A fascinating analysis of Lauren Bacall’s walk by Joe McElhaney. I have spent a lot of time thinking about Lauren Bacall, studying Lauren Bacall. McElhaney’s piece is a goldmine. Here is just one insightful observation:
Bacall’s importance as a film star, on the other hand, is not fundamentally comic, even though her presence otherwise depends upon a strongly ironic presentation of self within otherwise melodramatic situations.
Read the whole thing. It’s wonderful.
Sheila,
Wonderful indeed. Thanks for the link. This is the stuff of magic so inherent in movies, so taken for granted, that so easily takes hold of me.
”This downplaying of Bacall’s legs throughout her career creates an almost platonic idea of the walk.”
I counter with the Aristotelian idea of the walk – made thrilling by Bacall.
“what is best and most pleasant for each creature is what intimately belongs to it.”
Bacall and physicality were intimately united. That synthesis is ‘it’ and ‘it’ oozes through even in the remarkable B&W publicity shot at the top of Mr. McElhaney’s post.
George – I love how he really goes into that little sashaying walk she does in To Have and Have Not as she walks towards Bogart, the little playful “see me seducing you” thing she does – He puts that moment into words so perfectly. It’s a moment I love!!
She definitely had “It” – To Have and Have Not has to be one of the most startling debuts EVER. I mean she just OWNS it. And when you hear how she felt during the filming – how she couldn’t stop trembling, her stage fright – all that … and how none of it shows … remarkable!!
Ha! You have impeccable taste! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen To Have and Have Not. And Written on the Wind. God, love that one.
To Have and Have Not is just a perfect movie. I want to LIVE in that little island town, and hang out at that bar around the piano.