Humphrey Bogart | Hollywood Yesterday

Claire Trevor in Key Largo… One of the All-Time GREAT Performances

September 20, 2021 By Joi

Claire Trevor, Key Largo

I love it when a perfect movie meets a perfect performance, don’t you?! One such movie and performance is Key Largo with the wonderful Claire Trevor. Her portrayal of Gaye Dawn is absolutely breathtaking. In the scene where she’s forced to sing…. I mean, it’s nothing short of movie magic.

Claire Trevor VERY deservedly won the Best Actress in a Supporting Role Oscar for her portrayal.

The movie is filled with outstanding performances – how could it not be with a cast that also included Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Edward G. Robinson, and Lionel Barrymore? And yet, as far as I’m concerned, Claire Trevor managed to stand out.

That tends to happen when you give a completely mesmerizing performance!

I also want to mention the generosity of her co-stars. Each time I watch this film (well over 20 times by now), I’m struck by the “room” given to Trevor by her co-stars. You can tell they knew something truly special was happening and not one tried to take the spotlight from her. So much professionalism!

Humphrey Bogart, Claire Trevor, and Lauren Bacall

You can find the brilliance that is Key Largo on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

Lionel Barrymore, Lauren Bacall, and Humphrey Bogart: Behind the Scenes of Key Largo

September 11, 2021 By Joi

Lionel Barrymore, Lauren Bacall, and Humphrey Bogart

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a billion times… Key Largo is one of the greatest movies ever made. The cast is perfection and the story & directing (by John Huston) are phenomenal. Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Lionel Barrymore, Claire Trevor, Edward G. Robinson each star gives one of the best performances of his or her career.

You can find all of the excellence on dvd (Amazon link) or watch Key Largo on Prime Video.

Humphrey Bogart and Ida Lupino: Publicity Photo for High Sierra

August 10, 2021 By Joi

Humphrey Bogart and Ida Lupino

Talk about star power – High Sierra (1941) certainly had it! While Ida Lupino (inexplicably) isn’t as much of a household name as Humphrey Bogart, she certainly matches his stride for star power, talent, and in what they meant to old Hollywood.

I’m not (remotely!) short-changing Bogart… I’m simply stating just how extraordinary Ida Lupino was. If you aren’t familiar with her films (and many aren’t because her films aren’t shown as often as others), I hope you’ll seek them out. You’re going to absolutely love her.

You could always begin with her 1941 drama with Humphrey Bogart, High Sierra – it’s excellent.

I’d also HIGHLY recommend the excellent 1939 movie The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (Prime Video), she’s breathtakingly wonderful in it.

Ida Lupino and Humphrey Bogart, High Sierra

You can find High Sierra on dvd (Amazon link) or Watch it on Prime Video.

Humphrey Bogart, The Maltese Falcon (1941)

August 5, 2021 By Joi

Humphrey Bogart, The Maltese Falcon

One of the best actors of ALL time: Humphrey Bogart

One of the best actresses of ALL time: Mary Astor

Two of the best character actors of ALL time: Sydney Greenstreet and Peter Lorre

One of the best directors of ALL time: John Huston

One of the best movies of ALL time: The Maltese Falcon… how could it not be when it was directed by John Houston and starred Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Sydney Greenstreet, and Peter Lorre?!

Most people quickly answer, “Casablanca!” when asked their favorite movie over all, but The Maltese Falcon is one of the ones that easily ties with Casablanca and my other personal favorites… three of which (Casablanca, The Maltese Falcon, and Key Largo) star the wonderful Humphrey Bogart, thank you very much.

You can find The Maltese Falcon on dvd (Amazon link) or watch it on Prime Video. It’s always the right time to revisit Private Detective Sam Spade and The Maltese Falcon.

Peter Lorre, Mary Astor, and Sydney Greenstreet

Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn, The African Queen

August 2, 2021 By Joi

Katharine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart, The African Queen

It’s always a special thrill when you watch a movie starring two of your favorites. In fact, it’s so special, I tend to watch these movies over and over again! Katharine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart are two of my absolute favorites, so you can imagine how many times I’ve watched the wonderful 1951 movie The African Queen.

