Just watched it for the umpteenth time and noticed the initial brooch/pin worn on Bacall's lapel during one of the scenes when she and Bogie are having coffee on her terrace. It's a very subtley rendered "I" inserted within a "J" (for her character's "Irene Jansen"). Never saw such attention to detail (besides Laverne's script "L" emblazened sweaters on "Laverne and Shirley", lol) for a charcter's accessories.
shareSince I'm not above bumping my own post, I watched the film this past weekend and still can't believe the Art Director (Charles H. Clarke) would go to so much trouble. I would say Costume Designer, only Irene had monogrammed towels, as well. I think this was meant to show that she was independent and very much her own person. After their first dinner at her place, while she's pouring coffee (and said brooch is shown), Vincent asks her if she gets lonely living by herself and she answers that she guesses she was born lonely. Going to the trouble and expense of having the brooch and towels made, during an era when most females' greatest ambition in life was to have their last name changed (not making a value judgment here, mind you), is very telling.
"No, I don't like to cook, but I have a chicken in the icebox, and you're eating it."
"an era when most females' greatest ambition in life was to have their last name changed"
That's an example of a cliche that is an asinine myth.
Very true. A lot of men passed through the city during WWII but Irene didn't connect with them. Also, it's her home town. No old friends?
I was nuts about the pin, I thought of having one made with my initials. To me, the pin and the initialed towels showed she had money.
I wonder if it's ever shown up in an auction, such as Bonhams would hold. That's so cool that you were thinking of doing that. If you do, post a photo!
"No, I don't like to cook, but I have a chicken in the icebox, and you're eating it."