FILM 1746: HOW TO MARRY A
MILLIONAIRE
TRIVIA: Lauren Bacall's
character, Schatze, says, "I've always liked older men... Look at that old
fellow what's-his-name in The African Queen (1951). Absolutely crazy about
him." She is referring to Bacall's then real-life husband, Humphrey Bogart.
According to Lauren Bacall, Marilyn Monroe was
a challenge to work with. It wasn't because she was unpleasant, but rather her
insecurity and total dependence on her personal acting coach Natasha Lytess for
approval. "Betty Grable was a funny, outgoing woman, totally
professional and easy. Marilyn was frightened, insecure - trusted only her
coach and was always late. During our scenes she'd look at my forehead instead
of my eyes; at the end of a take, look to her coach, standing behind Jean Negulesco, for
approval. If the headshake was no, she'd insist on another take. A scene often
went to fifteen or more takes, which meant I'd have to be good in all of them
as no one knew which one would be used. Not easy - often irritating. And yet I
couldn't dislike Marilyn. She had no meanness in her - no bitchery. She just
had to concentrate on herself and the people who were there only for her."
Writer and humorist Dorothy Parker's
famous quip that "men seldom make passes at girls who wear glasses"
was purposely bobbled by screenwriter (and producer) Nunnally Johnson for Marilyn Monroe's
character Pola to assert to David Wayne (as Freddie) that "you know, men aren't
attentive to girls who wear glasses."
Before becoming a major Hollywood
success, Lauren Bacall worked as a model for several years of her
teenage life while auditioning for roles on Broadway. The modeling she did is
exactly like that of her character Ms. Paige, showing pieces for clients.
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