Humphrey Bogartis one of the most prolific and well-known actors from Old Hollywood. Though he was initially typecast as a gangster in multiple low-level crime films, Bogart broke the mold and became famous for his lead role asRick Blaine inCasablanca. He also made a name for himself in lauded pictures such asThe Maltese Falcon,The Treasure of Sierra Madre,In a Lonely Place,The Caine Mutiny,The African Queen, andSabrina. Given that Max has a wide collection of classic films, it’s no surprise that many of Bogart’s films are available to stream there.
Some ofHumphrey Bogart’s best moviesacross different genres are but a click away on Max’s digital library.While Max has popular films featuring the renowned actor, there are also several movies featuring Bogart before he found success as a leading man. As a result, many of theseHumphrey Bogart filmsavailable for streaming aren’t so well known. Despite this, such movies starring Bogart still deserve to be seen, given they’re relics of Hollywood’s Golden Age and crucial works in the life of a Hollywood legend.
Invisible Stripesrevolves around an ex-convict who struggles to make an honest living outside of prison, deciding to commit robberies with another ex-con to support himself and his family.Though it wasn’t a huge film,Invisible Stripeswas one of multiple movies that Bogart starred in alongside future big-screen icons like George Raft and William Holden. Raft takes the spotlight as protagonist Cliff Taylor, but Bogart still shines in his supporting role as gangster Charles Martin.
At the same time, the film shows how the world of crime refuses to let its people go, with Bogart’s character effectively trapping Cliff in another prison.
WhileInvisible Stripesmay be a simple crime movie, it is still a tragic tale that sends an important message about how society makes it difficult for ex-cons to reform and reintegrate into life outside of prison. At the same time, the film shows how the world of crime refuses to let its people go, with Bogart’s character effectively trapping Cliff in another prison.Although the story has been told many times,Invisible Stripesis still worth cinephiles' attention.
Thisunderrated crime dramashows a mobster and his young protégé getting arrested after a robbery gone wrong,with the latter facing a moral crisis after his sister’s boyfriend is also accused of the murder his boss committed. In one of his multiple collaborations with director Lewis Seiler, Bogart stars inYou Can’t Get Away with Murderas the villainous gangster who forces his young accomplice to feign ignorance in an attempt to spare himself from death row.
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Other than Bogart’s role in the film,You Can’t Get Away with Murderdeserves a watch due to the compelling ethical conflict faced by its naive young protagonist. It is a great movie that also offers an interesting look at Bogart in the early stages of his leading actor career.
Though this film was released before Bogart established himself as a leading man, the actor displays his strong acting skills as antagonist Frank Wilson.This character goes from a friendly mentor to a ruthless criminal on a dime, with Bogart adding both allure and menace to his role. He also stands out thanks to his chemistry with Billy Halop, having previously worked with him on director Michael Curtiz’s filmAngels with Dirty Faces. Though Bogart was no hero in this movie, he was still a major highlight of it.
It All Came Trueis an unusual part of Bogart’s filmography due to its status as a comedic crime musical.The story features a pianist who is forced to hide his gangster boss from the police in his mother’s boarding house, where they set up a nightclub with a gifted young singer. Bogart plays his typical role as the suave and manipulative mobster, and the actor does not sing in this film. Nevertheless,It All Came Trueis a refreshing break away from the more traditional crime movies Bogart is known for starring in.
Bogart’s character is a fish out of water in this film, as he hides from the authorities among the more quirky and refined characters who add heart and humor to the story.
Likewise,the movie delivers some spectacular musical numbers courtesy of its incomparable star,Ann Sheridan, who shares the screen well with Bogart after previously working with him on several films. And thanks to Sheridan’s chemistry with costar Jeffrey Lynn,It All Came Trueadds a compelling romance that makes this an entertaining and well-rounded picture.
This drama picture was one of Bogart’s multiple projects working with director Raoul Walsh, who created classic noir films likeHigh SierraandWhite Heat.They Drive by Night, on the other hand, stands out as a more unconventional crime film, as it follows two exhausted truck drivers struggling to make ends meet and live happy lives. Things get especially difficult after a series of accidents on the road, one of which takes one of the brother’s legs, and an obsessed woman frames the other brother for murder.
Bogart only plays a supporting role in this film, which puts a greater focus on George Raft’s character, Joe Fabrini.Nevertheless, the former handles himself well by playing the tough but vulnerable brother who tries to support his loving family and cope with his challenging career. Such a story displays the everyday struggles of blue-collar workers that many audiences can still find relatable. Despite its more intense moments,They Drive by Nightachieves a terrific balance of heavy drama and quick-witted humor to make it an enjoyable watch.
Based on Mark Hellinger’s short story, “The World Moves On,“The Roaring Twentiesfollows three men who, after meeting on the battlefield in World War I, work together to bootleg liquor during the Prohibition.Following off the heels of several crime movies from the 1930s, this movie features the traditional story of the rise and fall of a gangster’s criminal empire. While notas popular asThe GodfatherorGoodfellas, one can see traces of such classics in the plot and visual style of this Pre-Code crime film, making it an essential watch for fans of gangster movies
The RoaringTwenties' success can also be credited to its cast, including Bogart.This movie has him in one of the leading roles as the charismatic but cold-blooded George. Not only that, but it alsofeatures him alongside other iconic Hollywood actors like Priscilla Lane, Gladys George, and James Cagney, with the film being the latter’s last collaboration with Bogart. WhileThe Roaring Twentiesisn’t the most groundbreaking film, Bogart and his costars have helped it go down as one of the most revered gangster movies in cinema history.
One can consider this a spiritual sequel toCasablancadue to its story and cast.Passage to Marseillefollows a journalist as he learns about the lives of five convicts who have broken out of prison to help free France from Nazi control. The film is notable for its unique storytelling style, which features flashbacks within flashbacks within flashbacks that explore the character’s tragic lives leading up to the war.Bogart’s character, in particular, resonates strongly in the modern era as a journalist who loses his business and his freedom to speak out against the rise of government corruption.
Thanks to their experiences together inCasablanca, Bogart and his pals in the cast madePassage to Marseillethe perfect film for fans of the former.
Passage to Marseilledidn’t just have Bogart team up withCasablancadirector Michael Curtiz once more. It also featured Bogart alongside several of his costars from the latter film, including Claude Rains, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, and Helmut Dantine. Bogart was able to play off his costars quite well inPassage to Marseille, allowing them to shine with their distinctive characters while still achieving perfect chemistry. Thanks to their experiences together inCasablanca, Bogart and his pals in the cast madePassage to Marseillethe perfect film for fans of the former.
There is arguably no other movie in Humphrey Bogart’s filmography as well known asCasablanca.This Oscar-winning classic features Bogart as a depressed bartender who confronts his former lover in the titular city as she tries to flee from the Nazis with her rebel husband.Casablancahas several iconic quotesand scenes that have appeared in some form or another throughout popular culture, thanks particularly to the performances of Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, and Claude Rains. This has cementedCasablancaas a benchmark picture in cinema history and the embodiment of Hollywood’s Golden Age.
Casablancaalso presents an incredible character study through Rick. He starts off as a bitter and melancholic man mourning his lost love, only to become the reluctant hero who sacrifices his own desires to help those who need him. The character and the film are only elevated by Bogart’s hardened but vulnerable lead performance, which, after getting him his first Oscar nomination for Best Actor, has become most associated with him since its release. Not only is thisHumphrey Bogart’s all-time best film. It’s one of the greatest films, period.
