Movie Monday: Designing Woman (1957)

At one of the toughest times in her life, the legendary Lauren Bacall created one of her most memorable films in Designing Woman. Originally, Grace Kelly was set to star in both this film and another Bacall classic, The Cobweb (1955). However, Kelly’s career plans changed for her once she became engaged to Prince Rainier of Monaco.

Designing Woman was the film that provided Bacall the chance to show a different side of herself. It was time for her to step out of the shadow of the films she made with her husband Humphrey Bogart. What better way to get back into acting than by starring in two films that are directed by Bacall and Bogart’s personal friend, Vincente Minnelli! Bacall would later call this film “one of my happiest film experiences.”

These photos are not mine.

This is my favorite Lauren Bacall film not only because she is with, in my opinion, the ideal leading man for movies, but also because I feel like this film really stands apart from the rest of the movies she had previously made. The original plan for Designing Woman was to have Grace Kelly as leading lady and James Stewart as her trusty co-star. Despite backing out of this movie, we did get a taste of what it would have been like for Kelly in this role with Stewart in the Hitchcock classic Rear Window where she also plays a lady in the fashion industry.

These photos are not mine.

After the deal with Grace Kelly fell through, the role of leading man was offered to Gregory Peck and he accepted. Minnelli let Peck choose any Hollywood actresses he would like to star alongside him in this film, and Peck chose Lauren Bacall. At the time of filming Designing Woman, Bacall’s husband Humphrey Bogart was ill with cancer. Bogart died the same year this movie was released.

These photos are not mine.

Appropriately, since Bacall’s character in Designing Woman is a high end fashion designer, there were 132 dresses created for this film! All of this fashion averages out to about one dress per the 118 minutes in the entire movie. Now that is what I call a committed fashionista!

Much Love,

Sarah

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