In 1935, Bogart’s career starting taking a turn for the better when producer Arthur Hopkins sent for Bogart to play escaped murderer Duke Mantee in Robert Sherwood's new play, The Petrified Forest. In Meyers’ book, he writes that Hopkins wasn’t impressed with Bogart at first:
When I saw the actor I was somewhat taken aback, for he was the one I never much admired. He was an antiquated juvenile who spent most of his stage life in white pants swinging a tennis racquet. He seemed as far from a cold-blooded killer as one could get, but the voice (dry and tired) persisted, and the voice was Mantee's.
The Petrified Forest was a hit and Warner Brothers swooped in to purchase the screen rights. Originally, Warner Brothers wanted Edward G. Robinson, a popular actor at the time, to play Duke Mantee in the film adaptation. However, Leslie Howard, a main cast member and production rights holder, was adamant on Bogart reprising his role as Mantee. Howard wouldn’t budge. Warner Brothers cast Humphrey Bogart and it turned out to be one of his most memorable roles in his career. The …show more content…
The roles were repetitive and physically demanding on Bogart. He used the experience to start developing his enduring film persona—the wounded, stoical, cynical, charming, vulnerable, self-mocking loner with a code of honor. Despite good reviews, Warner Brothers would not cast him as the leading man. In 1941, George Raft turned down the role of Sam Spade in the film Maltese Falcon and Humphrey Bogart was cast. Bogart’s biography boasts that the casting of Bogart as Sam Spade “was a perfect fit. Bogart’s flawless depiction of private eye Sam Spade, portrayed with an exciting mix of cunning, sexuality, and honor, made Hollywood stand up and take notice.” John Huston was the director of the film and it was the start of a great friendship between the two. Together, Huston and Bogart created a film noir
When I saw the actor I was somewhat taken aback, for he was the one I never much admired. He was an antiquated juvenile who spent most of his stage life in white pants swinging a tennis racquet. He seemed as far from a cold-blooded killer as one could get, but the voice (dry and tired) persisted, and the voice was Mantee's.
The Petrified Forest was a hit and Warner Brothers swooped in to purchase the screen rights. Originally, Warner Brothers wanted Edward G. Robinson, a popular actor at the time, to play Duke Mantee in the film adaptation. However, Leslie Howard, a main cast member and production rights holder, was adamant on Bogart reprising his role as Mantee. Howard wouldn’t budge. Warner Brothers cast Humphrey Bogart and it turned out to be one of his most memorable roles in his career. The …show more content…
The roles were repetitive and physically demanding on Bogart. He used the experience to start developing his enduring film persona—the wounded, stoical, cynical, charming, vulnerable, self-mocking loner with a code of honor. Despite good reviews, Warner Brothers would not cast him as the leading man. In 1941, George Raft turned down the role of Sam Spade in the film Maltese Falcon and Humphrey Bogart was cast. Bogart’s biography boasts that the casting of Bogart as Sam Spade “was a perfect fit. Bogart’s flawless depiction of private eye Sam Spade, portrayed with an exciting mix of cunning, sexuality, and honor, made Hollywood stand up and take notice.” John Huston was the director of the film and it was the start of a great friendship between the two. Together, Huston and Bogart created a film noir