Lauren Bacall - By Myself and Then Some

An appointment was made with Selznick – not with him personally, since he was in California, but with his number-one man. I went to the man’s office, talked with him for a while, gave him what little history there was of my no accomplishments. The interview didn’t last long about half an hour. Mr Selznick would be given all this information together with photographs and I’d hear from them.

Columbia Pictures was making a movie starring Rita Hayworth – title, Cover Girl . An inquiry came from Columbia Pictures – there were going to be eight or ten actual cover girls in the film. Would I be the Harper’s Bazaar cover girl? The catch was – isn’t there always a catch? – Columbia insisted on my signing a year’s contract with options in case they wanted to use me in something else.

At the same time there was another inquiry. Howard Hawks wanted to know about me. One day in the Look office Jack and I sat down and talked it all out. I had never heard of Howard Hawks. Jack had, and listed his movies. He had directed some really outstanding films, including Twentieth Century, Only Angels Have Wings, Air Force, Bringing Up Baby . Charles K. Feldman, his agent and partner, wanted to know if I would come to California to make a screen test – it would mean staying in California for six to eight weeks. If they liked the test, Hawks would sign me to a personal contract.

All of these offers were from unknown people – unknown to me – who lived in an unknown place. This was the first design in a pattern of work that was to continue all my life. Either everything at once or nothing – feast or famine. One had to say ‘yes’ to one, ‘no’ to all the others. I had no way of knowing, nor did Jack really, and certainly Mother didn’t, how to make the right choice.

Diana Vreeland and Carmel Snow were more than happy about the Columbia offer. They wanted me to be the Harper’s Bazaar cover girl. I told Diana of the Hawks offer. She said, ‘Of course you must do what is best for you. We would adore it if you’d represent us in the movie biz, but if you must accept his offer, you must.’

Charles Feldman, representing Hawks, had called Jack several times. They would pay me fifty dollars a week until the test was made. If they liked me, they would draw up a contract and pay me more. But I had to decide about coming to California. Jack told him there were other offers to be considered and a great deal of interest in me. Feldman was very articulate about Hawks and very persuasive.

After we had talked it over again, Jack said, ‘Look, if you accept the Columbia offer, you will be in a movie. There will be lots of other girls in that movie. And if Columbia decides to, they can pick up your option and keep you for at least a year or even seven years. That’s the standard Hollywood contract length. If you accept the Feldman-Hawks offer, you will make a screen test which Hawks will direct. If he likes you, he will sign you to a personal contract. It seems to me that with Hawks’ record and reputation you’d be better off going with him. He’d give you personal care and you’d know very quickly whether he liked you enough to keep you out there or not.’ I thought about that – remembered Bringing Up Baby and Only Angels Have Wings and how good they were – and agreed with Jack. Better to have care taken by one director than to be one of ten cover girls with maybe one or two lines to speak. I’d never be noticed in a movie with Rita Hayworth and those other really beautiful, professional models. Not with my face.

Jack discussed it fully with Mother, explaining in as much detail as he could. We all agreed – take the chance with Hawks. It would mean going off alone, three thousand miles away, to a place where I knew no one. But it wouldn’t be for long and I’d be working.

Jack told Charles Feldman I would accept Hawks’ offer. Feldman would send me a round-trip ticket to Los Angeles, put me up in a small hotel. The test would be made, seen, and decided upon within four to six weeks. He was certain I had made the right decision. Jack said, ‘I entrust Betty to your care. She’s only eighteen and doesn’t know anyone in California. If her mother accompanied her, she’d have to leave her job – which she can’t afford to do. Especially in view of the fact that Betty might soon be back here for good.’ Feldman understood and said my mother was not to worry, he and his wife would look after me.

So the die was cast. Charles Feldman was sure I’d made the right decision. He’d send an agreement to Jack in writing, and how soon could I come out there? He’d check with Hawks about when approximately the test would be made. It would be soon.

Columbia had to be called – their offer was refused. There had been no further word from Howard Hughes, and Selznick had felt I was too much like K. T. Stevens. So it was two out of four. A lot better than anything I’d had before. I called Diana and told her of my choice. She was sorry for Bazaar , but glad for me. The May issue of the magazine would have the St Augustine pictures, and there was still some modeling I could do between now and the time I was to leave.

Suddenly there was no more time. I had to see Betty Kalb, Fred Spooner, had to sort out my clothes, and, of course, be with Mother a lot, and the family, plus take the time to fantasize my first meeting with Feldman and Hawks and plan the entire rest of my life. I was excited at the prospect of California, excited beyond belief. I had never thought of myself in film terms, it was always agreed that Betty Kalb would be the movie star and I the stage star. But some agreements must be broken – by fate, luck, coincidence, whatever you want to call it.

The plan was that I would leave New York by train on April 3, and it was getting closer. The Bacall menage was alive with activity – phones ringing – the cleaner, the laundry, packing – the goodbyes.

Charles Feldman had sent a typewritten agreement to Jack. He had signed it on behalf of Howard Hawks and himself. It stated that they would have the option to sign me to a contract if they so wished after the test was made.

Having made the investment of money and time, they were entitled to that.

I signed one copy, which Jack returned to Feldman, and Jack kept the other.

The deed was irrevocable. No turning back.

My family gave me a farewell dinner. Four or five years back Mother had spent a holiday on a ranch in upstate New York and had met there a very nice and attractive man named Lee Goldberg. Lee was an auctioneer and an Assistant Marshal of the City of New York. His father had been a Marshal (Democratic) for years – they lived in Brooklyn – it was family tradition. He and Mother liked each other a lot. I can remember his coming to collect her for a special evening out – white tie and tails, top hat, and he always brought Mother flowers – she looked beautiful and radiant as all women in love do. She’d say, ‘Isn’t he stunning?’ She never confided her hopes and dreams to me, but she was happier than I had ever seen her after she met him.

Lee came to my farewell dinner along with Grandma and the uncles and aunts. It was one of the few times I remember all the brothers, sisters, and in-laws being together with Grandma – a happy night and an emotional one. Toasts were made, by Charlie mostly, of course – his silly, funny rhymes about my going to Hollywood, knocking Howard Hawks on his ear – everyone would love me and I’d be a star. All the family laughed. The dinner was happy and a bit sad – Mother was both glowing with pride in her daughter and emotional at the thought of the separation, at my moving further out of the nest. Grandma was very happy for her favorite grandchild, though I believe she never felt there was a life for me in California – she knew nothing of the land of sunshine, but was convinced it was filled with wicked people.