Bogart was miscast


Bogart went through a period where he took any part that came his way, but that doesn't excuse the casting director from this error.

I'm thinking Ward Bond would have made a great Michael OLeary. Bond made a career of playing Irishmen and had the physique of someone raised around horses.

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I agree....and how about that phony Irish accent? But I thought overall it was a great movie.

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[deleted]

Luckily, most of the role of Michael just called for Bogie to stand around looking rough, sweaty and masculine. Humphrey fit the bill nicely.



No two persons ever watch the same movie.

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They could have simply have cut out the phoney-sounding brogue: he was an Irish American...

Even larks and katydids are supposed, by some, to dream

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I really liked him, and I thought he and Bette had a much more interesting chemistry. I secretly wanted her to get with the hired hand and not the doctor. There's just something about Bogey's onscreen presence; even in a supporting role, he almost steals the show.

If you tickle us, do we not laugh? http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=8093247

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"Dark Victory" was Davis's fave of all her own films and alway commended Bogie for his work in this - and Fitzgerald, too. And Brent was better than most folks think

Even larks and katydids are supposed, by some, to dream

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The principal male roles are poor in Dark Victory - George Brent has little charm, Bogie has some camp value but as you say is quite hopelessly miscast. The ladies, meanwhile - both Davis and Geraldine Fitzgerald - are quite wonderful.

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Bogart still had not really made his mark in hollywood, Its one of those parts, you sometimes have to take just to get your name and face out there, While I was watching this I thought yeah he is totally miscast for this part, however its obvious others saw that he would make a fantastic spy/hero with his ruff and ready approach. hence casablanca lol.

Even in those days you had to take the crappy parts to grab the good parts, something as an actress im only beginning to realise.

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"Bogart went through a period where he took any part that came his way, but that doesn't excuse the casting director from this error."

Actually, as a Warner Bros. contract play, Bogart didn't take "any part that came his way" - he played what he was given or went on suspension. Sometimes a casting error was discovered early on and rectified (such as Bogart being taken out of THE OLD MAID after a few days' filming and being replaced by George Brent), but sometimes not. I don't feel Bogart was miscast in DARK VICTORY so much as he was mis-directed - as has been mentioned, the Irish accent was phony and also unncessary - the character's name, Michael O'Leary, gave us sufficient information about his nationality/background, so the accent wasn't really necessary. Hollywood wasn't really big on accents back then, and few actors/actresses were required to attempt them, no matter the nationality of the character they played - Davis seldom attempted any accent other than a British (which was close to her clipped New England one) or Southern. In ALL THIS AND HEAVEN TOO Charles Boyer is the only member of the cast with a French accent!!!

"Stone-cold sober I find myself absolutely fascinating!"---Katharine Hepburn

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I would agree with Harold Robbins that the problem was not the casting of Bogie was wrong but the need for that disappearing accent was the problem. Talk about coming and going with the accent. However, Bogie does do well with his most important scene in which Bette in the "slut" mode and then refuses him. This is clearly not Bogie's worst role as he would play a vampire (I did not think he was bad but the movie is awful), and the Mexican bandit in Flynn's Western. (Yes, he is bad.)

Really outside of the sidekick, this is a one woman show in terms of acting.

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Gable famously refused to attempt a Southern accent in GWTW, and decades later Robert Redford declined to attempt a British accent in OUT OF AFRICA.

"Stone-cold sober I find myself absolutely fascinating!"---Katharine Hepburn

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[deleted]

Yep...his disappearing accent was awful! That's the best they could find for the role?!

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As someone else said, Bogie was under contract. He didn't really have much say in the matter. His role in this movie is supposedly among his least favorites. But yeah- he was miscast, though I thought he did a decent job in the role. Regardless, I love this movie! One of my all-time favorites.

~ Quod me nutrit me destruit ~
What nourishes me also destroys me

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It's a shame in a way--Bogie and Bette did have some real chemistry together. Check out "Marked Woman" and you'll see how well they could play off each other. But yes, Bogie's brogue is laughably bad--it just takes me right out of the movie every time I hear it. Then again, Bette is simply wonderful in this, and for once George Brent was less wooden than low key (it works here). Not my fave Davis movie, but certainly one of her best.

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Yes, miscast but still decent. I prefer Irishmen to play Irishmen:)

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