Mr. Clarke's experience consists mostly of writing for British television, so he prepared for his new task by rereading Mr. Thompson and studying old Bogart films.

This was the last of a number of Bogart films scored by composer Max Steiner, mostly for Warner Bros.

Only 33 of them recognized it as the basis for the Bogart film; 3 agents offered to represent it.

Mr. Lax, by contrast, rarely mentions a plot wrinkle in a Bogart film without relating it to some larger issue.

There are similarities between Casablanca and two later Bogart films, To Have and Have Not (1944) and Sirocco (1951).

"The Big Sleep" was filmed twice: the more celebrated version is the 1946 Bogart film with a screenplay by William Faulkner; Mr. Mitchum played Marlowe in the 1978 remake.

"Ah, um, no, thank you," Zoe said, feeling as if she'd stepped into a bad Bogart film.

Even to this day, there is always a packed crowd to see a Bogart film, such as the traditional Valentine's Day showing of Casablanca.

While she dressed for Myra's dinner party, Shelby listened to an old Bogart film.

Farther out from the center of town, but still on the beach, is Hotel Mocambo (37-16-61), an old ship out of a Bogart film: $66.