Bogart’s appeal is undiminished

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32567, 29 March 1971, Page 4

Bogart’s appeal is undiminished

We have read, somewhere, that Humphrey Bogart films have enjoyed a revival overseas ... that there are special Bogart clubs with portraits of the actor plastered over the walls, and where the old films are screened for entranced audiences.

After seeing again one of the best of them, “Casablanca,” from CHTV3 on Friday Evening, it is easy to understand why the cult of Bogartism has achieved such popularity, years after the actor’s death. Although the film was made in 1942, it can still hold its own against the glossy, sophisticated screen dramas of today. The story was absorbing, the acting superb. And Bogart, who could convey so much with so little apparent effort, was the man who kept the spark of excitment alive to the last. Of course he had splendid support, notably from Ingrid Bergman and Claude Rains, with Paul Henreid, Sydney Greenstreet, and Peter Lorre also pitching in to the full. But Bogart was the star in every sense of the word, and the posthumous hero-worship

The Devil,” with Gina Lollobrigida, Jennifer Jones, and the sinister Mr Lorre. This is a more recent effort, being made in 1954. » ♦ ♦

Not far behind "Casablanca” in viewing appeal was Saturday’s episode in “Hie Name Of The Game” series—" Laurie Marie.” The overlapping themes gave the story a considerable depth of interest, and Tony Franciosa —easily the most engaging member of the Howard Publications’ triumvirat e—tackled his role with zest and imagination. Mark Ricnman, as the

wealthy businessman with a bizarre secret in his locker, gave a strong performance and there was scarcely a weak link in the big supporting cast, from the backwoodsmen to the board-room dollies. We must express special 1 admiration for Franciosa’s Jeff Dillon. He hardly ever put ! pen to paper as he ferretted 1 for his big feature story. [ * * *

, he has been accorded is obvi- ■ ously founded on a very firm i base. CHTV3 viewers will have i another opportunity to watch ! Bogart in action next Friday i eyening. He stars in "Beat

- Three programmes made farewell appearances during Friday and Saturday evenings—“ The Carol Burnett Show,” "The Outsider,” and “Nearest and Dearest." It was hardly an occasion for tears of regret. Carol Burnett, in spite of her Tarzan call, went out on a quiet note. There is no mistaking her rapport with her audience in the opening section of the show, but her reliance on the dead pan look and jokes against herself weigh a little heavily on this viewer. Harvey Korman maintained his reputation as a man for all sketches, but we do not share Miss Burnett’s glowing assessment of Lyall Waggoner as a singer. Darren McGavin, the rather too honest private investigator of "The Outsider,” ran true to form in his farewell appearance, but it was possible to distinguish a slight improvement in “Nearest and Dearest,” in spite of the regular muffing of lines by Hylda

Both she and Jimmy Jewell, with some assistance from the myopic Joe Gladwin, as Stan, rescued the final episode from the bottom of the barrel—but it was too late for a reprieve. * • * It is good to know that the N.Z.B.C. is capable of an intelligent approach to the documentary field, as was shown in the “Search For Tomorrow” programme on Friday evening, “Water Is . . .” David Pumphrey and Tony Rimmer, the men behind the production of this enterprising effort, filmed largely in South Canterbury, deserve pats on the backs for the careful handling of the subject. We look forward to, their next production with keen interest.—PANDOßA.