At its best, the book chronicles Bogart's rise from Warner Bros."B" films to stardom and recognition as more than just a tough-guy gangster. The book effectively and lovingly details the making of early classics like The Maltese Falcon, and takes a humorous look at early efforts by the studio to publicize Bogart as a tough guy and Nazi hater. His struggles to rise above hack roles are sympathetically told, along with corresponding accounts of how major studio players like George Raft and Paul Muni declined crucial roles and were fazed out by the studio.
Sperber and Lax chronicle the actor's early involvement in politics, his support of President Roosevelt, and his involvement with HUAC.
The book also attempts to portray Bogart's personal life, including a glimpse at his many marriages to such actresses including Mayo Methot and Lauren Becall. However, in detailing the many problems and battles fought with Mayo, for example, the authors spend little time informing the reader just what attracted Bogart to her in the first place. In some cases the wives are ushered in and out of the story without any real sense of them as human beings, just as topics for discussion over drinks with buddies like John Huston.
All told, for readers interested in Bogart's life in Hollywood, and for film buffs interested in a fascinating glimpse of Warner Bros from the 1930's on, this book is enthusiastically recommended.
