To Have and Have Not (1944 Howard Hawks)

In tribute to Lauren Bacall, who has died aged 89, her debut is the film which brought Bogie and her together, aged 19, and it's a blast. Written by Jules Furthman and novelist William Faulkner (the source for Sirk's The Tarnished Angels) loosely based on Hemingway's novel, features some really crackling dialogue such as Bogie's Steve saying "I need to loosen her clothes" to which Slim comes back "You're doing all right with her so far", and other similar exchanges

I love the moment where Steve confronts the man who is going to skip town without paying him: it looks like he's about to hit him but at the crucial moment, Slim lights his cigarette for him - so smooth. Also the way that people constantly interrupt each other, especially Slim (actually Hawks' wife's nickname) interrupting Steve, and the way they are always throwing things at each other and perfectly catching them.

Walter Brennan ("Now I'll have the two of you to take care of") great fun as Steve's alky co-sailor (why these two are together is never explained), Hoagy Carmichael also boasts great empathy with Bacall, Dolores Moran is the knockout other woman.

Of Bacall's famous wiggle at the end (which we had to watch three times) "I did it spontaneously when we were rehearsing. Hawks liked it and wanted me to do it." (Mark Cousins, Scene by Scene 2002.)

Shot by Sid Hickox with moody lighting, the uncredited music is by Franz Waxman, future director Christian Nyby edited.