10 Best Lauren Bacall Movies, Ranked

Although she began a career as a model for the Walter Thornton Model Agency, Lauren Bacall rapidly made a name for herself in the film industry, becoming a huge movie star after a year of acting classes at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Soon enough, she starred opposite HumphreyBogart, 25 years her senior, in her breakout performance in the well-known film noir To Have and Have Not. The two ended up marrying and remain one of the most iconic Hollywood couples of all time.

Many Lauren Bacall films deserve a nod if only for the actor’s impeccable efforts, alluring on-screen presence, and undeniable talents. However, at the end of the day, some inevitably stand out more than others and endure unforgettable watches today for a number of reasons, whether these are the femme fatale characters that she portrayed or the films’ unique narratives. To celebrate the star’s remarkable body of work, we look back at the best Lauren Bacall movies.

10 ‘How to Marry a Millionaire’ (1953)

Director: Jean Negulesco

How to Marry a Millionaire is an iconic film for several reasons — one of them being, of course, how it brought together three massive movie stars with memorable results. The Jean Negulesco movie focuses on three gorgeous and fashionable Manhattan models, (Bacall, Marilyn Monroe, and Betty Grable) who set out to find eligible millionaires to marry but end up finding true love in the process.

The first color and CinemaScope film ever shown on prime-time network television endures, to this day, a celebrated feature, and it’s not difficult to understand why. Examining “degrees of feminity”, How to Marry a Millionaire features top-notch physical comedy and beautiful costumes that add to its appeal. It almost goes without saying that the three central actors are also a major stand-out, with Bacall absolutely nailing her elegant and sophisticated role, as expected.

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9 ‘Harper’ (1966)

Director: Jack Smight

This Paul Newman-led movie features one of the star’s most unforgettable performances; he successfully channels his inner Humphrey Bogart and offers audiences great acting efforts. Plot-wise, the Jack Smight mystery thriller film centers around a private investigator named Lew Harper who is hired by a wealthy California matron (Bacall) to locate her kidnapped husband, Ralph Sampson, who has been now missing for twenty-four hours.

Featuring Lauren Bacall as his widow in a wonderful performance, the amusing detective genre spoof Harper clearly pays homage to Bogart’s films. This includes his portrayals of Sam Spade in The Maltese Falcon and Philip Marlowe in The Big Sleep. Therefore, Harper is sure to be a great pick for fans of the actress, as well as those interested in the iconic relationship between the two acting legends.

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8 ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ (1974)

Director: Sidney Lumet

Another major film in Bacall’s filmography is Sidney Lumet‘s Murder on the Orient Express, an absorbing mystery based on the 1934 novel of the same name by AgathaChristie. Featuring an ensemble cast, the film illustrates the new quest of iconic Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot (AlbertFinney), who is asked to investigate the murder of an American business tycoon aboard the Orient Express train.

A movie that counts on the likes of Lauren Bacall, SeanConnery, AnthonyPerkins, and IngridBergman could only be great. Still, Murder on the Orient Express surpasses expectations — not only is it superbly acted, but it also genuinely features a genuinely gripping and investing narrative. Bacall is nothing short of amazing as the flirty Linda Arden, also known as Mrs. Harriet Hubbard.

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7 ‘The Shootist’ (1976)

Director: Don Siegel

Set in late 1901, Don Siegel‘s Academy Award-nominated The Shootist (Best Art Direction) sees a dying gunfighter (none other than the Western legend John Wayne) spend his last days looking for a way to die with a minimum of pain and a maximum of dignity. It is based on GlendonSwarthout‘s 1975 novel of the same name.

In addition to the film’s acclaimed technicalities, Bacall, who had previously worked with John Wayne on the film Blood Alley, got a BAFTA nod for her incredible, moving performance as the widow Bond Rogers, from whom the struggling main character rents a room. Those who are into the Western genre are certain to enjoy The Shootist for the memorable characters, intriguing premise, and themes of courage and honor that it tackles.

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6 ‘The Mirror Has Two Faces’ (1996)

Director: Barbra Streisand

Loosely based on the 1958 French film Le Miroir à deux faces written by AndréCayatte and GérardOury, The Mirror Has Two Faces stars BarbraStreisand and JeffBridges in the lead roles. It is a romantic comedy (directed by Streisand herself) that focuses on the romantic, though non-physical relationship between a shy, middle-aged professor and an unlucky-in-love colleague.

