Customer Reviews

To Have and Have Not [VHS]

5 star:		(85)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The summer of 1940 in Martinique as people began to choose sides is the setting for another Howard Hawks masterpiece. William Faulkner, who had adapted Raymond Chandler's complex novel for the director's other Bogart screen classic, "The Big Sleep," expanded a thin Hemingway story with writing partner Jules Furthman into another. This is sort of "Casablanca" with grit rather than gloss, and is just as enjoyable. "To Have and Have Not" does, in fact, outshine that film with its upbeat ending, and marks the real contrast between the two films, despite their similarities.

Bogart is Harry Morgan, trying to stay neutral about the local politics while he and his pal Eddie (Walter Brennan) take tourists ocean fishing in the waters of Martinique. His pal Frenchy (Marcel Dalio) wants him to use his boat to pick up a couple that will put him square in the middle of all that's going on both in Martinique and the rest of the world as the Germans make their move across the globe.

Morgan is fending off getting involved just fine until his latest fishing customer gets knocked off by accident before he can pay up. Complicating things further for Morgan is a newcomer named Marie Browning (Lauren Bacall) who sort of attaches herself to him from the moment they meet. She has come from Brazil by way of Trinidad and ends up in Martinique only because she doesn't have money to go any further. They seem a perfect fit despite all the sparring between them; a point driven home by her response to Eddie's question about bees. The viewer knows at that moment that she and Harry are a match made in Hollywood heaven.

Brennan is just terrific as Harry's old pal in constant need of a drink to keep the shakes at bay. He thinks he's looking after Harry when in fact it's Harry who's looking after him. The trademark male world of Howard Hawks is much in evidence here, as Bogart's autonomy begins to crack only when he finds his match in Bacall. Like many of Hawks' characters, Morgan lives by his own code and his own rules, and only breaks them out of loyalty to someone else. Another Hawks trademark of the sizing up of people from the inside out is also much in evidence here. Bogart and Bacall never even speak the other's name in this film: she calls him "Steve" and he refers to her as "Slim" throughout the entire film.

When Harry finally agrees to pick up Frenchy's pals in the Resistance to earn enough money to get Slim home, he gets more than he bargained for in more ways than one. It convinces Slim to stay on because she now knows for sure that "Steve" is the right guy. She gets a job singing for the piano player at the Hotel Martinique, Cricket (Hoagy Charmichael). And after a patrol boat takes a potshot at one of his passengers, his very beautiful wife begins to warm up to Harry in a big hurry, causing a bit of jealousy on Slim's part. Doloros Moran is very nice and quite pretty as that wife, Hellene de Bursac.

There are a ton of great exchanges between Bacall and Bogart here, the most famous being the "just whistle" scene. There are many others equally as good, however, including an exchange about strings that has Bacall walking around Bogart, and a great line from Bacall about walking home if it weren't for all that water. It is this latter exchange, and one other about Slim's lack of a reaction when being slapped that Hawks uses to highlight the personal baggage both Harry and Marie are bringing to the table.

A young Bacall looks gorgeous in gowns by Milo Anderson, and Sid Hickox's photography gives the film a real feel of a tiny island with palm trees lining the streets. Bogart's Harry will eventually engage in the fight when he decides he likes the people on one side and doesn't like the people on the other side. It is very much both a Hawks and Bogart type moment, the personal moral code of the anti-hero coming fully into play.

This is a fun film with great characters, lots of atmosphere, and an ending the polar opposite of "Casablanca." The song "How Little We Know" from Hoagy Charmichael and Johnny Mercer never amounted to much compared to the more famous "As Time Goes By" from "Casablanca," but works nicely with the mood Hawks created for his second film with Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. If you're looking for a big dose of Bogie and Bacall, and want the kind of ending "Casablanca" didn't have, then "To Have and Have Not" is a sure bet to please you. A fine film and a true screen classic.

Watching this movie can give you the vapors. Ye gods, has anyone's big screen debut been as sizzling as that of the 19-year-old Lauren Bacall's? Even 60 years later, Bacall's sensual presence absolutely smolders on the screen. While this is not the most gripping Bogart performance one is likely to think of, he is nonetheless fascinating to watch in this film. As the film progresses, it is unmistakeable that he is absolutely HOOKED by his co-star.

