Two years after the success of Casablanca, Warner Bros. returned to the same formula of love and honor during the early days of World War II.  Set on the Caribbean island of Martinique, Humphrey Bogart plays Steve Morgan, a fishing boat captain always looking for his next charter.  Like Rick Blaine, Bogart’s Casablanca character, Morgan prefers to steer clear of politics.  That all changes when he is hired to transport two members of the French Resistance.

Lauren Bacall makes her film debut as “Slim” as young American singer who persues Morgan.  Knowing that Bogey and Bacall would soon become one of the great Hollywood romances only intensifies their scenes together.  Here she delivers that immortal line “You know how to whistle, don’t you, Steve? You just put your lips together and blow.”  Also featured are Walter Brennan as Morgan’s drunken first mate and several supporting actors you may recognize from Casablanca.  Even Hoagy Carmichael at the piano harkens back to the previous movie.

Directed by Howard Hawks and based on the novel by Ernest Hemingway (William Faulkner even contributed to the screenplay), To Have and Have Not is clearly a product of the Hollywood factory.  A big star, familiar supporting players, a couple of songs and the Warner lot dressed to look exotic.  These elements don’t neccessarily make for a great movie, but strong characters and an exciting plot make To Have and Have Not an all-around classic.