Lauren Bacall • But Alive

I have been a fan of Lauren Bacall for as long as I remember. When I was just a young kid, I remember sitting in front of the television, watching the black and white movies, often starring Humphrey Bogart and Bacall. I hadn't realized it then, but they were a couple, which certain helped with their stunning chemistry. So when I heard of Bacall's passing not long ago, I was truly sad. I had long believed Bacall was truly underrated, having never been nominated for an Academy Award for a performance until 1997, when she was nominated for 'The Mirror Has Two Faces'. After all, her work in the 1944 film 'To Have and To Have Not' opposite Bogart is just so darned impressive, I was hooked on her from the first time I watched it. This is Bacall with her famous 'whistle' scene.

I was so much a fan, I couldn't wait to purchase her autobiography, 'Lauren Bacall By Myself', with amazing stories and insights into her life. For me, there was an incredible honesty on the pages, and I couldn't put it down. I loved the fact she was born in The Bronx, and raised in Brooklyn, and went on to become a big movie star in Los Angeles. Of course, Bacall moved back to New York later, for that is where she felt most at home.

Bacall also had an impressive Broadway resumé, first starring in 'Goodbye Charlie' in 1959, as well as star turns in 'Cactus Flower' in 1965, 'Applause' in 1970, and 'Woman of the Year' in 1981. There were several other appearances on the New York stage. Bacall also earned two Tony Awards for Best Actress in a Musical for her performances in 'Applause' and 'Woman of the Year'. I thought it would be nice to see a video of her performance of "But Alive" from 'Applause', with music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Lee Adams.

Lauren Bacall passed away on August 12, 2014, about a month before her 90th birthday. Her beauty, talent, and style will all be sorely missed. Rest in Peace, Lauren Bacall.

Hoagy At The Movies • Hoagy Carmichael

Howard Hoagland "Hoagy" Carmichael was born in 1899 in Bloomington, Indiana. He was an American composer, pianist, singer, actor, and bandleader, best known for writing Stardust, Georgia On My Mind, The Nearness of You, and Heart and Soul, four of the most-recorded American songs of all time. As an actor, he was in several films in the 30s and 40s, often playing a musician or a bandleader, performing his own music. In 1926 he earned a degree at the Indiana School of Law. While at the school, he became friends with Bix Beiderbecke, a noted jazz musician. It was with Bix that Hoagy found his love of music, and jazz in particular. While still in Indiana in 1927, Carmichael wrote Stardust, arguably his most famous composition. In 1933, Hoagy wrote Lazybones with legendary writer Johnny Mercer. In this following clip, Carmichael sings and plays his the song with some novelty dancing by Peter Ray and Dorothy Dandridge. Dorothy went on to become the first African American actress nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress, for her role in the 1954 film Carmen Jones.



The next two clips both come from the same film, To Have And Have Not. The 1944 film starred Humphrey Bogart, Walter Brennan, Lauren Bacall, Dolores Moran and Hoagy Carmichael. Hoagy played Cricket, the piano-playing best friend to Lauren Bacall's Slim. Here he sings Hong Kong Blues.



In the next clip, Cricket is once again playing the piano in the club, and this time Slim joins him in a bit of a duet. The pair sing Am I Blue?, which was written by Harry Akst and Grant Clarke in 1929. Indeed, with the wealth of material Carmichael had written, he sang a song written by others.



In the final clip, Hoagy sings My Resistance Is Low with Jane Russell in the 1952 film The Las Vegas Story. Carmichael wrote the song with Russell in mind, as they had worked together before. Carmichael wrote one of my favorite songs from Gentlemen Prefer Blonds, Ain't There Anyone Here for Love, when we follow Russell around a gym with men in flesh-colored bathing trunks. She and Monroe also sing When Love Goes Wrong (Nothing Goes Right), two out-of-luck American dames in a Parisian cafe. But in this clip, Russell and Carmichael are flirty with the song.

Dark Monday - Applause

In 1970, the Broadway musical Applause had all the makings of something special. It was based on the story and movie All About Eve, the Bette Davis vehicle many still consider a classic, and one of Davis' best films. The story centers on maturing superstar Margo Channing, who takes in a young actress, Eve, to offer her a helping hand. What Margo didn't realize, but figures out, is that Eve is a ruthless, self-centered wannabe who will let no one and nothing stand in her way. The following clip is the song But Alive, when Margo visits a gay bar in Greenwich Village.



In the role of Margo Channing, actress Lauren Bacall gave a bravura performance which won her the Tony Award, and the show also took home the statue for best musical. A decade later, Bacall would appear in another Broadway musical, Woman of the Year, and Bacall picked up her 2nd Tony for Best Actress in a Musical.