<P> Casablanca won the 1943 Academy Award for Best Picture . Bogart was nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role, but lost to Paul Lukas for his performance in Watch on the Rhine . The film vaulted Bogart from fourth place to first in the studio's roster, finally overtaking James Cagney . By 1946 he'd more than doubled his annual salary to over $460,000, making him the highest - paid actor in the world . </P> <P> During part of 1943 and 1944, Bogart went on USO and War Bond tours accompanied by Methot, enduring arduous travels to Italy and North Africa, including Casablanca . In 1944 Bogart volunteered for service along with his own yacht "Santana" with the Coast Guard Temporary Reserve . </P> <P> Bogart met Lauren Bacall while filming To Have and Have Not (1944), a loose adaptation of the Ernest Hemingway novel . The movie has many similarities with Casablanca--the same enemies, the same kind of hero, even a piano player sidekick (played by Hoagy Carmichael). When they met, Bacall was 19 and Bogart 44 . He nicknamed her "Baby ." She had been a model since 16 and had acted in two failed plays . Bogart was drawn to Bacall's high cheekbones, green eyes, tawny blond hair, and lean body, as well as her poise and earthy, outspoken honesty . Reportedly he said, "I just saw your test . We'll have a lot of fun together". Their physical and emotional rapport was very strong from the start, their age difference and disparity in acting experience allowing the dynamic of a mentor - student relationship to emerge . Quite contrary to Hollywood norm, their affair was Bogart's first with a leading lady . He was still married and his early meetings with Bacall were discreet and brief, their separations bridged by ardent love letters . The relationship made it much easier for the newcomer to make her first film, and Bogart did his best to put her at ease with jokes and quiet coaching . He let her steal scenes and even encouraged it . Howard Hawks, for his part, also did his best to boost her performance and highlight her role, and found Bogart easy to direct . </P> <P> Hawks at some point began to disapprove of the pair . He considered himself Bacall's protector and mentor, and Bogart was usurping that role . Married, and not usually drawn to his starlets, he too fell for Bacall, telling her she meant nothing to Bogart and even threatening to send her to Monogram, the worst studio in Hollywood . Bogart calmed her down and then went after Hawks . Jack Warner settled the dispute and filming resumed . Hawks said of Bacall: "Bogie fell in love with the character she played, so she had to keep playing it the rest of her life ." </P>

What actor never signed a contract to work on a film with the duke