Who doesn't love this movie? I just never get tired of it. I don't know how many times I've seen it and dialogue along with the stars: "You played it for her, you can play it for me" and "this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship" along with the stars, sing: "You must remember this" as Dooley plays that piano and whisper: "We'll always have Paris" to myself.
This picture says it all, doesn't it? Romantic love sacrificed to a great cause. The noble fine gesture. Country before self and all that.
Was Humphrey ever so tough and manly, Ingrid ever so fragile?
The thing is, in real life Ingrid Bergman towered over the diminutive Humphrey Bogart.
So much so that he had to wear strapped on platform shoes. Here is a shot taken of his feet, relaxing between takes of the unforgettable movie, Casablanca:
Things are not always what they appear, n'est pas? Humphrey tottering around on these kinda spoils the image of the tough, shoot from the hip guy with the heart of gold.
And I truly wonder how they both kept straight faces during the filming.
And PS: Apparently during the shooting of this movie, Humphrey's wife of the time, Mayo Methot, was so jealous of Ingrid she forbade him to speak with her and all through the shoot, he didn't. What great actors they were to produce such amazing love scenes!
What a fascinating snippet about the height disparity - which I didn't know.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how long it will be before a 'short' leading man needs to wear no such disguise.
And yes, acting is an art. And sometimes it is practised superbly.
I had no idea Humphrey Bogart was short. As for being jealous, Hollywood wives, husbands too, need a thick skin and lots of trust with their partners so often romancing another on the screen. Too many times, off the screen as well.
ReplyDeleteI have never seen Casablanca.
It is a good movie for sure. I didn't know about Bogart's height. Funny about the shoes.
ReplyDeleteI read an interesting book a while back called "We'll Always Have Casablanca" which had lots of interesting info about the movie, the actors, etc. There are other books as well. But Bogart ended up with Lauren Bacall, didn't he?
ReplyDeleteOne keeps learning new things all the time. This story about the difference in height is amusing and poignant at the same time. I can also understand the wife's worry!!
ReplyDeleteI loved Ingrid Bergman. What a beautiful actress she was.
ReplyDeleteIf I see that movie again, I'll keep an eye out for how much moving around he did in Bergman's presence. I've always admired the film for a snippet of France in the war. Hook, line and sinker, my movie.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen the movie and the shoes give me visions of spectacular ankle rolls!
ReplyDeleteOne of our favourite films. We've seen it many times. I didn't know about Bogart's special platform soles. As you say, they rather spoil the popular image!
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