Humphrey Bogart
The United States entered World War II just as Humphrey Bogart was working on a new film “The Maltese Falcon”. Humphrey Bogart was not the traditional man that wore a suit and was extremely professional in the world. Instead, he was a man that came from the streets and always was a rough man.
In 1941, the American people needed exactly that kind of role model. With The United States entering World War II, they needed a role model that was tough and would not buckle under pressure.
This set the tone for the rest of his life. He became extremely popular during World War II and helped many people get a stronger attitude than they had before. It helped strengthen the American public and their view on the war.
“Casablanca” than was released shortly after “The Maltese Falcon”. This movie took the next step in making the Americans realize the freedom that they had and how to appreciate it. Humphrey Bogart did an amazing job acting in this movie to portray himself as a prisoner.
Humphrey Bogart not only helped the Americans during World War II. With “Casablanca”, he also helped many Europeans. “Casablanca” gave many Europeans a sense of hope that they did not have before. It helped them make it through extremely hard times that none of the Americans could even imagine.
The biggest role that Humphrey Bogart played during World War II was a communicator to the general public. He helped bridge the gap between the general public, the army, and the United States government. Although most people were in full support of the war, it was still hard for them to understand what was going on in Europe.
Humphrey Bogart brought the people the truths and the facts while entertaining them. It helped them realize that what was happening in the World War II needed to be done to stop a dictator. He also helped a person take their minds off of things while watching some of his movies which was a great relief for many people.
Humphrey Bogart was an icon during World War II. People looked up to him for support and even a shoulder to cry on. Even though they would never see him in person, they felt like they knew him personally.
It was extremely important for the people to have a man like Humphrey Bogart for their icon, because without a man like him, many Americans may have turned against the war and began doubting the United States government. Humphrey Bogart kept them strong and dedicated to the cause of World War II.
Bogart’s dedication and role during World War II eventually made him a great success as an actor if he wasn’t one already at the time. In 1999, the United States Post Office honored him by putting him on a stamp. This showed how much Bogart helped the United States during an extremely hard time.
Today, Bogart will mostly be remembered as an actor. But the people that lived through World War II know that he was much more than that.
References
Tuska, John. Encounters with Filmmakers. New York: Greenwood Press, 1991.
Finn, Daniel. A Guide to American Crime Films of the Forties and Fifties. Westport: Greenwood Press, 1995.
Finn, Daniel. A Guide To American Crime Filmes of the Thirties. Westport: Greenwood Press, 1995.
Abbott, Megan. “Nothing You Can’t Fix.” Studies in the Novel 2003: 305.
“Alexander Cockburn: Humphrey Bogart.” The Nation April 2 2001: 30.
Bacall, Lauren. “The Look of Love for Bogart; Critic’s Choice.” The Daily Mail 11 March 2005: 55.
Geracimos, Ann . “Story Behind the Bogart Book.” The Washington Times 10 April 1997: 10.
“Bogart, Humphrey Deforest.” The Columbia Encyclopedia. 6 ed. 2004.
Bordman, Gerald. American Theatre: A Chronical of Domedy and Drama. New York: Oxford University Press, 1996.
Gehring, Wes. Handbook of American Film Genres. New York: Greenwood Press, 1988.