How a fishing trip and a bet created a Hollywood screen legend
In short: Director Howard Hawks bet Ernest Hemingway he could turn his worst book into a hit film. The result was a 1944 classic that barely resembled the novel, launched the career of 18-year-old Lauren Bacall, and sparked a real-life romance between its stars that lasted until Humphrey Bogart's death.
The production of To Have and Have Not was defined by its improvisational, high-stakes atmosphere. Hawks and Hemingway, close friends, developed the story during a fishing trip, deciding to abandon the novel's plot in favor of a romance set in Vichy-controlled Martinique. This change was partly forced by the Roosevelt administration's Good Neighbor policy, which discouraged negative portrayals of Cuba. To navigate the strict Production Code and avoid political complexity, Hawks brought in William Faulkner to refine the script, making this the only film story credited to two Nobel Prize winners.
The film's most enduring legacy is the chemistry between Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. Bacall, a teenage model discovered by Hawks's wife, was cast in her first role despite studio skepticism. Hawks actively cultivated the pair's off-screen relationship to fuel their on-screen tension, even as he simultaneously managed a separate affair with another lead actress, Dolores Moran. This manipulation eventually backfired, leading to a production-stalling argument between Hawks and Bogart, who used his leverage to negotiate a significant salary increase.
Critics at the time were divided, with many dismissing the film as a mere Casablanca knock-off. However, the film's unique character-driven approach—where nicknames like 'Slim' and 'Steve' stripped away social baggage—set it apart. While some scholars debate its status as film noir, the movie remains a quintessential example of Hawks's directorial style. Today, it is celebrated for its sharp dialogue and the undeniable, electric connection between its leads, proving that the 'bunch of junk' Hawks initially claimed to be adapting could become a cinematic landmark.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: To Have and Have Not (film)
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