Just a couple years earlier, Humphrey Bogart starred in what was probably his best film, CASABLANCA. In order to cash in on the success of this film, a story by Ernest Hemingway was re-written in a way that made it seem an awful lot like like a sequel to CASABLANCA. Sure, Bogie's name was changed and Lauren Bacall was now his co-star, but the overall plot of the film of a jaded American who, down deep, is sympathetic to the Free French cause is once again here. Because this is such a derivative film, it loses a point or two in its rating.

Despite this extreme similarity, the film STILL is a wonderful old film due to great acting and a well-paced story. However, for me the biggest standout was Lauren Bacall and the wonderful dialog written for her. She is a wonderful "Film Noir"-like lady--a fast-talking, snappy dialog-spewing "dame" who really helped make the film come alive (though it was NOT technically a Noir film). Again and again and again, she had GREAT lines--not just the "you know how to whistle?" line, but all throughout the film. For fans of classic Hollywood, this film is a must and is among Bogart's better films.