Humphrey Bogart & Lauren Bacall Movie Collaborations

Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall remain one of the most iconic couples of the classic Hollywood era. Boasting a filmography that spans four feature films from 1944 to 1949, they produced some truly timeless classics. As it can be difficult to rank such timeless titles, we have provided below our own expert opinion on how their work together can be ordered from best to worst.

The undeniable highlight is To Have and Have Not (1944), the movie that first brought them together. It’s an exciting and romantic story with plenty of sparkling chemistry between Bogart and Bacall. Following closely behind is The Big Sleep (1946), a classic noir mystery featuring Humphrey Bogart as Raymond Chandler’s famous character, Philip Marlowe. Although not as well-known, Dark Passage (1947) is a fascinating psychological thriller that sees Bogart and Bacall team up for a third time. Finally, Key Largo (1948) rounds out the list as an entertaining crime drama set in a sleepy Florida town.

Each of these classic films is sure to delight audiences of all ages, making them worth a watch no matter the ranking. Indeed, Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall set the gold standard for onscreen romances.

Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall Movie Collaborations, Ranked From Worst to Best

Bogart and Bacall made four movies together in the 1940s, plus uncredited roles in Two Guys from Milwaukee. Their four movie collaborations, in order, are: To Have and Have Not (1944), The Big Sleep (1946), Dark Passage (1947), and Key Largo (1948).

4. Dark Passage (1947)

• Genre: Film Noir / Thriller
• Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Agnes Moorehead
• Directed by: Delmer Daves

3rd Bacall-Bogart Movie Collaboration Ever Made

Coming in last place, is Dark Passage. Now, don’t get us wrong. Dark Passage is a GOOD movie. A great movie, even. However, when compared to the other Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall movies, Dark Passage simply has to come in last place. But that doesn’t mean it’s not an engaging, interesting movie, because it definitely is!

Dark Passage follows a man who escapes from jail (Bogart) after being wrongly accused of murdering his wife. Bacall plays a woman who allows him to hide out in her house, believing him when he says he’s innocent. On his quest to uncover his wife’s real killer, the convict undergoes plastic surgery so he can go about town without being stopped on his quest. An interesting movie!

3. To Have and Have Not (1944)

• Genre: Film Noir / Adventure / Thriller
• Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Walter Brennan
• Directed by: Howard Hawks

1st Bacall-Bogart Movie Collaboration Ever Made

In third place, we have To Have and Have Not, which is a splendid film noir that will never get old. This film is how Bogart and Bacall first met, so watching the duo together, interacting with each other professionally for the first time, is a real treat. It also happens to be an engrossing movie, which is always a plus!

To Have and Have Not is basically another version of Casablanca. In this film, Bogart plays a skipper-for-hire who doesn’t want to get involved with politics or French Resistance fighters. He meets a drifting American woman (Bacall), just as tough as him, and the two promptly become interested in each other. However, when Bogart’s character slowly has to get involved with the French Resistance, their newfound relationship and everything he stands for is tested. Bogie and Bacall really make this movie enjoyable. This film is definitely a must-watch if you are either, or both, of them!

2. Key Largo (1948)

• Genre: Film Noir / Crime / Drama
• Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Edward G. Robinson, Lauren Bacall, Lionel Barrymore
• Directed by: John Huston

4th Bacall-Bogie Movie Collaboration Ever Made

Second, we have the last movie Bacall and Bogie ever made: Key Largo, from 1948. Considered a film noir classic, Key Largo boasts an all-star cast that includes Bogie, Bacall, Edward G. Robinson, and Lionel Barrymore. Claire Trevor also stars in a supporting role here and won an Oscar for her role!

Key Largo begins as Bogart’s WWII vet arrives at Key Largo to pay his respects to his fallen comrade’s widow (Bacall) and father (Barrymore). However, when he realizes a gangster (Robinson) is staying at the hotel, chaos ensues as criminals take over the hotel establishment. Plus, there’s a hurricane. So, yeah, there’s a lot of drama. This film is so incredible and definitely one of the best Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall movies ever made.

1. The Big Sleep (1946)

• Genre: Film Noir / Crime / Mystery
• Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Martha Vickers, Dorothy Malone
• Directed by: Howard Hawks

2nd Bacall-Bogie Movie Collaboration Ever Made

The best movie Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall ever made together? Why, The Big Sleep, of course! There’s lots to love about The Big Sleep. For one, the movie is absolutely chaotic, the plot of the entire movie is so consulted, and so much happens that I don’t even know if certain plots were solved by the end of the movie. However, with all this said, this movie still is one of the best movies ever made — and is so fun to watch, even decades after it was first made.

The Big Sleep follows Raymond Chandler’s private detective Philip Marlowe (Bogart) as he is hired by the wealthy General Sternwood to help solve his daughter’s (Vickers) gambling debt. Marlowe meets the daughter’s older sister (Bacall), obviously becomes interested in her, and begins to realize that this whole mess is more difficult than he imagined. Murders happen, the whole thing is chaotic, but boy is it fun!