Why Humphrey Bogart Dreaded His Early Morning Call Times

Most of us have a gripe or two about our jobs, whether it’s giving a nerve-wracking speech, lugging boxes about, or squeezing onto a packed train during peak hour. In a perfect world, we’d all have endless free time to do as we please, but that’s not how things pan out. If you’re lucky, you might land a gig that barely feels like work, or at least comes with enough perks to make the effort worthwhile. Being a big-name actor in Hollywood isn’t exactly a walk in the park, but it does come with a fair few bonuses—decent pay, travel, flash clothes, and a heap of freebies. Still, even the most celebrated stars have their own pet peeves about the job, and Humphrey Bogart was no exception.

Hollywood Glamour and Hidden Grumbles

Bogart, a true legend of the silver screen, starred in classics like Casablanca and The Maltese Falcon. He was known for playing cool, sharp-tongued anti-heroes, and his performances won him plenty of praise. Yet, despite all the acclaim, he sometimes found himself questioning his career choice. It wasn’t the long hours spent rehearsing, or the pressure of being in the public eye, that got to him. Instead, it was something much more ordinary—having to get up at the crack of dawn.

In a 1942 chat with Photoplay, Bogart didn’t hold back about his dislike for early starts.

“I hate myself for choosing a profession that gets me up at dawn. I hate myself all the way to the studio and into the make-up room, ‘Boys Town,’ I call it. There we sit, the glamour boys waiting to be made beautiful and feeling like a snail’s grandmother.”

He clearly wasn’t a fan of dragging himself out of bed before sunrise, only to sit around while others fussed over his hair and make-up. He’d have much preferred a later start, a bit of acting, and then heading home without all the extra faff.

Early Mornings and Reluctant Routines

Bogart’s honesty about his work habits was pretty refreshing.

“Frankly, I don’t like this work too much, so put me down on the wrong side of the ledger on that one,”

he admitted.

“This awful morning rising business kills me. Mayo [Methot; his then-wife] has to prop me up or I’d curl up after my tea and go to sleep. Come to think of it, that’s what I do. I should like my work more. So put that down as my own black mark against me.”

For Bogart, the worst part of the job wasn’t the acting itself, but the relentless early mornings that came with it.

He recognised that there are far worse things to wake up early for, and he did choose this line of work, so he couldn’t complain too much. Still, it’s a reminder that even the most glamorous jobs have their downsides, and sometimes, it’s the little things—like a 5am alarm—that really get under your skin.

Iconic Performances Despite the Pain

Despite his grumbling, Bogart managed to push through the early starts and delivered performances that have stood the test of time. His work across different genres made him one of the most respected figures of Hollywood’s golden age. While he might have cursed his alarm clock, audiences were none the wiser, enjoying his effortless screen presence and dry wit.