# Do you think Humphrey Bogart is attractive?  If so, how and why?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-humphrey-bogart-is-attractive-if-so-how-and-why/854217>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [May 21, 2020, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-humphrey-bogart-is-attractive-if-so-how-and-why/854217 "2020-05-21T02:07:09Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 17\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\
**Post date:** [May 22, 2020, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-humphrey-bogart-is-attractive-if-so-how-and-why/854217/41 "2020-05-22T12:32:04Z")

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I’m gonna go out on a very subjective limb and say that Bogart was very good-looking, even hot. I do tend to prefer men with long faces and dark features, and those eyebrows are a definite plus. Definitely not an average-looking man for people with conventional taste.

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**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\
**Post date:** [May 22, 2020, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-humphrey-bogart-is-attractive-if-so-how-and-why/854217/42 "2020-05-22T15:02:06Z")

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> [@Colibri](#):
>
> My father’s looks reminded me of Bogart.

Photos of my father in his younger days gave me the same impression.

Evidently you can have craggy physical features (Bogart, Jagger) and still have appeal to the womenfolk. Though I think it was overdone in one of Bogart’s films (The Big Sleep, where he played Philip Marlowe and women were falling all over him, including a taxi driver and a bookstore owner).

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**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\
**Post date:** [May 22, 2020, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-humphrey-bogart-is-attractive-if-so-how-and-why/854217/43 "2020-05-22T16:07:58Z")

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I’m a straight man, so this is coming from a “would I like to look like this person” mindset rather than “would I like to be in a romantic relationship with this person” mindset.

Bogie has a lot of things going for him, but physical looks aren’t really one of them. But he has a physical presence that makes up for it, and makes him seem almost Bond-like, with the cool charm and charisma that makes him a leading man. The way he holds himself, and the way he carries himself. He’s one of those “ugly, but in a handsome way” faces, like Hollywood ugly. Peter Lorre or Edward G. Robinson, for example. He did look better when he was younger, but never Hollywood handsome like Brad Pitt or Cary Grant or Paul Newman.

He’s not tall, but he’s a style icon. I wish I was about a hundred and twenty pounds lighter than I am so I could pull off his style. Also, I love his acting. He wasn’t the first, but the first I am aware of where he pretty much always played himself. Like Jack Nicholson or Al Pacino. You know what you’re going to get, but he’s damn good at it anyway, and quite entertaining. I need to go watch some more Bogart movies this weekend. I’ve seen quite a few, but I also know there are plenty I haven’t seen.

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**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\
**Post date:** [May 22, 2020, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-humphrey-bogart-is-attractive-if-so-how-and-why/854217/44 "2020-05-22T16:17:05Z")

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> [@Jackmannii](#):
>
> Photos of my father in his younger days gave me the same impression.
> 
> Evidently you can have craggy physical features (Bogart, Jagger) and still have appeal to the womenfolk. Though I think it was overdone in one of Bogart’s films (The Big Sleep, where he played Philip Marlowe and women were falling all over him, including a taxi driver and a bookstore owner).

That was from the book.

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**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\
**Post date:** [May 22, 2020, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-humphrey-bogart-is-attractive-if-so-how-and-why/854217/45 "2020-05-22T16:36:53Z")

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> [@Jackmannii](#):
>
> Photos of my father in his younger days gave me the same impression.
> 
> Evidently you can have craggy physical features (Bogart, Jagger) and still have appeal to the womenfolk. Though I think it was overdone in one of Bogart’s films (The Big Sleep, where he played Philip Marlowe and women were falling all over him, including a taxi driver and a bookstore owner).

It is in the film. Wasn’t the bookstore woman an employee? I don’t recall them in the novel.  
One must remember that the woman was driving a cab because many men were away in the armed forces.

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**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\
**Post date:** [May 22, 2020, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-humphrey-bogart-is-attractive-if-so-how-and-why/854217/46 "2020-05-22T16:45:55Z")

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Rosie the Riveter and Carla the Cabbie.

