To Have and Have Not just didn't sit well with me because of its neighbors. It's a good film with good acting, good dialogue and good direction. But, it right between two of Bogie's greatest appearances. I think more than anything, I got the feeling that To Have was a transitional film.
In one respect, it tries to emulate Casablanca quite overtly. It takes place in a kind of City-of-the-Damned port like Casablanca where refugees and criminals hide from the Nazis. The presence of the French resistance is another factor in this atmosphere. Henry Morgan's disposition definitely plays off of the I-don't-stick-my-neck-out-for-nobody and subsequent reluctant hero of Rick Blain. The presence of Dalio (here known as Frency) and of Dan Seymour (Capt. M. Renard, extremely reminiscent of Sidney Greenstreet's Gutman of the Maltese Falcon and Ferrari of Casablanca) are another factor. Finally, the rescuing of the French resistance leader seals the deal. All of these elements are still well handled, but not as well as Casablanca (but what is as good as Casablanca anyway?).
At the same time, To Have and Have Not is setting up the on and off screen relationship between Bogie and Bacall. I don't think that it was cemented until later in The Big Sleep, another landmark for the pair.
On its own, To Have and Have Not is definitely excellent, one of Howard Hawks' best.
In one respect, it tries to emulate Casablanca quite overtly. It takes place in a kind of City-of-the-Damned port like Casablanca where refugees and criminals hide from the Nazis. The presence of the French resistance is another factor in this atmosphere. Henry Morgan's disposition definitely plays off of the I-don't-stick-my-neck-out-for-nobody and subsequent reluctant hero of Rick Blain. The presence of Dalio (here known as Frency) and of Dan Seymour (Capt. M. Renard, extremely reminiscent of Sidney Greenstreet's Gutman of the Maltese Falcon and Ferrari of Casablanca) are another factor. Finally, the rescuing of the French resistance leader seals the deal. All of these elements are still well handled, but not as well as Casablanca (but what is as good as Casablanca anyway?).
At the same time, To Have and Have Not is setting up the on and off screen relationship between Bogie and Bacall. I don't think that it was cemented until later in The Big Sleep, another landmark for the pair.
On its own, To Have and Have Not is definitely excellent, one of Howard Hawks' best.