To Have and Have Not (1945)

Slow pace in the most part of the movie.

Powerful

Instant Favorite.

I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

'To Have and Have Not' is far from perfect. It's derivative of Casablanca from two years earlier, includes a character who quickly becomes annoying (Walter Brennan, who plays a toper), is implausible in places, and has little to do with the novel by Ernest Hemingway. On the other hand, it was 19-year-old Lauren Bacall's first film, and she displays a sultriness and presence not often seen in someone so young. Bogart is also strong as the fishing boat skipper in Martinique who wants nothing to do with politics or the French resistance, but finds himself drawn into events as they unfold. He's gritty, tough, and real, and has a couple of fantastic scenes with Bacall, where their chemistry is apparent despite him being 25 years older, including the one where she so famously says to him "You know how to whistle, don't you, Steve? You just put your lips together and ... blow." I also liked musical performances led by Hoagy Carmichael, though Bacall's singing in the numbers she was in was pretty awkward. Like I said, it's not perfect, but it is solid and entertaining, and as the start of 'Bogie and Bacall', has a place in film history.

The adaptation of Hemingway's "To Have and Have Not" gave Humphrey Bogart a very good opportunity to more or less recreate his role from the super-hit of the previous year, "Casablanca". Just like Rick Blaine, Harry Morgan also 'sticks out his neck for nobody', he's also an American living abroad (in Martinique this time), caring only about making a living and nothing else - less of all the War that's rocking the whole world. But just like in "Casablanca", again he's being implored by a friend to help sheltering Renaissance fighters - and again, his conscience and the good heart he's hiding so well underneath his rough shell don't allow him to refuse.And again, a woman comes into his life; not from the past this time, but from the FUTURE - Bogart's OWN future. Young model Lauren Bacall, only 19 at the time, has just been given her first role; and a leading role, no less. Her cocksure ways (although she really was quite shy and very nervous about her film debut), her husky, sexy voice, her slender figure, and of course her famous 'look' from beneath (which resulted, as she herself admitted, from being so nervous during the shooting...), had immediately impressed everybody - and she also impressed Bogey, of course, who at the time was caught in a pretty unhappy marriage, and just felt that in Lauren he'd found the woman he'd always been looking for. Which turned out to be absolutely true...And so we can witness something UNIQUE here, a 'live' chapter of Hollywood history: Harry and young singer Marie get to know each other, start teasing each other, quarrel, make up, and finally fall in love with each other - and so did, behind the scenes, Bogart and Bacall. For all the millions of fans of Bogey and Bacall, this movie (the first of four they did together) is the most beautiful 'love document' imaginable - but it's also, seen 'purely' as a movie, an absolute masterpiece, a really worthy adaptation of a Hemingway novel.The entire cast is PERFECT, with a lot of amiable characters in it (like 'Frenchy' Marcel Dalio, another old acquaintance from "Casablanca", piano player 'Cricket' Hoagy Carmichael, and the lovable boozer 'Eddie' Walter Brennen, who thinks he has to 'take care' of the young couple...), but also some first-class Vichy regime scoundrels; the atmosphere is just as dense and suspenseful as in "Casablanca", only the humor is more sarcastic than cynical here - and the emotions, as we said, REAL...In any case, one of Hollywood's true, immortal Classics.

It's the island of Martinique in the summer of 1940 just after the fall of France. American captain Harry 'Steve' Morgan (Humphrey Bogart) operates a small fishing boat for tourists. He's reluctant to take on risky jobs for the resistance. Marie 'Slim' Browning (Lauren Bacall) is new to the island and a pickpocket. When his client gets shot before paying him, he loses all his money to the new Vichy cops while Slim gets slapped around. He decides to help the resistance.Newcomer Lauren Bacall was just 19 when this was shot. And soon after she will be married to her co-star Humphrey Bogart. Nobody has a cooler look than Bacall. She's made to be in the movies. She makes this 'Casablanca' copy more than just a copy. It has a more noirous ultra-cool look mostly due to Bacall highlighted by the line "You know how to whistle, don't you Steve. You just put your lips together and blow".The story isn't quite as good as 'Casablanca'. I prefer that more than this movie. This still moves along fine although it doesn't flow as well. The last third of the movie after the boat ride isn't quite as compelling.

Skipper Harry Morgan (Humphrey Bogart) reluctantly transports a French Resistance leader and his wife, running afoul of evil police captain Renard (Dan Seymour). He also makes time with sexy young singer Lauren Bacall.Bogart is great as usual. Bacall shines in her film debut. Quite possibly her best role. Their chemistry and legendary scenes together are the film's main selling points. Walter Brennan is memorable as Harry's drunkard sidekick Eddie. Yes, the plot is bare bones similar to Casablanca and yes, it bears little resemblance to the Hemingway novel. But so what? It's a classic movie with great dialogue, nice pacing, and fun characters. A must-see for Bogart fans or anybody really who enjoy good movies.