The Best Lauren Bacall Movies

Ranker Film
Updated August 11, 2023 1.6K votes 258 voters 35.7K views
Over 200 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best Lauren Bacall Movies
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Vote for your favorite movies, regardless of critic reviews or how big the role was.

Lauren Bacall's talent and mesmerizing presence in the film industry cannot be denied. Her sultry voice, striking looks, and powerful acting have immortalized her as one of Hollywood's most iconic actresses in history. And with hundreds of movie enthusiasts coming together to vote on a comprehensive list of her films, we can't help but feel excited about what this ranking has to offer.

Bacall first graced the silver screen in 1944 with To Have and Have Not, a classic noir romance that introduced audiences to not only an unforgettable character but also marked the beginning of her legendary partnership with Humphrey Bogart. Their sizzling chemistry continued to captivate viewers in other acclaimed films such as The Big Sleep and Key Largo, solidifying their status as one of Hollywood's most beloved couples.

However, Bacall was much more than just another pretty face or arm candy for Bogart. She proved herself as a versatile actress who could hold her own against some of the biggest names in the business by delivering powerhouse performances in movies like Designing Woman and The Mirror Has Two Faces. This list is not only an homage to Bacall's incredible career but also serves as an excellent guide for both seasoned fans and newcomers alike looking to explore some lesser-known works.

So let us delve into this exciting list of Lauren Bacall movies ranked from best to worst. We encourage you all to vote up your favorites because every movie deserves recognition when it comes from someone as talented as Ms.Bacall.

Most divisive: Sex and the Single Girl
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  • The Big Sleep
    1

    The Big Sleep

    Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Martha Vickers
    56 votes
    • Released: 1946
    • Directed by: Howard Hawks
    Private investigator Philip Marlowe (Humphrey Bogart) is hired by General Sternwood to help resolve the gambling debts of his wild young daughter, Carmen (Martha Vickers). Sternwood's older daughter, Vivian (Lauren Bacall), provides assistance when she implies that the situation is more complex, and also involves casino owner (John Ridgely) and a recently disappeared family friend. As people linked to the Sternwoods start being murdered, Marlowe finds himself getting ever deeper into the case.
  • Key Largo
    2

    Key Largo

    Humphrey Bogart, Edward G. Robinson, Lauren Bacall
    52 votes
    • Released: 1948
    • Directed by: John Huston
    This classic film noir by John Huston stars Humphrey Bogart as World War II vet Frank McCloud. Visiting Key Largo to pay his respects to the family of his late war buddy, McCloud attempts to comfort his comrade's widow, Nora (Lauren Bacall), and father, James Temple (Lionel Barrymore), who operate a hotel. But McCloud realizes that mobsters, led by the infamous Johnny Rocco (Edward G. Robinson), are staying in the hotel. When the criminals take over the establishment, conflict is inevitable.
  • To Have and Have Not
    3

    To Have and Have Not

    Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Walter Brennan
    62 votes
    • Released: 1944
    • Directed by: Howard Hawks
    In Vichy France, fishing boat captain Harry (Humphrey Bogart) avoids getting involved in politics, refusing to smuggle French Resistance fighters into Martinique. But when a Resistance client is shot before he can pay, Harry agrees to help hotel owner Gerard (Marcel Dalio) smuggle two fighters to the island. Harry is further swayed by Slim (Lauren Bacall), a wandering American girl, and when the police take his friend Eddie (Walter Brennan) hostage, he is forced to fight for the Resistance.

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  • Dark Passage
    4

    Dark Passage

    Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Bruce Bennett
    48 votes
    • Released: 1947
    • Directed by: Delmer Daves
    Vincent Parry (Humphrey Bogart) has just escaped from prison after being locked up for a crime he did not commit -- murdering his wife. On the outside, Vincent finds that his face is betraying him, literally, so he finds a plastic surgery to give him new features. After getting a ride out of town from a stranger, Vincent crosses paths with a young woman (Lauren Bacall) who lets him stay in her apartment while he heals and continues to try and clear his name.

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  • Young Man with a Horn
    5

    Young Man with a Horn

    Kirk Douglas, Lauren Bacall, Doris Day
    28 votes
    • Released: 1950
    • Directed by: Michael Curtiz
    Rick Martin (Kirk Douglas) is a young man with no direction in life --until he discovers he has a flare for the trumpet. When jazz icon Art Hazzard (Juano Hernandez) agrees to become his teacher, Martin becomes obsessed with jazz at the expense of everything else. Soon Rick is playing at the hottest clubs, but his love of jazz and his stubborn nature soon clash with some of the more conservative patrons while attracting certain others, such as high-brow socialite Amy North (Lauren Bacall).

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  • How to Marry a Millionaire
    6

    How to Marry a Millionaire

    Marilyn Monroe, Lauren Bacall, Betty Grable
    44 votes
    • Released: 1953
    • Directed by: Jean Negulesco
    Schatze Page, Loco Dempsey and Pola Debevoise (Lauren Bacall, Betty Grable, Marilyn Monroe) are three women on a mission: They all want to marry a millionaire. To accomplish this task, they move into a fancy New York City apartment and begin courting the city's elite. They have no problem meeting rich men, but unfortunately most of them turn out to be creeps or cons. Eventually they must decide: Is a life of luxury more important to them than finding true love?

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