The so-called “Greatest Generation,” whose lives were shaped by the Depression and World War II, made up the core audience for Humphrey Bogart’s movies. But Bogart’s star power would span generations. His death in 1957 set the stage for his embrace by baby boomers, foreign audiences and other moviegoers who were captivated by his portrayals of authentic, hard-bitten characters in performances that continue to withstand the test of time. The aura surrounding his work has yet to fade.
In “Tough Without a Gun: The Life and Extraordinary Afterlife of Humphrey Bogart,” former Time magazine movie critic Stefan Kanfer says Bogart’s enduring success is unlikely to be eclipsed.
Kanfer says teens and 20-somethings have become the dominant market, whereas people of all ages went to the movies in Bogart’s pre-television heyday. Also, Bogart achieved leading man status at 42 as Sam Spade in 1941’s “The Maltese Falcon,” followed by other adult roles such as Rick Blaine in “Casablanca,” Fred C. Dobbs in “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre” and his Oscar-winning performance as Charlie Allnut in “The African Queen.”
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| ‘Tough Without a Gun: The Life and Extraordinary Afterlife of Humphrey Bogart’ |
| » Author: Stegan Kanfer |
| » Publisher: Knopf |
| » Price: $26.95 |
Kanfer contrasts Bogart’s masculine appeal to that of Hollywood’s crop of youthful and more callow stars like Johnny Depp, Tom Cruise and Tobey Maguire.
“From time to time columnists dub some young actor the new Clark Gable, the new Jimmy Stewart, the new Marlon Brando,” Kanfer writes. “No one claims to have discovered the new Humphrey Bogart. With good reason. There was nothing like him before his entrance; there has been nothing like him since his exit.”
Kanfer’s book should appeal to older Bogart enthusiasts and younger movie fans discovering him for the first time. It’s a readable and entertaining biography that reflects the author’s delight in his subject and the world in which Bogart thrived.
