Bogie and Bacall Signature DVD Box Set

 

 

Create your own review

Everything is a classic these days even before anyone outside the studio has seen it, therefore the language has become debased and cheapened. These films on the other hand come from an era when film stars were actually something special and films valued the art of story telling. Sure there were strong commercial presures.

To Have and Have Not is a reworking ot the successful Casablanca theme. The ignition of the Bogart/Bacal chemistry helped that film ride above the obvious formula at work. This goes to show that great movies can be made under the mort crass attempts to cash in on a previous success.

Out of these films I guess that Dark Passage is the least well liked but I always loved the way that they avoided the complication of trying to convince us with two actors playing on character, before and after plastic surgery by only showing us the action from his point of view until the bandages came off and he was revealed as looking just like Humphrey Bogart!

How did he become a rugged sex symbol with a anme like Humphrey? I once asked a colleague this question, she was just short of retirement and very strong and serious woman. She immediately transformed into a blushing girl and said, "Yes but he really had it!". I gained an interseting insight into both my colleague and Bogart that day and they have never seemed that same since.

These are all 5 star films. I would have bought this for the recurring line in To Have & Have Not alone: "Did you ever get bitten by a dead bee?"

There is little doubt that of the titles collected here only 1 would really be able to stand up amongst Bogeys classics 'The Maltese falcon' & 'Casablanca'. 'Key Largo' Has the tension and acting that puts it up there with his best and it is perhaps no coincidence that he is matched line for line by the superbly overwrought & unhinged performance of Edward G Robinson as the hair triggered bad guy with a ruthless streak a mile wide.
In all of these films Bogart is, well, Bogart. Sideways smiles, casual smoker, a master with the snappy one liner, a lady killer with a downbeat and fatalistic attitude who isn't afraid to shoot but would rather cuff someone and walk away clean. It's Bogart's ability to appear as an ordinary Joe caught up in the unfolding events against his will. A casual manner that simply added charm to an actor whose looks surely should have put Hollywood out of his reach but whose effortless acting ability made him an icon.
Of the other films 'Dark passage' is something of an oddball affair with our man breaking out of prison to look into who killed his wife and then set him up for it. You don't see Bogey until about half way as he is at first only seen from the waist down and then covered in bandages after having plastic surgery to change his face. It's not until Bacall, whom he stumbles in to along the way & who helps him, unwraps his face that he takes an active role in the proceedings. There is a great scene when Bogey goes to get the plastic surgery at a back street doctors. The whole thing takes about an hour with just a scalpel and a few bandages and everything is filthy! Great stuff. I like this film as it is very quirky and Bogey & Bacall are both put under pressure by people wanting money & power over them. Not a classic by any means and the furthest from noir in the box set but worth a look.
'To have and have not' is the one everyone goes on about because it's where the two met and fell in love and true enough it's pretty clear to see they share a rare chemistry on screen. As charming as that may be though it is up against a pretty ropey script and some truly schonkey acting. Apparently Howard Hawks reckoned he could film Hemmingways worst book and he cited this as being it. Unfortunately the re-writing of the plot to place it in war torn Martinique with Bogey a sea captain roped in to helping the French escape the Vichey governments operatives and the threat of Devils island does little to improve an already thinly stretched plot. Walter Brennan hams it up horribly as Bogeys,(laughably called 'captain Morgan!),drunken old sea dog mate. Every time he's on screen the performance is cringe worthy. Nevertheless it's worth a look to see where it all began and so long as you start with this one you can relax knowing things will improve dramatically.
'The big sleep' see's Bogey back as Phillip Marlowe's gumshoe and this has some great snappy dialogue and a real noirish feel to it. For my money this is my favourite with Bacall & Bogey relaxed and firing one liners off left right & centre. The plot rattles along at quite a lick although you will need to keep alert as it twists around all over the place and in the end takes a bit of unravelling. As usual bodies begin to pile up and Bogey has to dig deeper and deeper in order to keep himself ahead of the game and Bacall alive. The dark and moody feel is classic noir as is the very down tempo plot. It's also pretty salty for it's day and has a hard edge that befits it's genre.
There are some extra's but not many. All sorts of languages are catered for and the short documentaries that are attached give a surprising amount of detail in a very short space of time so are well worth having. The cartoons may seem odd but actually give a feeling of the cinema back then and are a nice addition.
All 4 film cases state there is English & Italian for the hearing impaired but to be honest I can't confirm that as I haven't tried it out. The sound is the usual mono but is clear with the dialogue generally open and easily heard. You'll just have to crank the volume up a bit as it is fairly quiet. The picture varies with 'To have and have not' being a bit ropey, (the opening credits wobble like a cork at sea!), but for the most part the other three are pretty clear and certainly don't detract from being able to see or indeed enjoy what's going on.
With each film in its own case, a few worthwhile extras and 2 strong films, 1 lesser but still enjoyable and the other worth it for a bit of film history, this box set has a lot to recommend itself. If you love the old classics, Bogey & Bacall or noir then this is a collection worthy of buying.
The chances are if you're reading this you'll have them anyway but if you get this then make sure you invest in the superb 3 disc edition of 'The Maltese falcon' which is simply superb and the 2 disc 'Casablanca' which is also well worth your seeking out.

This box set contains the Bogart Classics, brilliant movies to enjoy on those wet afternoons. The classic film noir style, the classic lines. Bacall is in superb form. So satisfying they make you want to whistle, 'you know how to whistle don't you ? you just put your lips together and blow'
They certainly don't make them like this anymore. Well worth the £10 for 4 movies.

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 5 customer reviews...

 

5.0 out of 5 stars incredible connection
seriously
starting from 'To Have and Have Not' where they met and fell in love to the much underrated 'Dark Passage' and the complicated 'The Big Sleep' to eventually 'Key... Read more

Published on 4 Mar 2009 by rigby

5.0 out of 5 stars The signature collection of H. Boggart and L. Bacall
All movies in this collection are classic BW criminal movies that I appreciate very much

Published on 23 Feb 2009 by Anton Furlan

Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

› See all 5 customer reviews...

Search Listmania!