First published 2011
Stefan Kanfer examines the life of Humphrey Bogart, the actor whose cultural influence persists decades after his death at fifty-seven. Kanfer explores what made Bogart compelling despite his unconventional appearance and speech patterns. The biography follows Bogart from his privileged New York upbringing through his rebellious youth, including expulsion from prep school and a brief naval career. After drifting through various jobs, Bogart entered theater work almost accidentally, starting as a stagehand before reluctantly taking small acting roles. He developed his professional work ethic during these early years, distinguishing between "professionals and bums." Following the 1929 stock market crash, Bogart moved to Hollywood, where he struggled through thirty B-movies before John Huston wrote him the breakthrough role in High Sierra at age forty. Kanfer analyzes Bogart's subsequent classics including The Maltese Falcon, Casablanca, The Big Sleep, and The African Queen, incorporating behind-the-scenes stories and his romance with Lauren Bacall. The book presents Bogart's complete Hollywood story.
Genres: biography, 20th-century, american, film
Vibes: intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: biography
Setting: Hollywood, New York
Period: 20th Century
288 pages · Hardcover · Knopf