Bogart Festival in Key Largo Includes Lorre

Lorre fans who have never attended the annual Humphrey Bogart Film Festival may want to consider a trip to Key Largo, Florida, this October – Peter’s own Fedora hat will be among the items displayed in the Bogart family memorabilia collection, amongst Bogart’s stopwatch, suit, wedding ring, camera, and keys to his dressing room.

Held from Wednesday, Oct. 12 to Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, the Bogart Fest will also celebrate the 75th anniversary of The Maltese Falcon (1941) with special discussions, live radio play performances, and showings of the classic hard-boiled detective film. Casablanca (1942) will also be on the festival schedule.

Stephen Humphrey Bogart, son of Bogie and Lauren Bacall, will host the event, joined by Eddie Muller, the “Czar of Noir” and Master of Ceremonies Billy Corben. The many Bogart films on the schedule will be screened in a variety of locations, including the host hotel, movie theaters, and outdoor locations in Key Largo and Tavernier.

Lorre highlights include ~

• A free one-hour discussion of Bogart and film noir, led by Eddie Muller
• A round-table discussion of The Maltese Falcon and The Big Sleep (1945), including Stephen Bogart, Eddie Muller, and other special guests
• Showings of The Maltese Falcon and Casablanca
• The Maltese Falcon performed as a live radio play
• Stephen Bogart hosts discussion of the Memorabilia Room

Other events during the festival include ~

• The Sam Spade cocktail reception, including complimentary Bogart’s gin and vodka. The winner of the Bogie trivia contest will take home a Maltese Falcon statuette.
• Bogie’s Harbor Party – Hosted by Stephen Bogart, this Martinique-inspired party features island cuisine, island music, and complimentary Bogart’s gin and vodka
• Tours on-board the restored African Queen
• Sunday morning brunch

Playa Largo Resort and Spa is the host hotel of the Bogart Film Festival, as well as the primary event venue. Guests attending the festival may receive special discounted rates at Playa Largo by calling the hotel directly at 305-853-1001, Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm. More information about discounted rates may be found on the festival website.

Playa Largo Resort and Spa is located at 97450 Overseas Highway, in Key Largo, Florida.

Other festival venues include ~

• Tavernier Cinema 5 – 91298 Overseas Highway, Tavernier, Florida
• Key Largo Fisheries – 1313 Ocean Bay Drive, Key Largo, Florida

A full list of films and events is available on the Festival’s website.

Three types of passes are available. The Noir Pass at $100 covers showings of all movies at the festival, including both inside and outside venues. The Casablanca Pass at $250 includes the special events only, and no films. The Bogart Pass at $350 includes access to all special events and all films.

Passes may be purchased on-line through the Festival website. In addition to tickets, special Bogart Fest merchandise is also available.

Festival-goers may also choose one of these stylish items – in honor of the 75th anniversary of The Maltese Falcon – Spade and Archer Detective Agency!

In The Lost One: A Life of Peter Lorre, author Stephen Youngkin chronicles Peter Lorre’s on- and off-screen friendship with Bogart. The two actors first worked together on The Maltese Falcon in the summer of 1941 and went on to make another four movies – three of them at Warner Bros. Their final movie, Beat the Devil (1954), reteamed them with John Huston, their Falcon director.

During his lifetime, Peter had few friends, but he counted Bogie as one of his two closest – the other being Bertolt Brecht, the German playwright with whom Peter worked as a young stage actor in Berlin during the 1920s.

The Lost One: A Life of Peter Lorre is available in hard-bound and soft-bound editions, as well as the Kindle and Nook.