Bogart: The Untold Story (2006)

1996 TNT documentary hosted by Bogie's son Stephen Bogart. This documentary was released shortly after publication of Stephen's own written memoir of his father, Bogart: In Search of my Father.

As the documentary begins, Stephen explains that he was only eight years old when his father died, and that for many years he had tried to 'run away' from being Bogie's son. He explains that his father had been a distant figure in his memory all those years, and that his knowledge of him was primarily based on his mother's stories, with his only vivid physical images drawn from his movies.

But in the preceding few years leading up to the book and documentary Stephen had developed the desire to discover his father as a real man, researching him through archived newspaper articles, and speaking to his friends and associates. And thus begins the explorative journey which is Bogart: The Untold Story.

Stephen aboard 'Santana'

We begin with a brief analysis of Bogie's childhood and school years, and are then given an interesting, frank and at times unflattering look at his first three failed marriages (before he married Lauren Bacall), and his early days in theatre and films prior to achieving success.

The documentary at this point explores his successful years in Hollywood, his controversial involvement in the infamous McCarthy 'communist hunt' of the 1940's, his working relationship and friendship with frequent director John Huston, his romance and later marriage to Lauren Bacall and their ensuing parenthood, his love of sailing, and the final year of his life, during which he battled with cancer, and the effect of his death on Lauren and Stephen.

This documentary's uniqueness lies in it's highly personalized tone, at one point highlighted by footage of Bogie at sea in his yacht 'Santana,' which is juxtaposed with footage of the adult Stephen also aboard the yacht. By documentary's end we have been given a solid insightful look into the real man, and Stephen himself explains to us that in researching and discovering a more real sense of and understanding of his father, he has come to a better understanding of himself as a man.

Narrated by Stephen Bogart.

Featuring interviews with Stephen Bogart,
Wife - Lauren Bacall,
Julius Epstein - Screenwriter on Casablanca,
Robert Sklar - Movie Historian,
Joe Hyams - Friend and Biographer,
Ty Burr - Movie Critic,
Jess Morgan - Business Manager,
Ted Eden - Owner of Santana ,
John Huston - Director and friend,
Gloria Stuart - Actress and friend,
Rose Hobart - Actress who worked with Bogie.

Runtime: 45 miutes