Humphrey Bogart still reigns as film’s ultimate bad boy

It was Bogie.

More than Brando, even. More than Clint.

According to our friends at the American Film Institute, Humphrey Bogart delivered – or had delivered to him – more of the 100 “top quotes” than any other actor.

Not bad for a homely guy with a lisp. He would never make it off Broadway today.

Of course, Bogart had a head start when he copped the lead in “Casablanca,” made in 1942, two years after me. The classic is still compelling today, as erotic as any film ever made with nary a glimpse of naked skin.

Think of this. The geniuses at the film studio actually considered Ronald Reagan for the role as Rick before hiring Bogie.

The top quote, according to AFI, was the legendary “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn,” from “Gone with the Wind” in 1939. That was delivered by the impossibly handsome Clark Gable.

Brando did well finishing at Nos. 2 and 3. No. 2 was, “I’m going to make him an offer he can’t refuse,” from “The Godfather,” 1972. That is still the best film of all time for low-rent watchers and thrill seekers like myself.

Then third for my all-time favorite individual scene in movies is from “On the Waterfront” – my God, 1954 – when Brando told Lee J. Cobb in the back seat that “You don’t understand! I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I could’ve been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am.”

That scene was even more compelling than the virginal Eva Marie Saint in her underwear, a shocking glimpse for the time.

But there was no contest, really.

Bogart copped the No. 5 spot with “Here’s looking at you, kid,” from “Casablanca.” He was back at No. 14 for “the stuff that dreams are made of” from “The Maltese Falcon,” 1941. He followed at No. 20, with “Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship,” the last line from “Casablanca.” And to hell with the savants who suggest that Bogie and Louis were off to start a same-sex marriage in Massachusetts.

Let’s clear up the confusion. “Play it, Sam. Play ‘As Time Goes By.'” That was the real line, which came in at No. 28, again from “Casablanca.” It was not “Play it again, Sam,” as it is often misquoted. Although the stunning Ingrid Bergman spoke the line, she was talking about Bogie, so he still gets some credit.

At No. 32 in our countdown is one of my all-time favorites: “Round up the usual suspects,” once again uttered not by Rick, but by Claude Rains as Louis, but it was after Rick plugged the Nazi officer.

At No. 34 is the luscious Lauren Bacall, at age 19, uttering to our boy Humphrey, “You know how to whistle, don’t you, Steve? You just put your lips together and blow,” in “To Have and Have Not,” way back in 1944.

No. 36 is another bad-boy classic, uttered, once again not by Bogie but to Bogie – still counts – when the Mexican bandito in “Treasure of the Sierra Madre” (1948) utters, “Badges? We ain’t got no badges. We don’t need no badges. I don’t have to show you no stinking badges.”

“Casablanca” continues at No. 43 for, “We will always have Paris.”

Sigh.

The classic comes back in at No. 67, when Bogie tells his glass of champagne, “Of all the gin joints in all the towns in the world, she walks into mine.”

Brando makes an effort, finishing at 45 with the screamed “Stella” from “A Streetcar Named Desire” in 1951. He was back at 58 with another “Godfather” line, “Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer,” in “Godfather II” in 1974.

Eastwood is good, of course.

Naturally, “Go ahead, make my day,” from “Sudden Impact” (1983) was on the list, way up at No. 6. Eastwood scored again at No. 51 with the line from “Dirty Harry” (1971): “You’ve got to ask yourself one question. Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?”

But it was too little, too late.

Bogie is the baddest.

As time goes by.

Send complaints and compliments to Emmet Meara at emmetmeara@msn.com.