bogie.
That's why I enjoyed Robert Mitchum in Ryan's Daughter. Not a great film but Mitchum not playing an Alpha Male was great.
Bogie is TCM's star of the month and there's been a bunch of his movies on Thursdays, including today! I've gotten to the point where I've started to look for some of his lesser-known movies, while still circling back and re-enjoying the classics. Just finished watching Chain Lightning (1950). Bogie plays a Chuck Yeager type test pilot. There's some great footage of the planes and engineering from the time. Not a stellar movie, but a fun watch and I'm always glad to see another one of his movies. I also have Tokyo Joe (1949) recorded, which I read was the first western movie allowed to film in post-war Japan. The Amazing Dr Clitterhouse (1938) will be another new one for me, with the always enjoyable Edward G Robinson. That one's scheduled for tomorrow and the DVR is set.
His screen presence was mesmerizing. The guy could go from tough (with the hoods) to tender (with the dames) in a second. He was just so damn cool.
I never questioned his acting chops...why does there always have to be a negative? He was great! simply put better than many of the current crop of today actors....
he was the ultimate iced veined gangster...along with his partner in crime James Cagney...they both were greatness to the extreme.
And he could be funny. When Hepburn is dumping his booze out in the African Queen. Or his sarcasm in Sabrina. Deriding the heavies in The Maltese Falcon.
I'm not questioning his acting skills (see, e.g., my post #384 above). I'm saying one can - like people do with almost every actor (after all, it can be a very subjective assessment) - but that his screen presence is undeniable.
It's amazing to think of the actors he played against, from Eddie Robinson to Claude Rains to Rod Steiger.
Simply The G O A T for me… Cagney and Robinson for the primo trifecta. A fond memory - of standing a few feet from Edward G and his wife at a high end lamp store in L.A. as a boy of maybe 10/11. My Dad pointed him out to me, but told me not to bother him. We watched the three together often.. then we went to Ralph’s grocery store! Incredible and true.