7 Instances Lauren Bacall Proved Her Musical Theatre Talents

“You know the way to whistle, don’t you?” could also be Lauren Bacall’s most well-known line, however all through her profession—even in her movie debut—she proved that she additionally knew put over a music, choosing up two Tony Awards as Greatest Actress in a Musical alongside the way in which. In honor of what would have been her 94th birthday, we choose our favourite Bacall musical moments.

“Am I Blue” from To Have and Have Not
Crooning together with Hoagy Carmichael in her very first movie, Bacall has already mastered The Look—head down, eyes up—that she makes use of to nice impact on each Humphrey Bogart and the viewers.

“And Her Tears Flowed Like Wine” from The Huge Sleep
You’ll be able to’t deny that when she sings, Bacall is having enjoyable.

“However Alive” from Applause
Who can resist Bacall, in full diva mode, discovering that she’s worshipped in a Greenwich Village homosexual bar earlier than launching right into a dance that includes actually swinging from a chandelier? No surprise she received a Tony Award!

“Welcome to the Theatre” from Applause
A monologue worthy of Julia Sugarbaker on Designing Girls and a cri de couer for all of the individuals who can’t break free from the loopy enterprise of present, “Welcome to the Theatre” is likely one of the nice Act I finales.

“I Wrote the Guide” from Lady of the 12 months
Her second musical, her second Tony Award—Bacall received over audiences as Tess Harding within the Kander and Ebb adaptation of the basic Hepburn-Tracy movie. Right here she is on a Wayne Newton particular, singing one of many present’s greatest songs—and sticking the touchdown.

“Hearts Not Diamonds” from The Fan
In the event you haven’t seen Bacall as a stage star being terrorized by a crazed fan on this 1983 thriller—do your self a favor and observe it down instantly. All of it climaxes together with her opening night time in an enormous Broadway musical, for which “Hearts Not Diamonds” serves because the 11 o’clock quantity. (FYI: The music was written by Marvin Hamlisch and Tim Rice.)

“The Saga of Lenny”
Dryly delivering freshly written lyrics (by Stephen Sondheim, no much less) about Leonard Bernstein for his 70th birthday celebration, Bacall owned the stage—and the night time—with little greater than a cocked eyebrow and a sure inflection.