Humphrey Bogart played the definitive bad guy in both his early and late screenwork, often depicting gangsters, villains, and unstable, unsettled characters in his many screen roles. By the 1940s, Bogie’s hard-edged persona had evolved into anti-hero detectives (Maltese Falcon, The Big Sleep) and saloon owners (Casablanca) who, while still morally challenged, became matinee idols on the strength of his multidimensional and charismatic acting skills. In this four-part series, Marc Strauss presents two ‘30s and two ‘50s films that reflect Bogart’s tough but appealing screen presence at the beginning and end of his Hollywood career. The film for Monday, April 25 is “The Desperate Hours” (1955).

Presented by the Friends of Snow Library. For more info or to register, visit http://friendsofsnowlibrary.org/lifetime-learning-program/