The storyline itself is a conventional thriller for its time, although it has the distinction of being the product of two of the greatest American writers, Hemingway & Faulkner. Not that they would have seen much merit in that --- Hemingway had a lukewarm attitude towards this work, and Faulkner hated every minute he spent in Hollywood, prostituting his talent (as he saw it).

This movie is not on a dramatic par with "Casablanca" or "The Maltese Falcon," and the subsequent Bogart-Bacall "Key Largo" has far more suspense & tension within it. However, none of these films can equal "To Have and Have Not" for on-screen chemistry, and there is indeed something to be said for that. In fact, I would be hard-pressed to come up with a film that surpasses "To Have and Have Not" in terms of chemistry, and that should be enough for anyone to consider this a classic.

Warner BrothersEnterainment does an outstanding job an converting this classic to DVD.

This was one of Hollywoods immortal romantic couples along with Gable and Lombard and Tracy and Hepburn. One difference Bogart and Bacall's passion was forever captured on the silver screen. We would always see those first torrid moments of acting become real life love story.

Lauren Bacall was nineteen year old upcoming star who was mentored by Hawks, with a Vernoica Lake hair sytle, alluring eyes and the deepest sexiest voice. You could feel Humphrey Bogarts emotions and admiration for this new sultry siren star. Quickly they became involved and later married and did 5 more films together.

"To Have and Have Not" was the perfect launch vehicle for the Bogart - Bacall Phenomenon. Loosely based on Ernest Hemingways novel of the same name, Bogart is an American fishing boat captain in Martinique a French owned island during WWII. A similar story line to Casablanca except he gets the girl.

This is a classic movie and a must have for the DVD Bogart library.

Special Features include; Featurette "A love Story", The Story of "To Have And Have Not", vintage bogart & Bacall cartoon, a 1946 Lux Radio Theater Production starring Bogart and Bacall and Theatrical Trailer.

If ever two stars were made for each other on screen it would have to be movie greats Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall in "To Have And Have Not" a sultery Film Noir if ever there was one. The film literally oozes with seductive qualities in scene after scene aided beautifully by the shady photography so characteristic of this genre.

Made in the closing period of World War 2 it marked not only another Howard Hawks triumph both critically and financially but also featured a truly stunning film debut for the deep voiced Lauren Bacall. She would have to be judged one of the great discoveries of this mid 40's period and she proved her worth time and again in many great films over the years. One of the great romances of the Golden years of Hollywood began on this film and resulted in Bacall and Bogart continuing their love affair into the making of another classic "The Big Sleep" and becoming man and wife in real life. It is hard to believe in "To Have And To Have Not" that Bacall was only 19 years of age, she seems so assured and quite up to matching the veteran Bogart line by line. In the role of Mary (Slim) Browning a girl stranded in the colony of Martinique Bacall portrays a self sufficent woman living by her wits who comes across an unlikely object for affection in Bogart's Harry Morgan a fishing Boat owner who in between hiring out his vessel for fishing excursions through a set of circumstances finds himself working for the French resistance movement ilegally ferrying out supporters of the regime out of enemy territory. Theirs is a meeting of two unlikely characters but from their first scene the sparks fly as Bogart sees that Bacall is no pushover and Bacall realises that there is more to Bogart than the rough exterior indicates.

"To Have And To Have Not" would have to undoubtedly rank in the top 5 of Bogart' best films along with "The Maltese Falcon", "Casablanca" and "The Treasure of Sierra Madre" and others. It presented the unique image of a screen actor who didn't need to possess matinee idol good looks to be a romantic lead. That was Bogart's unique quality in film after film and in "To Have" he has the perfect vechicle for all his great qualities, a tale filled with romance, intrigue, action, gripping narrative. The film has it all. Based on a not very successful novel by Ernest Hemingway who often wrote about people living on the edge or those who had lost purpose in their lives, "To Have And To Have Not' deals with such a dislocated group. In the film most peoples lives are based on temporary arrangements with the prospects of their situation being altered at any moment whether it be by the war, another person's emotions or the environment they live in. This atmosphere gives this story alot of its raw energy and crisp tension that simmers throughout only to burst out near the exciting conclusion.

