The Man with Bogart's Face
The Man with Bogart's Face
PG | 03 October 1980 (USA)
The Man with Bogart's Face Trailers

In this send-up of the Humphrey Bogart detective films of the 1940s, a man idolizes Bogart so much that he has his features altered to look exactly like him and then opens up a detective agency under the name Sam Marlow.

Reviews
IslandGuru Who payed the critics
Gutsycurene Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.
Claire Dunne One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.
Rio Hayward All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.
classicsoncall Humphrey Bogart is my favorite classic film actor; actually he's my favorite actor altogether. "The Maltese Falcon" is right up there on my list of Bogey favorites, so having that one under your belt probably gives you a leg up on the stuff going on in 'Bogart's Face'. Most of the references are right out there, like the 'Eyes of Alexander' sapphires in place of that evil black bird. But there are subtler ones as well, like Sam Marlow (Robert Sacchi) hiding a note in the bedpost, in an aside to "Casablanca". Even some of the characters parallel the greats - Buono for Greenstreet, and Lom for Lorre, but the depth of the talent doesn't carry on down the line. As the two detectives tailing Marlow and the gems, Richard Bakalyan and Gregg Palmer don't have the personality to parry with Marlow the way Barton MacLane and Ward Bond did in the original. As for Sacchi, he's a credit to Bogart and his mannerisms, and if you're watching a slightly fuzzy VHS copy of the film, there are a few scenes where he's a complete dead ringer. But he did overdo it with the facial grimace; Bogart did it for emphasis and effect. Sacchi just does it, all the time, and it gets a bit tedious. Still, you can have some fun with this one, Bogart fan or not. My recommendation - play it Sam, play it one time.
vice69 Making this short and to the point. This movie was great! I loved it! I actually picked this up at a Hollywood Video for 3 bucks on VHS and watched it about 5 times in the last couple weeks. I'm a big Bogart fan and I just latched onto this movie. I thought the song was funny and now have it as a ring tone on my phone. Robert Sacchi is great and pulls off a good Bogart. His nose is a little big, his voice is a Bogart-Columbo mix, and he does a few things that are awkward but otherwise, he was fantastic and this film was wonderful. No one can be a perfect Bogart but he was great. Remember, Sam Marlow is a fan of Bogart and isn't going to do everything he did. He mentions a lot of other movies and does some things that were never part of the real Bogart's character's. But, it's so funny and hilarious and has a great cast, including some beautiful women. Watch it and have fun!
smswenson Ex-cop turns private eye after he has plastic surgery to look like his movie hero. Send-up of 40's Bogart films will probably offend fans. Skewers familiar film noir scenes and characters, sometimes with subtlety. Similar to "Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid" (1982) and "The Cheap Detective" (1978). (Rating: B+)
jspeachy If you like Bogart, you will enjoy this film thoroughly. I only wish it was on video so I could buy it! Very nostalgic. Very Bogart...as he was in his Ace Private-Dick days as Sam Spade/Philip Marlowe.