to have and have not

the year: 1944

the genre: suspense


the cast: Humphrey Bogart (Harry "Steve" Morgan); Lauren Bacall (Marie "Slim" Browning); Walter Brennan (Eddie); Hoagy Carmichael (Cricket); Dan Seymour (Captain Renard); Sheldon Leonard (Lt. Coyo)


the plot: Harry Morgan and his alcoholic sidekick, Eddie, are based on the island of Martinique and crew a boat available for hire. WWII is affecting business and after a customer who owes them a large sum fails to pay, they are forced against their better judgement to violate their preferred neutrality and to take a job for the resistance - transporting a fugitive on the run from the Nazis to Martinique. Through all this runs the stormy relationship between Morgan and Marie "Slim" Browning, a resistance sympathizer and the sassy singer in the club where Morgan spends most of his days.


don't miss: the famous line: "You know you don't have to act with me, Steve. You don't have to say anything, and you don't have to do anything. Not a thing. Oh, maybe just whistle. You know how to whistle, don't you, Steve? You just put your lips together and... blow."


count: how many scenes feature Mme. Hellene de Bursac compared to Slim. Dolores Moran was originally scripted to be the lead actress and Humphrey Bogart's romantic interest, but her role was shrunk to make room for Lauren Bacall.


listen for: "I'm hard to get, Steve. All you have to do is ask me."


did you know: Hoagy Carmichael played most of his scenes with a matchstick in his teeth. Seeing this on the set at the start of shooting, Humphrey Bogart gave kudos to Carmichael, telling him that the matchstick was a nice touch and would make him stand out in the film. Carmichael was surprised afterward to see a scene being filmed with Bogart and Walter Brennan, both of them chewing matchsticks throughout the shot. They finally revealed that they were having a bit of fun at Hoagy's expense.


extra bonus points: if you know why this film was important to Bogart/Bacall.