Films/DVD Asylum

What made Bogart so great?

174.25.100.164

Mike K

A

He made 6 truly great movies: Casablanca, Treasure of the Sierra Madre,
The Caine Mutiny, The Big Sleep, The Maltese Falcon, and The African
Queen. Yet, when I watch these movies, I never think that I am
watching anyone other than Bogart.

As opposed to Bogie, when I watch a Jack Nicholson movie, I never think
that I'm watching Nicholson. I think I'm watching the character he is
playing. Nicholson just disappears into his character. Bogart does not
seem to do that.

So what is it I don't understand about Bogie that makes him so great?
Can anyone explain it to me?

Follow Ups:

RE: What made Bogart so great? - MichaelV8 16:30:31 01/22/13 (0)
He could play a bad guy as nearly as well as he could play a good guy. Were his good guys heroes or anti-heroes?

Were his portrayals above the level of socially accepted stereotypes in some ways? If so, what does that indicate about portrayals of character in general?
The studio system made guys like Bogart big stars . . . - mr grits 09:24:50 01/18/13 (0)
and, face it, the amount and level of entertainment available was so very limited. Anybody could be made to be a star.

I see nothing in Bogart or Nicholson. Jack just became himself on film later in life.
Strange take. Pacino and Nicholson have been called out for years for portraying - tinear 07:59:55 01/18/13 (8)
themselves, that bigger-than-life, scenery-chewing style.
Personally, I disagree with you. Jack has always seemed Jack to me. Wise-cracking, defiant, cocky. Same guy.

Edits: 01/18/13
- Agreed on both of those guys. * - mr grits 09:25:30 01/18/13 (6)
  .
  - me too, although Nicholson was more nuanced early in his career - Jazz Inmate 10:12:03 01/18/13 (5)
    Now he just plays a charicature of himself. Bogart had more range, although it's hard to see that because of the way all men acted in that era.
    -------------
    
    We must be the change we wish to see in the world. -Gandhi
    - "...the way all men acted?" What do you mean? That Gable, Gary Cooper, Cary Grant, and - tinear 12:18:33 01/18/13 (4)
      John Wayne were similar actors? Errol Flynn? Robert Mitchum? Alan Ladd? Jimmy Stewart?
      - compare them to the current crop - Jazz Inmate 11:07:22 01/22/13 (3)
        
        In Reply to: RE: "...the way all men acted?" What do you mean? That Gable, Gary Cooper, Cary Grant, and posted by tinear on January 18, 2013 at 12:18:33
        
        You will notice common threads. Or not...you're not the most detail-oriented person on the planet.
        -------------
        
        We must be the change we wish to see in the world. -Gandhi
        
        It's your argument to make. I rebutted it. You cannot seriously state that - tinear 20:11:05 01/22/13 (2)
        
        In Reply to: RE: compare them to the current crop posted by Jazz Inmate on January 22, 2013 at 11:07:22
        
        Cooper and Bogart had similar ways of acting or stage presences or acting styles.
        Pick your examples, we're waiting for those "common threads."
        Actually, what made those actors great was their very individuality. Their immensely powerful characters that shone through the various roles. And some of the best films opposed those very stars, i.e. Stewart vs Wayne. Grant and Stewart.
        
        There was a similarity to actors of that era--a strength or inner resiliance, and style of speech - Jazz Inmate 23:37:36 01/22/13 (1)
        
        In Reply to: RE: It's your argument to make. I rebutted it. You cannot seriously state that posted by tinear on January 22, 2013 at 20:11:05
        
        Also many mannerisms were common to that generation in the US.
        -------------
        
        We must be the change we wish to see in the world. -Gandhi
        
        WTF? Cagney spoke like Stewart that spoke like Grant that spoke like... - tinear 07:42:05 01/23/13 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: There was a similarity to actors of that era--a strength or inner resiliance, and style of speech posted by Jazz Inmate on January 22, 2013 at 23:37:36
        
        what was that again?
        Inner resilience? WTF?
        Admit you're in error, put down the shovel.
        When you start talking about "inner resilience," you've gone soft.
- Same. - grantv 08:15:58 01/18/13 (0)
  Every role he seems like exactly the same guy to me; Jack.
RE: What made Bogart so great? - Brian A 01:00:55 01/18/13 (1)
Some great actors, like Nicholson, can morph into the character. Others, such as Bogart, have such an appealing personality, you enjoy their screen presence.

We'll have to agree to disagree about global warming until the next global cooling scare comes along
- Macy - sbrians 12:50:31 01/21/13 (0)
  I can't think of anyone who blends into character better than William H. Macy. I think that's a sign of a great actor.

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