Tag Archives: Robin Williams

Here’s Looking At You!

Lauren Bacall
 

Lauren Bacall.

She died last week at the age of 89.

And with everything else that happened–the death of Robin Williams, the horrible riots in Missouri, I thought we would take a moment and look back on a few of the highlights from the life of this beautiful actress.

Lauren Bacall became synonymous with the likes of Katherine Hepburn and Audrey Hepburn. Although unlike Katherine Hepburn who brought trousers to the forefront, or Audrey Hepburn, who gave us the little black dress, Lauren Bacall’s allure had nothing to do with fashion, but the use of her face. An irony since she started her career as a teenage fashion model who graced the covers of both Harper’s Bazaar as well as Vogue magazine.

It was the cover of Harper’s Bazaar that got her noticed for her first motion picture, even though she had already taken acting classes with Kirk Douglas and performed on the Broadway stage.

The picture?

“To Have and Have Not.”

It is said that during the screen test she was nervous—so nervous that her head would quiver. So in order to quell the shaking, she created the effect that has now became known as “The Look.”

You know, “The Look.”

That infamous pout, framed by high cheekbones and a long reaching delicate nose, with gothic arched eyebrows that framed the hood of her eyelids and the downcast edge of her lashes.

A “Look” that became her trademark and caught the eye of her co-star, Humphrey Bogart.

It is incredible to think that she was only nineteen when she made her extraordinary debut in that movie, acting opposite Humphrey Bogart in such a way that she appeared to be ten years older — the same age as Bogart, or perhaps even older.

Lauren Bacall was smart and sexy with a certain iconic toughness that was a contradiction which helped to shape a career that would span over 50 years. Yet, she confessed, however sarcastic and cool she appeared, she shook with nerves on set and suffered from stage fright for the rest of her life.

Her films included:

To Have and Have Not
The Big Sleep
Key Largo
How to Marry a Millionaire
Blood Alley
Written on the Wind
Designing Woman
The Gift of Love
The Shootist
The Mirror Has Two Faces

And there were numerous Broadway stage and guest vocal appearances in her later years

Lauren Bacall is quoted as saying, “I think your whole life shows in your face and you should be proud of that.”

So perhaps, rather than her “Look”, maybe we should celebrate her willingness to age in public.

Here’s looking at you Lauren Bacall!


 

So what do you think? Do you like to watch old movies? What are your feelings about this famous actress? Have you seen any of her films? If so, which one is your favorite?
 

Cheers everyone! And as always, thank you so much for all your support and wonderful comments!
Karen

 
 

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