“Nothing Compares” director Kathryn Ferguson has set her new feature, a documentary about Hollywood icon Humphrey Bogart, at Universal Pictures Content Group.
Titled “Bogart: Life Comes in Flashes,” it is the first documentary about the star endorsed by his estate.
“The film focuses on the icon of Hollywood’s golden age, Humphrey Bogart, and is framed around his relationships with the five formidable women in his life – his mother and his four wives, including Lauren Bacall,” reads the logline. “Featuring unprecedented access to rare footage from the estate, and narrated exclusively in his own words, ‘Bogart: Life Comes in Flashes’ explores his journey to become the of star of timeless classics ‘Casablanca,’ ‘Maltese Falcon’’ and ‘The Big Sleep.’ Each relationship offers a deep and intimate understanding of a man for whom stardom was hard won and much deserved.”
The project, which has just wrapped production, will also see Ferguson reunite with her “Nothing Compares” colleagues writer and producer Eleanor Emptage and editor Mick Mahon. The trio’s previous collaboration, a documentary about tragic singer Sinéad O’Connor, launched at Sundance and went on to win a number of awards.
Popular on PvNew
Ferguson is also a BAFTA Breakthrough participant.
“Our approach when examining Bogart’s story began with looking at the key women in his life, the women who had been instrumental in his success and who all, bar his fourth wife, Lauren Bacall, had been left as footnotes in history,” said Ferguson. “Their shared stories lead us through seismic cultural shifts, with censorship forming a central thread. I hope ‘Bogart: Life Comes in Flashes’ becomes a fresh look at one of Hollywood’s most revered actors, and most of all, an honest, nuanced account of a complex man.”
“Bogart: Life Comes in Flashes” is directed by Ferguson, produced by Emptage and edited by Mahon. George Chignell of Dog Star Films (“Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed”) and Universal Pictures Content Group EVP Helen Parker (“Rebel Nun”) are executive producers.
“We loved Kathryn’s vision to tell the Humphrey Bogart story through the unique lens of the important women in his life, it’s a modern look at one of Hollywood’s best loved icons,” said Parker. “Working with the Bogart estate has been like unearthing a treasure chest and has given access to rare footage and stories that have never been seen or told. Kathryn is an extraordinary talent and working together with George Chignell and Ellie Emptage gets deep under the skin of her subject to show audiences why Bogie has lasted the test of time and how relevant he still is in the cultural zeitgeist today.”
