On January 23rd, 1999, some movie fans celebrated what would have been Humphrey Bogart's 100th birthday, according to some sources, including the Internet Movie Database. Others believe that he was actually born on Christmas Day, 1899 (according to the official site from CMG).
In any case, had he lived a somewhat different lifestyle, he might have equalled George Burns' feat and been here to celebrate with us. But he was a party animal, and a cigarette smoker, and this was not to be. Still, we could have reasonably expected him to be with us for more than 58 years. It would have been a blessing for film fans, because Humphrey Bogart was a true original.
Though he was not handsome in a traditional way, not very tall, and sometimes seemed to be simply reading his lines as fast as he could in a monotone, Humphrey Bogart had something indefinable that allowed him to make his movie roles completely his own, to the point where nobody could possibly visualize any other actor in the part. Charlie Alnutt, Rick Blaine, Sam Spade, Philip Marlowe -- the list goes on. There was only one of each.
Bogart appeared in 85 films. During one period he starred in High Sierra, The Maltese Falcon, and Casablanca, one after the other. Has any other actor or actress produced three Top 100 movies (my top 100, anyway) in succession, without a clunker in between? He was nominated three times for Best Actor Oscars, winning only once, for The African Queen in 1951.
Please visit the sites and pages listed in this four-part article -- beginning with the official CMG site -- and you might get your fill of Bogart-mania. Or you might just want more. I know I can't get enough of the guy.
Part I: Introduction
Part II: Bogart Tributes and Other Pages
Part III: Movie Reviews & Where to Find His Movies
Part IV: Photos, Art, Sounds, and Posters
