For much of the 1930s, Humphrey Bogart played the third gangster in a movie. He was signed to Warner Bros. in those days, and they had the monopoly on crime movies. The top gangster during this time was everybody’s favorite little tough guy, James Cagney. Then came Edward G. Robinson, he was second. Bogart was either third or fourth, sometimes behind George Raft. It’s hard to imagine, but Bogart's career was tanking, and it needed a makeover. I mean, nothing says, “dispensable” like being a third gangster in a gangster movie. Your fate was sealed. If you didn’t get murdered in the first reel, you just might get punched out by Cagney in the end. That sucked! It wasn’t a bad career for a typical bit player, but Bogart was special. He was the tough guy with something extra. What saved Bogart from third gangster hell was the movie, Casablanca. The role made him a star, and he remained a star until his death.
Most people have seen the classic Casablanca. In it, Bogart plays saloon-owner Richard (Rick) Blaine, a mysterious American expatriate living in French Morocco during WWII. The role is perfect for Bogart. He gets to play the rugged individual who “doesn’t stick his neck out for nobody.” He’s aloof, detached and locked in his own bitterness. Basically, the guy’s an introverted loner who needs a hug…badly!Now for the something extra, or the quality that Bogart brings to the role of Rick. His sadness. Nobody does this better than Bogart. It’s all in his eyes. You just feel it. I don’t need to tell you how uncool it is to see a man act like a drama queen on screen. It’s embarrassing. Bogart never does this. The character of Rick is filled with despair, but he never shows it. Not because he’s insensitive. Rather, Rick doesn’t want to unravel into an emotional mess. I respect that. It’s very manly and mature. In Casablanca, Bogart’s romantic, but never mushy. He’s lovesick, but he’s never going to give that woman the satisfaction by showing it to her.
Only at the end of the movie does Bogart expose his true feelings, but by this time his broken heart has mended and he’s decided about his future. Bogart takes the high road. He sets his woman free and allows her to escape Casablanca with her husband. He finally takes a side in the war, and ultimately begins a “beautiful friendship” with his new best buddy, Louie. Not a bad fate for a third gangster.