Like Bogie and Bacall

Just like Bogie and Bacall. Bertie Higgins’ 1982 one-hit wonder, “Key Largo,” talks about a love story, “just like Bogie and Bacall.” And what a love story it was.

My parents were of that time, but my generation missed most of their love story, other than what we saw in old movies, so a little history lesson is in order.

We’ve seen plenty of Bogart movies and heard of the sultry Lauren Bacall, but what makes their story special? They met on the 1944 movie set of “To Have and Have Not.” It was immediate fireworks. 

Bogart was married, twenty five years Bacall’s senior, and an in-demand, ‘A list’ actor. Bacall knew it was destined to be a love story. Bogart ended his marriage a few months later and almost immediately married Bacall. They never really dated, according to Bacall. It was just meant to be.

It was an incredibly blissful marriage as Hollywood marriages go. They were one of the most social of Hollywood couples. Their parties were famous, because the standard was you needed to be a nonconformist, funny, smart person who didn’t care what the neighbors think. They were the original “rat pack” power couple.

Bogart starred in many successful films, with Bacall working in films as well, sometimes with Bogie. The film, “Key Largo,” starred the power couple duo, and gave Bertie Higgins the title for his song.

While Bacall did some acting during the marriage, she was a traditional gal. Her role was to have children and support Bogie. She actually never asked him about children, she said it was part of the package. But she did support Bogie.

They had a great union of practicality, romanticism, and caring. During their heyday, she was the yin to his yang. They completed each other.

Later, Bacall took care of Bogart as he succumbed to esophageal cancer in 1957, with his final words to her being, “Goodbye kid. Hurry back.” She left to go pick up the kids from school, and when she returned, he had slipped into a coma from which he never returned. He died in 1957.

Bacall had some success as an actor, even winning a couple of Tony Awards. She lived in the Dakota Apartments (yes, where John Lennon was murdered) and had an incredible museum of pieces from her and Bogies’s wonderful years in Hollywood.

We know of Bogie and Bacall. The glamor and lights of Hollywood shone brightly on them. But there are love stories all around us that surpass Bogie and Bacall. Short, endearing marriages. Long marriages. How do two people manage to hook up and stay that way? 

I’d like to say love is all you need, but alas, that’s a Beatles song, not life. No, besides love, it takes commitment, patience, forgiveness, tolerance, caring and a little luck.

Like Bogie and Bacall.

Kelly Burke was born in Knoxville where he spent his younger years, followed by high school years in Atlanta where he graduated from Georgia Tech, and Mercer Law School. He has been in private practice, a magistrate judge, and an elected district attorney. He writes about the law, politics, music, and Ireland. He and his wife enjoy gardening, playing with their Lagotto Ramanolo named George Harrison, and spending time with their grandchildren. To see this column or Kelly’s archives, visit www.kellyrburke.com. You can email Kelly at dakellyburke@gmail.com.