Humphrey Bogart’s son says young people don’t know his parents

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Humphrey Bogart's son Lauren Bacall says young people don't know who his famous parents were
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Hollywood couple Humphrey Bogart And Lauren Bacall are best known for the films they starred in in the 1940s, but their son, Stephen Humphrey Bogartis still shocked that his parents’ legacy is being lost to a large portion of today’s youth.

“I go to the doctors and the assistant comes in and I ask her, and the doctor says, ‘Hey, do you know who this is?’ He’s Humphrey Bogart’s son.’ And she says, ‘Who?’” Bogart, 75, exclusively told We weekly while promoting his new documentary Bogart: Life comes in flashes. “This was about two months ago. And this is a smart woman.”

Stephen added that when asked if the names Lauren Bacall, Marlon Brandoor Dustin Hofman rang the bell, the answer remained the same. “So kids don’t really know because it’s hard when you’re looking at your phone and you want to see the latest Marvel,” he explained. “Not that I have anything against Marvel. I used to collect comic books, but they don’t know the past at all.”

Clarifying that his surprise at the lack of Hollywood knowledge is not just about his parents, but about any movie star of recent years, he joked that the “lack of awareness” of younger generations “regularly baffles him.”

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Of course, those well-versed in film history will immediately recognize the names of Stephen’s parents: Humphrey is known for films like Casablanca, The Maltese Falcon, Sabrina And The African Queen – which won him the Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 1952 – among many others. Bacall, meanwhile, won two Tony awards for Applause And Woman of the Year and starred in films such as Murder on the Orient Express, The fan And The portrait. Together the couple also shared the screen in films like To have and not to have, The great sleep, Key Largo And Two guys from Milwaukee, making them an iconic 1940s film duo.

Humphrey Bogart's son Lauren Bacall says young people don't know who his famous parents were
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Off-screen, the couple was married for 12 years and welcomed Stephen in 1949. Humphrey died of esophageal cancer in 1957 when he was 57 years old and Stephen was 8 years old. Bacall died in 2014 after suffering a stroke at the age of 89.

Now Stephen wants to explore more than just his parents’ romance Life in flashes. Directed by Kathryn Fergusonthe film also delves into Humphrey’s relationships with all four of his wives, as well as his mother, and how these affected the trajectory of his career.

Stephen, in turn, hopes the doctor will “empower people to look back on their lives and follow the arc of the people in their lives who have brought them forward to where they are today.”

Humphrey Bogart's son Lauren Bacall says young people don't know who his famous parents were
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As he reflects on his father’s career in which he worked directing greats like John Huston And Michael CurtizStephen gave Us some insight into which director of the current generation he thinks his father would have worked well with.

“Maybe Greta Gerwig (if she) did the right thing,” Stephen said. “I think thoughtful directors and people… he wasn’t an action movie guy. He was doing the thought process.” Another possibility? “Spielberg probably,” he said. “Just because he doesn’t like the CGI and all that stuff, people like that.”

Humphrey Bogart's son Lauren Bacall says young people don't know who his famous parents were
Alamy Stock Photo

There were other directors that Stephen doesn’t think his father would work with. “Not James Cameron“I don’t think so,” he joked, before noting that for Humphrey it was more about the quality of the script.

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“George Raft didn’t want to do it Maltese Falcon because he didn’t want to work with a new director,” Stephen added before joking, “Well, the first director was John Huston. You screwed up, George, didn’t you?’

Bogart: Life comes in flashes is now in theaters and streaming on Apple TV.