You remember how to whistle, don’t you? Just put your lips together… and blow.”

Possums, there was another “Lauren” before the one on the “The Hills” showed up.

Lauren Bacall was born Betty Joan Perske on September 16, 1924.

I love it when stars change their names to sound more alluring.

Miss Bacall, was known for her husky voice, slim demeanor and sultry look. Do you know that she was actually taught to speak in that fascinating deep voice of hers? She was the original Demi Moore. Love it!! It definitely is something learned cause I tried it and instead of coming off sexy, I sound like a man  with a cold coupled with severe allergies…in drag.

But, I’m a gonna learn!

Life began to turn around for Miss B, when Howard Hawks’s wife spotted her on the March 1943 cover of Harper’s Bazaar.  Miss Hawks demanded that her hubby give the young swan a screen test for “To Have and Have Not”. He signed her up to a seven-year personal contract, brought her to Hollywood, gave her $100 a week, changed her name to Lauren Bacall and began to manage her career. Whew!

Legend has it that during screen tests for the film, “To Have and Have Not“ (to me a boring movie, whenever she isn’t in the scene), Miss Lauren was extremely nervous. I would be to, if I was trying to play the lead opposite superstar Bogart. To minimize her quivering, she pressed her chin against her chest, faced the camera, and tilted her eyes upward. This effect became known as ‘The Look’, which is known as Miss B’s trademark.

On the set, Humphrey Bogart, who was married at the time, initiated a relationship with Bacall some weeks into shooting in their dressing room. She said that he came in to say “Night, Night” and gave her a long lingering kiss to go with it.

On May 21, 1945, Bacall married Humphrey Bogart. Bacall was 20 and Bogart was 45.

Top Drawer!

I  loved her in “How to Marry A Millionaire”, especially towards the end when she was trying to stave off the secret millionaire’s advances. Classic Lauren! However, my favorite movie by Miss Bacall is “Designing Woman”. She is just as glorious as the sets that she trots around. The one thing that you pick up from Miss Bacall is that like Hepburn, she is nobody’s dame! This movie signifies a trying time in her life. Her husband was suffering from cancer of the esophagus. Bogart later died, leaving her with two young children on January 14, 1957.

Miss Bacall was never one to suffer fools gladly! She only had about two blips on her love life. Once, when she dated Frank Sinatra right after Bogie’s death. It is a known fact that Sinatra worshipped the ground that Bogie walked on. So, when Bogie passed on, Sinatra took his place, but we all know that Frank was all about…well, Frank.

Sinatra abruptly ended the relationship, having become angry that the story of his proposal to Bacall had reached the press. Sinatra used this as an easy way out and Miss Bacall was cut off his love juice.

Second blip, was when Bacall was married to actor Jason Robards. She later divorced Robards mainly because of his alcoholism. Bacall had one child with Robards.

Miss Lauren Bacall embodies the intelligence, drive and independence that it takes many a women crave.

Sometimes, it is God-given.

Sometimes, it’s taught.

Sometimes, it all comes down to one look.

She was presented with Bacall an Honorary Academy Award on November 14, 2009.

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