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**Author:** ![Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enter_the_Flagon)\
**Post date:** [May 23, 2020, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-humphrey-bogart-is-attractive-if-so-how-and-why/854217/47 "2020-05-23T15:43:55Z")

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How is Bogart attractive?

His voice.

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**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\
**Post date:** [May 23, 2020, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-humphrey-bogart-is-attractive-if-so-how-and-why/854217/48 "2020-05-23T23:59:14Z")

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> [@madsircool](#):
>
> To those who say that Bogart always played Bogart I would recommend [In a Lonely Place](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0042593/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_16). Its about as dark a film as it gets. You can watch for free here [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLv4iVbBXHsLjUKEQ9LbQKBasW9L5Hzz6i](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLv4iVbBXHsLjUKEQ9LbQKBasW9L5Hzz6i)

Well, THAT was disappointing. All but two segments are “blocked in this country.” I was really looking forward to because a) Bogart fan; b) actually read the novel a couple of months back; and c) I was friendly with Dorothy B. Hughes (the author) during the 80s and 90s, when I was a crime fiction editor and she was active in the Mystery Writers of America.

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**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2020, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-humphrey-bogart-is-attractive-if-so-how-and-why/854217/49 "2020-05-24T00:31:29Z")

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> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#):
>
> Well, THAT was disappointing. All but two segments are “blocked in this country.” I was really looking forward to because a) Bogart fan; b) actually read the novel a couple of months back; and c) I was friendly with Dorothy B. Hughes (the author) during the 80s and 90s, when I was a crime fiction editor and she was active in the Mystery Writers of America.

I recorded it from Comcast pay per view.  
I haven’t watched it yet, or read the novel. What if Bogie really did it? :dubious:

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**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2020, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-humphrey-bogart-is-attractive-if-so-how-and-why/854217/50 "2020-05-24T00:51:38Z")

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> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#):
>
> Well, THAT was disappointing. All but two segments are “blocked in this country.” I was really looking forward to because a) Bogart fan; b) actually read the novel a couple of months back; and c) I was friendly with Dorothy B. Hughes (the author) during the 80s and 90s, when I was a crime fiction editor and she was active in the Mystery Writers of America.

Sorry…try here.

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**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2020, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-humphrey-bogart-is-attractive-if-so-how-and-why/854217/51 "2020-05-24T01:14:35Z")

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so how do you all feel about Dirk Bogarde?

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**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2020, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-humphrey-bogart-is-attractive-if-so-how-and-why/854217/52 "2020-05-24T01:19:39Z")

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> [@Lamoral](#):
>
> so how do you all feel about Dirk Bogarde?

His name is ridiculously long

Derek Jules Gaspard Ulric Niven van den Bogaerde

but he had a great 5 year run with The Damned, Death in Venice and The Night Porter. He was the kinder and gentler Bogie.

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**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2020, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-humphrey-bogart-is-attractive-if-so-how-and-why/854217/53 "2020-05-24T17:10:56Z")

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So Mr. Bogart had a great personality, LOL?..Ugly as sin in my opinion, though I love his movies.

Some film blog deemed him the Greatest Actor of All Time. I disagree, (I think Cary Grant was; he could do it all, comedy, drama, dark and light.) Humphrey Bogart was much more one-note: tough guy, film noir, gangster…but what he did, he did extremely well. He had star quality, and you don’t need to be pretty to have that. (plus Lauren Bacall \<3 … that did a lot to make him more appealing to the public, ‘such a young beautiful woman in love! So romantic!’ Beauty and the beast, she simply had to see his inner charms, lol.

