MovieChat Forums > To Have and Have Not (1945) Discussion > Whistle in Bogart's coffin?

Whistle in Bogart's coffin?

posted 10 years ago by USAFmedicVET
5 replies | jump to latest

The trivia section states that Lauren Bacall placed a whistle in his coffin to commemorate the famous 'whistle line' from their first movie "To Have or Have Not".

However, Bogey was cremated and there was no coffin at the Memorial Service. A more realistic rumor is that she placed a whistle in the ern that held his ashes.
But even that is far-fetched and lends itself to more Hollywood folklore than something that actually occurred.

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[–] vortexrider 10 years ago

That would be stupid. Sounds like a dumb urban myth.

[–] mdonln 10 years ago

It could be true. If there was a wake and funeral service for him before he was cremated there would have been a coffin into which she could have placed a whistle. If so, maybe the whistle was cremated with him and is part of his ashes.

The odd thing is the whistle itself. I get it but I don't. The quote has nothing to do with an actual whistle. It has to do with his using his mouth to whistle. Am I wrong?

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[–] mmitsos-1 10 years ago

Oh, geez. What's there to "get"? Yes, in the film, she TELLS him to whistle, not use a whistle. But because the line is SOOOOO iconic for Bacall, the film and her falling in love with Bogey during that film, placing an actual whistle in his coffin, possibly to be cremated with him, is a perfect little sentimental, symbolic token of their lifelong love for each other.

[–] user08004820 10 years ago

There's a scene shortly after where Bacall tells him she'll leave her address so he can find her, and he has a line that goes "Maybe I'll know how to whistle by then."

So in that context the whistle has some more logic, though its still of course only a sentimental token without an actual, accurate meaning.

[–] Sprocket-man 9 years ago

The odd thing is the whistle itself. I get it but I don't. The quote has nothing to do with an actual whistle. It has to do with his using his mouth to whistle. Am I wrong?

Correct. She should have put some lips in the coffin.