An Unlikely Pair in Early Hollywood
Back in 1930, a comedy called Up the River hit the screens. Now, this wasn’t just any old movie—it was the story of two inmates who break out of prison to help their old roommate avoid a life of crime. Sure, it wasn’t a blockbuster by today’s standards, but it was a modest hit back in its day. What makes it unforgettable, though, is that it marked the only time Hollywood legends Humphrey Bogart and Spencer Tracy ever shared the screen together. How’s that for a trivia question?
When Bogart and Tracy were making this film, they were both fresh from the New York stage scene, adjusting to the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. Author James Curtis, who penned Spencer Tracy: A Biography, tells Closer that both actors were brought in to star in these early talkies. They were transitioning from the theater to the big screen, and this was their first major step in that direction.
Challenges of Friendship Amid Fame
As much as they respected each other professionally, Bogart's fondness for the bottle created a bit of a rift between the two. Curtis explains, “Bogie was a heavy drinker, but he wasn’t an alcoholic. Spencer, on the other hand, had to be cautious around heavy drinkers because it tempted him too much.” This tension didn’t just affect his relationship with Bogart; it also strained his friendship with another hard-drinking Hollywood icon, Clark Gable. “Spencer was always fighting the urge to drink. There were times he won the battle, and times he didn’t. But there were stretches where he stayed completely sober,” adds Curtis.
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Peaks of Stardom and Shared Adventures
By the 1950s, both Bogart and Tracy had reached the pinnacle of their careers. Tracy became the first actor ever to win two consecutive Academy Awards, for Captains Courageous in 1937 and Boys Town in 1938. Meanwhile, Bogart skyrocketed to fame with Casablanca in 1942, making him one of Hollywood’s biggest stars. They were part of a very exclusive club, and their paths continued to cross in fascinating ways.
In 1951, Bogart found himself on the set of The African Queen, braving the wilds of what was then the Belgian Congo (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo). His wife, Lauren Bacall, joined him for the adventure, though she kept a low profile, helping out with meals and moral support. The entire cast and crew lived in primitive conditions, dealing with everything from bloodthirsty ants to leeches. The drinking water made everyone sick—except Bogart and director John Huston, who opted for alcohol instead. “Whenever a fly bit me or Huston, it dropped dead,” Bogart joked.
A Friendship That Blossomed Off-Screen
Amid the chaos of filming, Bogart's wife Lauren Bacall and Spencer Tracy’s close friend Katharine Hepburn formed a strong bond. Lauren described Katharine as someone who was both loyal and demanding, funny and touching, all at once. When they returned to California, Spencer and Katharine became regular guests at the Bogart home. Here, Spencer didn’t have to hide the fact that Katharine meant more to him than just a friend; he was still married to Louise at the time, but Lauren understood the depth of their connection.
Tracy and Hepburn showed the same level of devotion to Bogart and Bacall during Bogart’s battle with cancer. They visited him almost every night, and Lauren only allowed a select few to see her husband in his final days. “Both Bogart and Bacall were incredibly grateful to them for being there,” Curtis says. Though Lauren asked Spencer to deliver a eulogy after Bogart’s passing, he was too devastated to do so. Hollywood had brought Bogart and Tracy together, but it was real life that forged their lasting friendship.