As charismatic as Bogart and Bacall are in this film the stellar supporting cast also add to the overraul class and effect that this story has. Lanky Walter Brennan, a performer in many a cornball story is most effective in the role of drunken Eddie a mate of Harry's who lives for his next nip of alcohol and is a loyal friend who gets caught up in all the action in Martinique. Dolores Moran as Hellene de Bursac who Bogart rescues from enemy teritory is also most effective in her small role. The big surprise is the appearance of Hoagy Carmichael as the piano player in the bar where Harry and "Slim '(Bacall) hang out and trade quips. His scenes are so like scenes from "Casabanca" but he brings a great 40's feel to his playing that is such a pleasure to watch and adds greatly to the authentic feel of the film.

Humphrey Bogart is certainly watchable in almost any film he made, good or bad but rarely has he had such a great role as that in "To Have And To Have Not" Certainly the film has a "Casablanca" feel about it but it should be judged on its own merits with an exciting storyline, sultry leading lady, plenty of adventure and humour and a beautiful seductive look to it that makes it one of the great romantic films of the mid 1940's. Enjoy!

There aren't any words, really, to discribe how AWESOME this movie is. There are a lot of people out there who think this is just a rip off of "Casablanca"--shame on you! This is such a wonderful film, and mainly because there is palpable affection between Bogie and Bacall. Seriously! Look closely in some scenes, especially in one of their first scenes together. Bogie is trying to reprimand her, but he can't supress a smile. Also, in all of his other films, he doesn't look like he's really enjoying the love scenes (allegedly, he didn't like to do them)...but OH BABY does he enjoy the smooching with Bacall! It's so lovely to be able to watch two people falling madly in love. Why oh WHY is this movie not on DVD?!?!?!

P.S.--Humphrey Bogart is WAY HOT in this movie!

In 1944, director Howard Hawks (1896-1977, who directed "Sergeant York" in 1941 and many John Wayne films in the 1960's) directed the film version of Ernest Hemingway's novel, "To Have And Have Not", which was published in 1937. Starring the legendary Humphrey Bogart (1899-1957) as Harry 'Steve' Morgan, the story takes place in 1940 on the Caribbean island of Martinique, a French colony, not long after France's surrender to Nazi Germany in World War II and the establishment of the infamous Vichy Republic. Harry Morgan owns and operates a private fishing boat and provides services to sports fishermen. His only interests are his personal well-being and his best friend & shipmate Eddie (Walter Brennan, 1894-1974, who won three Oscars for Best Supporting Actor between 1937 and 1941), who is also an alcoholic. Things begin to change for Harry when he meets the voluptuous Marie 'Slim' Browning (played by the legendary Lauren Bacall in her big-screen film debut) at a hotel/restaurant/nightclub owned by Gerard 'Frenchy' (Marcel Dario, 1900-1983). Marie is stuck on Martinique due to insufficient money, but uses her pick pocketing abilities to get cash, as well as sing in the nightclub with its pianist, Cricket (the composer Hoagy Carmichael, 1899-1981, best known for his songs "Stardust", "Ole Buttermilk Sky", "Georgia on My Mind"). Harry's life changes further when Frenchy gets him involved with several Free-French activists attempting to escape detection by Vichy officials, especially the head of the Martinique police, Capt. M. Renard (Dan Seymour, 1915-1993).

Sadly, "To Have and Have Not" did not receive any Oscar nominations, which may be in part due to Humphrey Bogart's starring role and nomination for Best Actor for the 1942 film "Casablanca". Though there are superficial similarities between "To Have and Have Not" and "Casablanca", viewers should remember that Ernest Hemingway's novel ("To Have and Have Not") was published 5 years prior to the production of "Casablanca", but the novel was altered slightly for film to incorporate aspects of World War II.

Other memorable characters in "To Have and Have Not" include Paul de Bursac (Walter Molnar, who also goes by the name Walter Szurovy), his wife Mme. Hellene de Bursac (Dolores Moran), Johnson (Walter Sande) and Lt. Coyo (Sheldon Leonard). Overall, I rate the film and DVD of "To Have and Have Not" with 5 out of 5 stars. The DVD includes a Warner Brothers "Merrie Melodies" cartoon entitled "Bacall at Arms" (1946), which was based upon the film "To Have and Have Not" and includes fun animations of Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart.

