NICHE style Fall 2016

Starring in one film per year, Bacall’s movies were highly
anticipated. Fans loved her believable acting in thriller
and crime drama films; keeping viewers engaged with
each production. Under management of Hawks, it was
suggested that Bacall work on lowering her voice to give
her a more unique casting advantage and sultry appeal
to fans. Known for turning down roles she did not find
interesting, Bacall gained a reputation of being difficult.
In 1953, Bacall starred in her first comedy playing Schatze
Page in How to Marry a Millionaire with other screen
stars of Hollywood Marilyn Monroe and Betty Grable.
After filming another box office hit, Designing Women
in 1957, a devastating loss occurred when husband
Humphrey Bogart died from throat cancer. The first year
following Bogart’s death left Bacall trying to work through
tough times and she starred in The Gift of Love (1958)
before making a decision to switch to live Broadway
performances. Bacall had a short-lived romance with
Frank Sinatra, that resulted in a very brief engagement
that didn’t lead to marriage. However, Bacall did marry
again to actor Jason Robards. They wed in Mexico in 1961
and divorced in 1969, in part to Robards struggle with
alcoholism. Robards and Bacall have one son together, Sam.
Returning to the screen after five years, Bacall appeared
in many hits over the next decade including a Broadway
musical, Applause. Another pivotal and successful acting
role Bacall portrayed was Murder on the Orient Express
(1974), a movie based on Agatha Christie’s best-selling book.
Continuing to divide her time between Broadway
and film, it was towards the end of her career
that Bacall earned her first Oscar nomination for
supporting Actress in the 1996 film The Mirror Has
Two Faces, starring and directed by Barbra Streisand.
Bacall had a life filled with star-studded memorable films
until the day she died in August 2014, five weeks short of
the 90th birthday. Bacall was one of the last links left to
the Golden Age of Hollywood and left her legacy as well
as inspiration to a generation of actresses.
“I THINK YOUR WHOLE LIFE SHOWS
IN YOUR FACE AND YOU SHOULD
BE PROUD OF THAT.”
- LAUREN BACALL
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