The chaotic filming of Casablanca was only one reason why Humphrey Bogart wasn’t in a happy place in 1942. Another reason was that his marriage to Mayo Methot was foundering on the rocks so badly they were known around Los Angeles as “the Battling Bogarts. But I’m sure the necessity of his wearing three-inch wooden platforms didn’t help his mood. His co-star, Ingrid Bergman, was five foot nine, so several inches needed to be added to his stature because having a Hollywood hero shorter than his leading lady broke every rule in the Hollywood Myth-making rule book.
See also my novel set against the making of Casablanca: ALL THE GIN JOINTS – a novel of World War II Hollywood.
I knew Bogie wasn’t that tall, but, dang, those are high platforms! Although they do remind me of some platform sandals I had in high school.
Always wondered what they did for that film. I had always heard that they dug a ditch for Ingrid Bergman to walk with Bogie, so this is great, to see the actual shoes is amazing!
Making some platform shoes was a lot easier, quicker, cheaper, and convenient. Plus, how could they dig a ditch in a soundstage floor?
I wonder if Alan Ladd had a similar pair? Carney with all his bouncing and dancing on his toes? Ah ha! Maybe that was his secret – he could stand on his toes for hours!
I haven’t specifically heard of him having a pair, but you do have to wonder!
I have a photo I took of two former child actors Jackie Cooper and Peter Lawford walking together behind Norma Shearer’s beach house at Sorrento.
Summer of 1946.
Ralph Smith