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“The trail may be cold, but the stories are hot!”

By ivi blog Guest Contributor Dr. Rob Moore

Humphrey Bogart (Bogie), despite his rough looks (See photo), was able to command the admiration of a significant portion of both male and female motion picture going audiences during the period 1936 to 1956. (Bogart received the nickname Bogey from his great pal Spencer Tracy in 1930, albeit with the slightly different spelling. Bogart himself spelled it Bogie.)

1936 has been chosen as the beginning of Bogie’s “run” of popularity because it was in 1936 that the film, The Petrified Forest, was released. This film was Bogie’s big break. In it, Bogart played the rugged Duke Mantee opposite Leslie Howard and Bettie Davis.

Davis replaced Peggy Conklin who had starred on Broadway in the part of Gabrielle Maple in the play of the same name, and Edward G. Robinson was scheduled to replace Bogart for the movie. (Play ran January through June 1935 -197 performances at the Broadhurst Theater — see photos)

When Bogie wired Howard, who was in England, about the replacement, Howard immediately telegraphed Jack Warner and threatened him (something that only Jack’s wife, and certainly no star of a lesser light than Howard could have done at that time…or ever.) Jack, to his credit, backed down, and Bogie’s career as a major film star was launched.

So, what’s this about Bogie’s Lucky Number?

Arguably Bogie’s Lucky Number was 4.

Why four?

It seems to this author that if one hovers at some distance above Bogie’s life, one can discern a distinct pattern emerge, and always in 4’s: 4 big breakthrough films, 4 marriages and 4 private passions.

There are 4 films in Bogie’s career that elevated him to ever greater heights. There were also 4 women who agreed to marry Bogart, each teaching him something about both the theater, and, the last, Lauren Bacall, how it feels not to merely act in a love scene. And finally, off screen, Bogart’s passions were 4: Chess, alcohol, sailing, and, finally, friendships/family.

The four films chosen for this article are: The launching film, The Petrified Forest 1936, Casablanca 1942 for which he was nominated for best actor by the Academy, but did not win, The African Queen 1952 for which he won the Academy Award in 1952 AND Best Foreign Actor Award by BAFTA, the British Academy of Firm and Television Arts. And, the last of the four, The Caine Mutiny 1954 during which he was seriously ill with the cancer that would end his life in 1957. Again he, Bogart, was nominated for an Oscar but did not win for this film. Bogie used his real illness to propel his screen performance to areas of excellence he had never before explored.

His four wives included Helen Menken (1926). Menken was a star on Broadway and taught Bogart many things about the art of stage acting. Bogie had never taken a single formal lesson in acting. The critics of this period referred to him as simply “inadequate.” After their divorce in 1927, they remained friends until Bogart’s death in 1957. Menken was married twice more, and died in 1966 still married to her third husband, George Richard.

Bogart’s second wife, whom he married in 1928, was the fiery actress Mary Philips. She once unfortunately, in a drunken state, bit the finger of a police officer off when he attempted to arrest her for being disorderly. Mary also was able to help Bogart along with his acting. When Bogart made his commitment to film on the West Coast, he asked Mary to come along with her. Being an established star in New York, she refused. Later Mary told interviewers that that was probably a mistake, one that she had no way of knowing at the time. Philips always referred to her ex husband as a gentleman.

Bogie’s third wife, Mayo Methot, whom he married in 1938 was a talented actress who, when sober, was a polite and refined woman. Unfortunately, when inebriated, she became extremely paranoid and violent, once stabbing Bogart in the back with a kitchen knife. It was a serious wound that Bogie allowed to heal without treatment leaving an ugly scar that he carried to the grave.

Finally, number 4, was Bogie’s really lucky marriage, to Lauren Bacall in 1945. At last, number 4, gave Bogart the security and happy family life that he had always wanted

Bogie’s passions were 4 as well.

Chess: Bogart was a fine chess player, often earning money during his early Broadway days by playing the game for money in Central Park, Coney Island or in his current hotel lobby. He once challenged a grand master to a game. The grand master beat him. Bogie was not proud of his performance, especially because he was defeated in 41 moves AND the man was playing blindfolded.

Alcohol: Enough said.

Sailing: Being the child of a relatively wealthy family (father a surgeon, mother a successful magazine illustrator who earned twice+ that of her husband), Bogie was always able to find peace at sailing. He won several sailing cups, and there remain several famous photos of him and Bacall aboard their boat, Santana.

Friendships/Family: During the Mayo Methot years, it was not possible for Bogie to continue with his many friendships. They included Spencer Tracy, Ernest Hemingway. Dorothy Parker, Robert Benchley, John Huston, and a host of others. And, of course, Bacall. Bacall, the love of his life, and his children Leslie and Stephen.

And, of course, in the end, Bogie pledged himself to Lauren, Leslie and Stephen…the 4 of them, 4-ever.