Understandably, Streisand cast none other than the talented Bacall to play her mother in the film in what feels like a well-thought-out homage (and an Oscar-nominated one, at that). As always, the iconic star manages to do so flawlessly, elevating the film to higher levels with her heartfelt, at times even comical performance despite not being the central character. Furthermore, the story itself is lightweight but charming and engaging, so it is safe to say that The Mirror Has Two Faces is a fun time in front of the screen.

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5 ‘Written on the Wind’ (1956)

Director: Douglas Sirk

This must-see Southern Gothic melodrama follows the dysfunctional family members of a Texas oil dynasty, with a focus on alcoholic womanizer Kyle Hadley (Robert Stack) who marries the woman (Bacall) secretly loved by his poor but hard-working best friend (Rock Hudson), who in turn is pursued by Kyle’s sister (Dorothy Malone).

This adaptation of Robert Wilder’s 1946 novel of the same title is certainly one of the pictures that stand out the most in Bacall’s filmography. Understandably, it’s also one of her most popular — after all, it broke opening-day box office records for Universal. The star steps into the shoes of an aloof secretary convincingly and plays a crucial part in cementing Written on the Wind one of the most well-known romances of its time, whether that be for the acting, cinematography, or special effects.

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4 ‘Dark Passage’ (1947)

Director: Delmer Daves

The third of four movies Bacall and Bogart made together is Delmer Daves‘ Dark Passage, a 1947 film noir that focuses on a man named Vincent Parry who escapes from prison and works with a woman to try to prove his innocence, hiding from the law and attempting to clear his name of murder after being convicted for murdering his wife.

A must-watch for fans of the two leads, the well-written Dark Passage is easily among the finest Lauren Bacall films for her top-notch efforts and the captivating, atmospheric story it provides viewers. Notable for the use of a first-person point-of-view camera, Daves’ film is also a fantastic effort from a directorial standpoint. In fact, some even go as far as to say that it is one of the best Hitchcock films that Hitchcock never directed.

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3 ‘Key Largo’ (1948)

Director: John Huston

Key Largo may be the film pairing of actors Bogart and Bacall, but that doesn’t make it any less enjoyable. John Huston‘s movie manages to captivate audiences through its amazing acting and engaging crime drama narrative involving a man who visits his war buddy’s family hotel and finds a gangster running things. As a hurricane approaches, the two end up confronting each other.

Like other films on this list, Huston’s movie is mandatory viewing when it comes to the best Lauren Bacall pictures — some even argue that it is Bacall’s best role. Adapted by RichardBrooks and Huston from Maxwell Anderson‘s 1939 play of the same name, the classic film noir features sharp dialogue and offers audiences a thrilling script to keep them on the edge of their seats.

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2 ‘To Have and Have Not’ (1944)

Director: Howard Hawks

Widely known for the electric chemistry between Bacall and Bogart, To Have and Have Not is the stars’ first movie together. Loosely based on Hemingway‘s novel of the same name (one of the greatest adaptations of the iconic writer’s work), the 1944 picture sees an American expatriate help transport a French Resistance leader and his wife to Martinique. In the meantime, he finds himself enamored by a sensuous lounge singer.

Howards Hawks‘ romantic adventure remains as popular as ever these days, and for good reasons — one of them being how Bacall stole the spotlight by co-starring with one of the biggest stars of the time in her debut movie at only 19 years old. In addition to Bacall excelling in the Hemingway adaptation that made her a star, To Have and Have Not is also incredibly directed and sharply written.

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1 ‘The Big Sleep’ (1946)

Director: Howard Hawks

Although they’re all recommendable and absolute classics, out of all the Bacall-Bogart collaborations, The Big Sleep is arguably the one that ranks higher quality-wise. Also directed by Hawks, it centers around a private detective Philip Marlowe, who is hired by a wealthy family and finds himself trapped in a web of love triangles, blackmail, murder, and crime. In the meantime, Vivian — one of the governor’s daughters — lends him a helping hand.

The Big Sleep‘s moody and entertaining plot, added to Bacall and Bogie’s incredible chemistry, could only be a hit — that’s why it was a huge success commercially and critically. Despite some inconsistencies, this beautifully shot and well-paced, seductive film noir is a must-watch for anyone looking to get into Bacall’s body of work, loves other films by the filmmaker, or simply enjoys the genre.

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NEXT: The 10 Most Rewatchable Humphrey Bogart Movies, Ranked