Bogie and Me: A Love Story

It's actually hilarious when you consider Bacall's memoirs (By Myself) and Bogie's lectures to Bacall on the subject of marital fidelity and how much he hated phonies, to realize that he was having a fifteen year affair with his hairdresser, simultaneous with two of his marriages. But he was a high-functioning alcoholic and he actually had his life beautifully arranged; the girlfriend tended to him on the set and on publicity tours and the wife at home. The book is quite readable and enjoyable, if slight, and these are two people whose company you'd enjoy if you like to go out and drink a lot which apparently they spent a lot of time doing. I'm sure Thompson had no notion how revealing this book would be about their characters. They're both quite amusing, quick with the wisecracks and were obviously good friends as well as lovers. She was apparently his primary enabler, but didn't go over the edge herself. Since both of them were justly proud of their professional accomplishments, they managed to maintain the discipline they needed for professional purposes. Thompson also has a few entertaining stories to tell about him and their adventures together. The book is slight, but you do get a picture of the Hollywood they inhabited and some more insight into Bogie's character, a man who enjoyed putting people on and practical jokes and was a world class chess player also. You can't help liking them and admiring what they accomplished in their lives, although neither is someone you'd put on a pedestal.I just can't stop shaking my head over the "phonies" thing. If you read it, you'll see. Bogie had some act going. Well, he was a truly great actor. It shows.

I thought the book was very good and brought back old Hollywood, how interesting that Bogie and Baby were not what they seemed. It seems that Bogie was quite a drinker and player but nevertheless a fine actor. The book seemed very believable to me.I am suprised that this book was never made into a movie it would be a great one.