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**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2020, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-humphrey-bogart-is-attractive-if-so-how-and-why/854217/54 "2020-05-24T17:58:26Z")

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> [@salinqmind](#):
>
> So Mr. Bogart had a great personality, LOL?..Ugly as sin in my opinion, though I love his movies.
> 
> Some film blog deemed him the Greatest Actor of All Time. I disagree, (I think Cary Grant was; he could do it all, comedy, drama, dark and light.) Humphrey Bogart was much more one-note: tough guy, film noir, gangster…but what he did, he did extremely well. He had star quality, and you don’t need to be pretty to have that. (plus Lauren Bacall \<3 … that did a lot to make him more appealing to the public, ‘such a young beautiful woman in love! So romantic!’ Beauty and the beast, she simply had to see his inner charms, lol.

Some of us do NOT think Bogart was “ugly as sin”. And it’s very insensitive of you to refer to Lauren Bacall as a beast. 😉

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**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2020, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-humphrey-bogart-is-attractive-if-so-how-and-why/854217/55 "2020-05-24T21:06:24Z")

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> [@salinqmind](#):
>
> So Mr. Bogart had a great personality, LOL?..Ugly as sin in my opinion, though I love his movies.
> 
> Some film blog deemed him the Greatest Actor of All Time. I disagree, (I think Cary Grant was; he could do it all, comedy, drama, dark and light.) Humphrey Bogart was much more one-note: tough guy, film noir, gangster…but what he did, he did extremely well. He had star quality, and you don’t need to be pretty to have that. (plus Lauren Bacall \<3 … that did a lot to make him more appealing to the public, ‘such a young beautiful woman in love! So romantic!’ Beauty and the beast, she simply had to see his inner charms, lol.

I got the hots for Cary Grant [so did my mom …] but there is something compelling about Bogart. He had a presence, a way of filling the air. He walked with a certain assuredness and held himself well. Not pretty boy handsome like Errol Flynn, but very compelling nonetheless.

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**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2020, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-humphrey-bogart-is-attractive-if-so-how-and-why/854217/56 "2020-05-24T21:45:05Z")

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Cary Grant? :dubious:

Craig Stephens got the job of [Peter Gunn](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Gunn) because he resembled Grant.  
[Cary Grant.](https://www.google.com/search?q=car+grant+randolph+scott&client=firefox-b-1-d&sxsrf=ALeKk00xkStEJCMPhfNgBoiUa5SzZ1yGAQ:1590355671720&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=R9ug354qbvYW2M%253A%252CQRKs7hs9h91wHM%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kRcl8_asafWViWSrKNqVt5mrIpD0w&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi8uv3GuM3pAhVDbKwKHRWxCT0Q9QEwAnoECAYQFQ)

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**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\
**Post date:** [May 26, 2020, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-humphrey-bogart-is-attractive-if-so-how-and-why/854217/57 "2020-05-26T09:56:46Z")

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> [@Colibri](#):
>
> You don’t have to be handsome to be attractive. Bogart was not conventionally handsome but he was very attractive. He starred alongside some of the most glamorous leading ladies of the era, and it was considered entirely plausible that they would fall for him. Then of course you have the real-life example of Lauren Bacall, who was immediately attracted to Bogart and married him, staying married for the rest of his life.
> 
> Liam Neeson is a current actor who is not at all handsome, but nonetheless is regarded as very attractive.

Agreed that Bogart wasn’t conventionally handsome, but he sort of acted, consistently, as if he was. Massive amounts of confidence. And it worked.

Liam Neeson is conventionally handsome though, and tall and buff (for his age) - Bogart didn’t have that going for him, but sometimes people forget how much the rest of the body counts, not just the face.

It’s more like Alan Rickman. Apart from his voice (and he looked like he was tall), there’s nothing about him that’s conventionally attractive. But man, lots of women find him very attractive.

Like Enter the Flagon said, Bogart did have a lovely voice.

> [@markn\_1](#):
>
> Well, the script of African Queen had to be rewritten for Bogart because he was unable to perform the Cockney accent that was originally intended.

I much prefer when directors do that, within reason, rather than have actors do accents they can’t reasonably do. Either recast the role or change the role.

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