I just love everything about this movie and the casting could not have been more perfect.

You can find The African Queen on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video. It is as extraordinary as its stars… which is absolutely saying something!

Katharine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart

Lauren Bacall, Lionel Barrymore, and Humphrey Bogart Behind the Scenes of Key Largo

July 28, 2021 By Joi

Lionel Barrymore, Lauren Bacall, and Humphrey Bogart

One of my favorite Bogie and Bacall movies is also one of my favorite movies, period – Key Largo (1948). Directed by John Huston, the EXCELLENT movie also stars Lionel Barrymore, Edward G. Robinson, and Claire Trevor.

Excellent cast, excellent director, excellent movie.

You can find all of the excellence on dvd (Amazon link) or watch Key Largo on Prime Video.

Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart

Lee Marvin Quote About Humphrey Bogart (Love it!)

May 20, 2021 By Joi

Lee Marvin, Paint Your Wagon

I love quotes – always have, always will. In fact, I’m a collector of many things in life, INCLUDING quotes. We’re talking notebooks full of them, y’all.

When it comes to old Hollywood stars, I absolutely love it when they say kind, supporting things about one another. Anyone can say bitter, ugly, and nasty things about other people (and they so often do!) but, as far as I’m concerned, give me an actor, actress, or director who tries to build someone up rather than tear someone down.

I was reminded of just how much I love it when I read this quote by Lee Marvin about Humphrey Bogart earlier.

“In life and in movies I profoundly admired Bogart, both personally and professionally.” ~ Lee Marvin

Obviously, it shines a great light on Humphrey Bogart but it shines just as bright a light on Lee Marvin. Kindness does that for a person.

Humphrey Bogart

Director John Huston Quote About Humphrey Bogart

May 3, 2021 By Joi

Humphrey Bogart as Sam Spade, The Maltese Falcon

John Huston directed one of the all time great film-noirs, The Maltese Falcon. His lead star, prefect in the role of detective Samuel Spade, was Hollywood legend Humphrey Bogart. I have always loved the quote by John Huston, below, and think about it every time I see Humphrey Bogart.

“He was endowed with the greatest gift a man can have–talent. The whole world came to recognize it. With the years he became increasingly aware of the dignity of his profession–Actor, not Star. Himself he never took seriously–his work, most seriously. He regarded the somewhat gaudy figure of Bogart, the Star, with amused cynicism; Bogart the actor he held in great respect. He is quite irreplaceable.” ~ John Huston, Humphrey Bogart

Irreplaceable is absolutely right, Mr. Huston.

You can find The Maltese Falcon on dvd (Amazon link) or watch it on Prime Video.

Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall Behind the Scenes of Key Largo

January 27, 2021 By Joi

Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart

Not only was Key Largo one of the best movies ever made, it had some of my all-time favorite performances. Every single cast member was extraordinary but I am always especially blown away by Bogie, Bacall, Lionel Barrymore, and Claire Trevor.

Just an outstanding movie with one outstanding performance after another. John Huston was an excellent director and this was one of his best films.

You can find all of the excellence on dvd (Amazon link) or watch Key Largo on Prime Video.

BOTD in 1924, the Wonderful Lauren Bacall

September 16, 2020 By Joi

Lauren Bacall

Lauren Bacall was born Betty Joan Perske on September 16, 1924, in New York City. Little did anyone know the legendary actress Betty Joan would one day become!

While I love all of Lauren Bacall’s movies (she has a very rich filmography… as rich and distinctive as her voice), my favorites are Key Largo, Dark Passage, The Big Sleep, How to Marry a Millionaire, and To Have and Have Not.

When Humphrey Bogart was on the screen, there was magic. When Lauren Bacall was on the screen, there was magic. When they were on the screen together…. the word hasn’t been invented for the magic they generated together.