"To Have And Have Not" is the film credited with launching Lauren Bacall's movie career. Under a personal and exclusive contract to director, Howard Hawks ? who evidently hoped for a more personal involvement with his young find ? Bacall disappointed her mentor by falling for, and eventually marrying, Bogart instead. In the film she plays Marie ?Slim? Browning, a pickpocket and girl about town who crosses paths with Harry Steve Morgan (Humphrey Bogart). He?s a sea captain in Martinique who is double crossed by his most frequent fishing patron, Johnson (Walter Sande). However, before Steve can collect on their debt, Johnson is accidentally killed by a stray bullet. But a financial reprieve comes by way of nightclub owner and supporter of the resistance, Frenchy (Marcel Dalio). If Steve can water taxi Frenchy?s freedom-fighting friends to safety his pay off will be substantial. Like most of Warner's adventure films of the period, its not the story, so much as the atmosphere that makes up the sum of this film - though in this instance - no less than literary giant, Ernest Hemmingway, was responsible for the framework on which the film's plot is based.

Again, Warner outdoes the competition when it comes to remastering their catalogue of great films for the DVD consumer. The gray scale is outstanding and fine detail is rendered with remarkable clarity. Blacks - for the most part - are black. The stock footage - used during the fishing trip sequence - is obvious, riddled with excessive grain and slightly out of focus rear projection. However, that's to be expected. The rest, as they say, is the stuff that dreams are made of! The audio is MONO but cleaned up and very well balanced.
Warner gives us a featurette that, although short, covers a lot of ground regarding the film's production. There's also a Warner Brothers cartoon and the film's original theatrical trailer.

Excellent Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall vehicle. Bogart plays a Key West fishing boat captain, and Bacall a 22 year old woman that wishes she hadn't ran from home. They both wind up in German friendly Martinique. It starts with Bogart taking a man deep sea fishing for Marlin. Bogart meets Bacall at the Hotel and the magic begins. When Bogart is approached by free French supporters trying to avoid the Vischy French, things get hot. Directed by Howard Hawks masterfully, it is again another great movie for fans of movies like "Casablanca" and "Key West". Well worth adding to your library. The picture and sound quality are excellent and it includes several extras.

In my opinion this movie, which is often compared to Casablanca, is the better of the two. It is fantastic - the atmosphere is perfect, the script is witty and entertaining, the plot is interesting, and, most of all, as has already been remarked, the chemistry between young Lauren Bacall and Humphery Bogart is incredible! The two stars actually fell in love during the filming, and you can feel this in the movie. Bacall is stunning and looks far older than her 19 years, and Bogart is as always perfect in his role.

The origin of this movie is also quite interesting. It is said that, one day, while fishing together, director Howard Hawks told Ernest Hemingway that he could make a hit movie even out of his worst story. Annoyed, Hemingway responded by inquiring which story Hawks considered to be his worst. When Hawks explained that it was To Have and Have Not, Hemingway expressed skepticism that the story could ever serve as a successful movie. But Hawks clearly proved otherwise (although he cheated a little b/c the adaptation is pretty different from the story).

Anyhow, this movie is very similar to Casablanca in the sense that it is about a cynical American who gets drawn into helping French Resistance fighters get free. It is a great movie - good for the whole family. I don't know how else to recommend this: buy it and enjoy.

Very loosely based on Heminway's novel, "To Have And Have Not" is a brilliant film long overdue on DVD. The studio film, smartly directed by Howard Hawks, is a true classic. Great character development, story, acting, noir photography and a crisp script that keeps you involved throughout.

The ensemble cast works very well together. "To Have And To Have Not" is simply one of Bogart' best films along side of "The Maltese Falcon", "Casablanca", "The Big Sleep" and "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre". Lauren Bacall's film debut is a knockout and led directly to her being cast in "The Big Sleep". Walter Brennan is a real gem of an actor and is a big plus here. Dolores Moran is a great foil for Bacall. Hoagy Carmichael is so natural in his minor role that you wish he had been in more film classics. All the supporting roles are well done.

Adventure, romance, inrigue, humour and some crackling good dialog keeps this 1944 classic forever young.

Thanks, Warner, for bringing it to disc!