The Sheila Variations

Sheila, will you hate me if I tell you that I have never seen a Humphrey Bogart movie? I tried to watch Casablanca, but I fell asleep.

I will not hate you. I will just regard you with delicate scorn.

However, falling asleep during Casablanca is unforgivable.

There are some things I cannot be objective about. Casablanca is one of them.

Sheila,

We'll always have Titanic.

Good one. So the brilliance (yes, BRILLIANCE) of the film has sunk into your psyche by osmosis. Well done.

"You’re not a star until they can spell your name in Karachi."

Humphrey Bogart

Noggie - I love love that. Goin' into the Commonplace Book.

Lauren Bacall tells a great story about the first film they did together. Bacall wasn't yet really an actress- just a model. She didn't know what she was doing.

Bogart pulled her aside (they had just met, they weren't married yet) and said, "Listen, you're not a model anymore. Make sure that you remember in every scene to ask yourself the question: Where did I just come from, where am I going, and what do I want?"

LOVE him for that. A little acting tip to a novice from a pro.

That must've been 'To Have and Have Not' - one of my favorite Bogie films.

Yup. I love it too.

She's really quite incredible in it - especially considering that she was 19, had never acted before, and was now in a film with Humphrey Bogart.

I LOVE the moment when she leans over and kisses him.

He says up at her, "What was that for?"

She leans over and kisses him again. A longer kiss. Then she straightens up, and gives him this long knowing look. She says, "It's better when you help."

I mean ... Jesus. It is such a sexy moment. I'm at work. I need to go take a walk.

The Caine Mutiny. Find me a better bit of acting than Bogie under cross-examination.

Bill:

I cannot do it.

I will not even try.

I agree 100% Sheila. 'To Have and Have Not' is probably the sexiest film I've ever seen. The actors did more with suggestion, insinuation and dialogue than any ten modern films with full nudity and explicit sex scenes.

And speaking of Bogie, 'Beat The Devil' is a treat as well.

Claude Rains' "Round up the usual suspects" is the greatest movie line of all time. Surprising, unforgettable, and completely satisfying. I love that movie. I guess I'll be up until midnight watching it now.

We don't have actors like this anymore. I know there's some good ones, but I hate when critics try and dig up our lost monuments by comparison. Know what I mean? Oh Tom Hanks, he's the new Jimmy Stewart. Oh Russell Crowe, he's the new Bogie. And then there's that lovely rumour about Cameron Diaz being the new (I can't say it).....Lucille Ball. Ow! Ow! Ow!

None of these people come close to their stock originals. None of them.

Bogie had a quiet, seething, innate sexuality that lit up the screen like nobody's business. If you put that Crowe thing in a room with him, Russell would be licking his wounds within 10 minutes. Bogie had power. His talent was immense, and there's nothing like Malteese Falcon and Bogie. A perfect performance.

Let's see any of the actors today slip into Casablanca.

Russell Crowe? Please.

Thanks, Sheila. Now I'm plain mad.

Alex -

EXACTLY. That is exactly what I was thinking about during my Bogie fest...

But it's not just that he was Mr. Tough Guy, No Dame's Gonna Walk All Over Me ... even though that was part of it.

He also was able to show the camera perfectly when he fell in love, or when he was hot for someone ... and that takes vulnerability. Russell Crowe can't do that. Well, maybe except for LA Confidential... But today's actors are too concerned with themselves and being "cool".

Bogie didn't need to be concerned with being cool - he already was.

Mmmmmmmm. Watched To Have and Have Not last night ... SEXY SEXY.