Siren Song – Ladies of Film Noir, Part 3: Lauren Bacall in The Big Sleep (1946)

Unlike most of the other women I’ll be posting about in this blog series, Lauren Bacall’s character in The Big Sleep (1946, dir. Howard Hawks) is not a singer by profession. Her performance of “And Her Tears Flowed Like Wine” is part of a get-together with friends, an impromptu show that gives her character, Vivian Rutledge, a chance to interact with private detective Philip Marlowe (Humphrey Bogart). They don’t talk in this scene, but the exchange of gazes, smiles and physical gestures between them communicates their attraction to one another and the superiority of Bacall to the other woman (Lorraine Miller) who tries to grab Bogart’s attention. The clip is a great example of the chemistry between Bogart and Bacall, which was as electric on the screen as it was off of it. And like most film noir narratives, the story being told in the song is one of a violent, troubled relationship, complete with lyrical lingo describing a woman as a “tomato.”

Seven Days in Noirvember #6: The Big Sleep

(This seven-part series focusing on film noir during what’s known as “Noirvember” will consist of 100-word pieces intended to be as punchy as any good noir screenplay.)

The Big Sleep (1946) – Directed by Howard Hawks

I’m never 100% certain what’s going on in the plot (adapted from Raymond Chandler’s novel, scripted in part by William Faulkner), but what’s important is the chemistry between Humphrey Bogart and (recently late but eternally great) Lauren Bacall. How they interact onscreen is all that matters. Also get a kick out of Martha Vickers as Bacall’s kid sister who tries to seduce Bogie at every turn, Dorothy Malone as a bespectacled bookshop proprietress who transforms after removing her eyewear and Elisha Cook, Jr. in one of his typical roles as a fellow in the wrong place at the wrong time.