Supposedly, the movie To Have and Have Not
bears so little resemblance to the Hemmingway novel it was based on, the author asked the studio why they even bothered keeping the name. Faithful or not though, one's enjoyment of the first Bogie and Bacall picture is not diminished at all. How could it when the chemistry happening between the two starts as they verbally battle back and forth is so strong? Anyone who has watched this film will express no surprise what so ever that Lauren Bacall and Humphry Bogart married after meeting and starring opposite each other in this film-and that's counting knowing about the twenty year age difference too! As far as I'm concerned films today could do with a little more of that sizzle!

Much like in the Casablanca, Bogart's character, Captain Henry Morgan (who is mysteriously called Steve by Bacall's character Slim), lives in a Vichy-controlled area. As an American, he's just trying to keep his head down, and money in his pocket. He and a deep-voiced Slim, get "bit by a dead bee," when a man both know dies during an attempt to gather members of the Resistance. To make matters worse, the Resistance wants Morgan's services as a ship captain. They aren't able to pay much, but when you're desperate, you're desperate. Will these Americans make a stand, or will they even be able to make it out of Martinique alive?

Though the film's main theme of doing right verus getting along, is one shared by Bogart's other film Casablanca, and the plot is superficially similar, the To Have and Have Not is still worth watching. True, Casablanca probably out does it in terms of depth of both themes and story, bu the mood in To Have and Have Not and, a previously-mentioned before, sizzle, makes it a favorite film of mine.

Romance, music, daring, intrigue, danger and even comedy. This film, with a blend of it all, is sure to make you whistle. You know how to whistle don't you? You just put your lips together and....