To Have and Have Not (1944)

 Howard Hawks' "To Have and Have Not"


Howard Hawks' "To Have and Have Not," to me, ultimately, just feels like it is riding on the aesthetic coattails of "Casablanca." Like "Casablanca," the film takes place on the edge of World War II in a foreign land being disputed by small-time militia forces, where a mysterious yet heroic Humphrey Bogart, along with a former lover of his, try to outsmart the German forces working there. Not only does the plot bear a striking resemblance, but Hawks' direction seems to pay allusions. 

That being said, "To Have and Have Not" is nowhere near on the same level of film as "Casablanca." In fact, "To Have and Have Not" can sometimes be a fairly boring affair, mixed with slight elements of thrill and romance. In fact, my favorite parts of the film involved fairly innocuous moments from Lauren Bacall's character. The first being her infamous "you know how to whistle" line, the second being the little dance she does on her way back to Bogart in the last moment of the film.

However, despite being a diet "Casablanca" with a sharper dull, "To Have and Have Not" is not a complete waste of a film. In fact, I found myself enjoying it more than plenty of other Howard Hawks productions. 



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