To Have and Have Not

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Curtis M While its similarities to “Casablanca” are undeniable, I appreciated “To Have and Have Not” for its own distinct qualities. What captivated me most was the electrifying chemistry between the leads. Humphrey Bogart delivers his trademark performance with effortless precision, while Lauren Bacall brings a mysterious and magnetic edge to every scene. From the moment they meet, the connection between them is palpable.  Moreover, “To Have and Have Not” was undoubtedly well-written and engaging, but I found myself far more absorbed in the relationship between the leads than in the larger story. Even so, I must admit the ending lingers with an effortless charm and wit that define the film, sealing it as a classic in its own right. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/15/25 Full Review Allan C “Was you ever bit by a dead bee?” To Have and Have Not (1944) ****1/2 Just learned that my wife had never seen a Bogie and Bacall movie, so we had to start at the beginning. From the Hemingway novel, Humphrey Bogart plays an American Expat boat captain who takes a risky job, instead of his usual charter fishing trips, smuggling a French Resistance leader and his wife across heavily patrolled waters. That story is exciting, but what makes the film so memorable is the supporting storylines of Bogie romancing a lounge singer/pickpocket, a young 19-year-old Lauren Bacall, in her film debut, who would end up in real life marrying the 44-year-old Bogart in one of the great Hollywood love stories, staying together until Bogie's death. You can feel the chemistry between them on screen, and it is dynamite! Bacall's "Slim" oozes sex appeal when she tells Bogie's Steve: You know you don't have to act with me, Steve. You don't have to say anything, and you don't have to do anything. Not a thing. Oh, maybe just whistle. You know how to whistle, don't you, Steve? You just put your lips together and... blow.  Adapted by the great American novelist William Faulkner and ace screenwriter Jules Furthman (THE BIG SLEEP, RIO BRAVO, MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY), it's a fantastic screenplay. Pauline Kael once wrote that Furthman "has written about half of the most entertaining movies to come out of Hollywood (Ben Hecht wrote most of the other half)." As with most of his films, director Howard Hawks had a fair amount of uncredited work on the script as well, being a major part in playing up the Bogie and Bacall characters' relationship. There's also a really sweet relationship between Bogie and his rummy friend, the always great Walter Brennan, playing a drunk who annoys everyone he meets by asking them, "Was you ever bit by a dead bee?" The script has a master class moment in character development and succinct dialogue when any annoying tourist on Bogie's boat asks him:  TOURIST: "What d'you look after him for?" BOGIE: "He thinks he's looking after me." That line tells you all you need to know about these two characters, that they've know each other for a long time, that Brennan probably did look after and mentor Bogie as some point in the distant past, and that Bogie, despite his tough exterior, is a loyal and sentimental guy who looks after an old pal who's fallen on hard times, to no benefit of himself. Brilliant! As great as the relationship between these two is, it's all about Bogie and Bacall. Lauren Bacall is truly amazing in her feature film debut. She was never a brilliant actress, but she is the definition of a movie star. You cannot take your eyes off of her, and she manages to steal every scene that she's in, which is saying something with a cast that includes Bogie, Brennan, and even Hoagy Carmichael, who plays her piano accompanist at the shady hotel where everyone is staying. The film may feel a little meandering at times, but that's what I love about old films sometimes. Why not just throw a musical number or two in there that doesn't move the story forward? But for classic film buffs, TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT is a must-see and completely holds up to repeated viewings.  AI CAPSULE REVIEW: To Have and Have Not crackles with the undeniable chemistry of Bogart and Bacall, making it as much a love story as it is a tale of wartime intrigue. Howard Hawks’ direction keeps the pace taut while allowing room for smoky nightclub numbers, witty banter, and Walter Brennan’s unforgettable “dead bee” routine. It may wander at times, but its charm and star power make it an essential classic. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 08/24/25 Full Review Kyle M Humphrey Bogart’s reliable caliber shows political elusion in an ever-sharp deliverance, bolstering this non-engaging bland parallel to “Casablanca” with an adjacent deck, further advocating Ernest Hemingway’s thought regarding the source material being his worst. (B) Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 07/05/25 Full Review Jithin K There's something very different about almost every scene and dialogue in this movie that works in a weird way. I still think Bogart looks too old just like I thought in Casablanca. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/08/24 Full Review Grégory D 94 % ??? Oh no, that's so boring compares with Casablanca. Rated 1/5 Stars •  Rated 1 out of 5 stars 02/18/24 Full Review Alec B Bacall is dynamite in this, so obviously a star from the first second she appears on camera. The movie is typical of Hawks, a hang out movie masquerading as a romantic thriller. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/10/24 Full Review Read all reviews

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