MovieChat Forums > To Have and Have Not (1945) Discussion > What About HOAGY and Bacall?

What About HOAGY and Bacall?

posted 20 years ago by dmchandler820
21 replies | jump to latest

Sure, this was the movie where Humphrey Bogart met Lauren Bacall and they played quite well off of each other, but we also found out that she can sing, too.
As Cricket, Hoagy Carmichael does a superb job tickling the ivories, while rolling out some new songs for the world to hear. 'Hong Kong Blues' and 'Baltimore Oriole'(the latter was not used in the film) are my two favorite songs of his. 'Am I Blue?' is classic Hoagy and, for some reason, 'How Little We Know' is something I never would have expected out of him. In the film, those songs are made even better with the addition of Bacall's smokey, but seductive voice.
Bogey and Bacall is what we'll all remember, but HOAGY and Bacall was something special in it's own right.

Any takers???

[–] Shearer_Goddard_Russell 20 years ago

mmmm...no.

but interesting idea...

[–] dmchandler820 20 years ago

Just curious, but, why not?

[–] Shearer_Goddard_Russell 20 years ago

Welllll, hoagy isn't as hot as bogey, for one thing. And I don't know, I just think that there is such palpable chemistry between humphrey and lauren. (heh heh heh!!).

"Attempt the impossible in order to improve your work." --Bette Davis

[–] dmchandler820 20 years ago

I think I was going on about how this was her breakthrough performance and she got to work with a few of the greatest entertainers (Bogey, Hoagy and Brennan). She sang well for one, found balance with another and married the other. That calls for a great start. Being a musician and a singer, I just found her voice so perfect, especially on 'How Little We Know'.
I just recently saw the film she did with the Douglas family in 1999. The name escapes me, but she looked great and played her part as if age hadn't slowed her down a bit. She stole the show from the real comeback in the film: Kirk Douglas, who was recovering from a recent stroke.
To get to your original point, yes, Bogey was much better looking than Hoagy, was a lot more attractive confined to a disc made of wax.

[–] fluffapr9 20 years ago

Sorry to hop on late, but has anyone ever heard the story that Bacall's singing voice was actually dubbed in by (if you can imagine) Andy Williams???

[–] Shearer_Goddard_Russell 20 years ago

yess... but other than this movie she did her own singing... but that's not the reason for this message board! Are you for hoagy or bogey?

~~~~~~~~~~~~
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[–] fluffapr9 20 years ago

Are you kidding?? The sizzle between Bogart and Bacall in this film is palpable even without words. The look on Bogart's face in the infamous "whistle" scene is priceless. You can see this man falling for this woman (for real, not just in the script), it's intense.
While you can't deny Carmichael's talent for song writing, as a romantic interest for Slim??? Not on a bet!

[–] Fenris Fil 19 years ago

Actually thats the one thing that really bugged me with this movie. It seemed to be quite obviously not her voice, and I thought it sounded like a mans singing voice. It baffled me a bit because I'm sure I saw her singing fine in The Big Sleep. It reminded me of a Family Guy sketch where Jessica Simpson is on Letterman and starts singing "Old man river" in a deep mans voice.

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[–] dmchandler820 20 years ago

I just can't imagine Andy Williams (although I know he has a high register) dubbing his voice on 'How Little We Know'. I will return, but I want to make sure of this on a little search.

[–] temenos 20 years ago

I thought the Andy William's myth had been put to rest long ago. BTW Hoagy Carmichael almost became a lawyer rather than a composer. What a helluva waste that would have been. I can't imagine a world without his music.

[–] boogooloo 19 years ago

Actually Bacall did her own singing in this film. They were hoping to get Andy Williams but couldn't work it out in time. I really couldn't stand her singing voice. She is a hot babe, but leaving the singing to someone else.

Fish, plankton, sea greens... protein from the sea!

[–] mikeoak840 19 years ago

wrong - they didn't hope to get Andy Williams. They wanted to have him standing by in case Bacall couldn't do justice to the music. But she did and he wasn't needed at all.

[–] MiloMindbender 18 years ago

I'm surprised with all these comments here. Could so many people be blind? Hoagy's character in this movie is gay...and Lauren's character picks up on this fact when she sings with him.

[–] nutsberryfarm 8 years ago

great combo.

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[–] mikeoak840 19 years ago

Everyone's heard that Andy Williams dubbed Bacall, but the story is totally, completely untrue.

[–] ernestnwonton 20 years ago

couldn't agree more.

[–] 20 years ago

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[–] budexum 19 years ago

Q: HOAGY and Bacall?
A: Ever get bit by a dead bee?

One of my favorite movies. HOAGY and Bacall did work well together, but I could never imagine those two together as long as Bogart was around anyway.

We bought this on dvd about three years ago. Now I never have to worry about wearing out a tape! I'd like to see more of the old classics coming onto dvd.

[–] RichN36 19 years ago

I agree more of the old classics out on DVD ASAP

Love the Question. Ever get bit by a Dead Bee? Why didn't that make it into the top 100 Movie Quotes.

and as for Hoagy Love his music something about the great music from the 40's They just don't make them any more Now I have to go out and look for a Music CD with all those great old Hoagy Songs.

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] tehfro 19 years ago

Actually, this is the Hoagy performance that inspired James Bond, so yes, it's something pretty special.