Died on this day: that ineffably feline and insolent Siamese cat-in-human-form, smoky-eyed Golden Age Hollywood leading lady Lauren Bacall (née Betty Joan Perske, 16 September 1924 – 12 August 2014). Encyclopedia Britannica summarizes the imperious Bacall’s screen persona more succinctly than I ever could: “American actress known for her portrayals of provocative women who hid their soft core underneath a layer of hard-edged pragmatism.” (When I say “imperious”, that’s my diplomatic way of saying “notoriously temperamental and terrifying”). Of course, I love Bacall in the classic 1940s films noir she made with her husband Humphrey Bogart (To Have and Have Not (1944), The Big Sleep (1946), Dark Passage (1947) and Key Largo (1948)) and her great 1950s films like How to Marry a Millionaire (1953) and Written on the Wind (1956). To her eternal credit, Bacall made gutsy, adventurous film choices late in her career, opting to appear in Dogville (2003) by Lars von Trier, Birth (2004), Paul Schrader’s The Walker (2007) and playing herself on TV’s The Sopranos (2006). (She was quoted as saying she dreamed of working with Pedro Almodovar). But hey, I’m perverse so my favourite Bacall performances are in Young Man with a Horn (1950) (as Kirk Douglas’ icily self-possessed lesbian socialite wife) and the schlocky exploitation films Shock Treatment (1964) and The Fan (1981). And La Bacall’s 1980s High Point instant coffee commercials are camp sacred texts!
"True love is not a strong, fiery, impetuous passion. It is, on the contrary, an element calm and deep. It looks beyond mere externals and is attracted by qualities alone. It is wise and discriminating, and its devotion is real and abiding."
THE JEWEL THIEF TO END ALL JEWEL THIEVES -- STRAIGHT OUTTA GOTHAM.
PIC INFO: Mega spotlight on variant cover art to "Catwoman" Vol. 5 #50. February, 2023. Artwork by Sozomaika.
Resolution at 1332x2048 & 1248x1920.
So, I know I'm jumping the gun on this cover as it's a February issue, but I figure I might as well just post it now before I potentially forget to do so next month. It's purrrfection!
“Lauren Bacall was the closest there has ever been to a female Humphrey Bogart – and a wonderful achievement it was.”
/ From The Illustrated Encyclopedia of The World’s Great Movie Stars by Ken Wlaschin, 1979 /
Born on this day 99 years ago: ineffably feline and insolent Siamese cat-in-human-form, smoky-eyed Golden Age Hollywood leading lady Lauren Bacall (née Betty Joan Perske, 16 September 1924 – 12 August 2014). Encyclopedia Britannica summarizes the imperious Bacall’s screen persona more succinctly than I ever could: “American actress known for her portrayals of provocative women who hid their soft core underneath a layer of hard-edged pragmatism.” (When I say “imperious”, that’s my diplomatic way of saying “notoriously temperamental and terrifying”. I love stories about what a scary diva Bacall was offscreen!). Of course, I venerate Bacall in the classic 1940s films noir she made with her husband Humphrey Bogart (To Have and Have Not (1944), The Big Sleep (1946), Dark Passage (1947) and Key Largo (1948)) and her great 1950s films like How to Marry a Millionaire (1953) and Written on the Wind (1956). To her eternal credit, Bacall made gutsy, adventurous film choices late in her career, opting to appear in Dogville (2003) by Lars von Trier, Birth (2004), Paul Schrader’s The Walker (2007) and playing herself on TV’s The Sopranos (2006). (She was quoted as saying she dreamed of working with Pedro Almodovar). But hey, I’m perverse so my favourite Bacall performances are in Young Man with a Horn (1950) (as Kirk Douglas’ icily self-possessed lesbian socialite wife) and the schlocky exploitation films Shock Treatment (1964) and The Fan (1981). And La Bacall’s 1980s High Point instant coffee commercials are camp sacred texts! Pictured: young Bacall “en couleur.”