You Know How To Whistle, Don’t You? Tue. Aug 21st, 07

There are many sides to Bogart’s many characters, and, in the following rather famous whistling scene, we get to see a side of Bogart we get to see nowhere else. I don’t really how to describe it, but the expression Bogart has after Bacall has left the doorway is so super sweet and curious that I just adore it. I feel like I’ve given that kind of sigh after I’ve seen or interacted with singular girls many different times, yet I still don’t know exactly how to articulate what it means. But I do know that it is a delightful feeling.

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Tags: HumphreyBogart, film, Bogart, To Have and To Have Not, Lauren Bacall

If She Can Stand It, I can (too). Tue. Aug 14th, 07

I’ve been in a very Bogart mood lately—meaning I’ve been thinking about the various characters/scenes/ideas in his films. I don’t really know why—other than the fact that I find them interesting to reflect on or daydream about. And sometimes the emotion or feeling expressed is so tender or so powerfully captivating that it’s nice just to rewatch bits or think about ‘em just to experience that expression again.
And because Bogart has been on my mind, I thought I’d share some with you.

In the following clip from Casablanca, Bogart’s character, Rick Blaine, is wrestling with the anguish of having just run into Bergman’s lovely Ilsa Lund (Rick’s lost ex-lover, in short). The scene contains a famous line many of you may know, but I love this little clip because of the sweet friendship it evidences between Rick & Sam (played by Dooley Wilson). The scene is also one of shadows—in a literal and metaphorical sense—and they help add to the despair and dissipation of the moment Rick is passing through.

Enjoy.

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Tags: film, Humphrey Bogart, Bogart, Casablanca,

A Little Too Much Bogarting Mon. Apr 23rd, 07

I’ve been tempting fate quite a bit in that past few months. I’ve had dashes of hubris and gotten away with it, somewhat. And lately I’ve consistently been in a bogart kind of mood. Rodney told me ages ago that one of the original meanings of bogart is to strong arm, or intimidate—and this makes perfect sense after watching The Maltese Falcon or The Big Sleep. And I’ve got a feeling that my bogarting is going to get me into trouble.
Here’s a little example of how I’ve blurred the boundaries of “acceptable behavior.”

Just last night I got pulled over by a cop. Well, I didn’t quite get pulled over. I had just pulled into my driveway and a cop drove up. I had seen him behind me and figured he was a bit bored. I got out of my van began to walk to my apartment. And he quickly walked over and to me asked if I would show him my license. I replied in tone of calm impatience & brutality, “Well, no. I’d rather not. I’ve got to get up early and need to get to bed.” Although it was dark out, I could tell he was visibly shocked. His eyes opened wide, and his draw dropped. After a moment, he said, “It’ll only take a moment, sir.” I replied, continuing in my calm yet brutal tone, with “It might, but, seeing that I don’t even have to show it to you since I’m already in my driveway, I’d rather just go inside and go to bed.” He fumbled around for something to say while continued to look him straight in the eye as if I were consuming him in flames. Then, I suddenly realized I was being an idiot, and that I was lucky he couldn’t decide how to deal with me—I think my demeanor took him by surprise. So I changed my tone and gently said, “Alright, here you go.” And a few minutes later he was gone.

I know I’m something of a fool, but not such a fool to fail to realize that I can’t get away with this forever. I mean, the fates do conspire against us.
Rodney seemed to have a touch of bogart in his behavior when the dude cut in line, has anyone else been behaving like this?

technorati tags:bogart, bogarting, hubris

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