Selling the Image
From the Warner Bros. Archives:
May 3, 1944 – Assignment of Employment Contract
Betty Bacal – Professionally Known as Lauren Bacall
Assignment Dated May 3, 1944
- “On May 3, 1944 Howard Hawks assigned to Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc. all of his right, title, and interest in and to that certain employment contract dated May 3, 1943 as amended under date of June 15, 1943 amended the provisions of paragraph 6 of the agreement of May 3, 1943, to the effect that Hawks would have the right to assign said agreement in whole or in part, to any so-called major producer of motion pictures, or with the consent of the Court first obtained, to any other producer of motion pictures. Hawks represents that there remains a period of 12 weeks during the present term of said contract, being the term of option b thereof, during which Artist may be laid off, without pay, as in paragraph 18 provided for. Hawks represents that he has fully complied with the Order of the Superior Court of California, Los Angeles County…
- “Warner accepts this assignment and agrees to keep and perform the terms set forth in the contract of May 3, 1943, as amended and, as well, keep and perform the obligations imposed upon Hawks in the Court….”
- “By instrument executed May 3, 1944 by Artist and approved by her mother Natalie Bacal, Artist consented to and acknowledged the assignment of May 3, 1944 to Warner Bros. Pictures Inc. By Letter agreement dated May 8, 1944 the contract of May 3 was modified permitting Warner to change the name of Artists. In this connection her professional name is now Lauren Bacall.”
- She started at 100/wk
- Contract to be terminated on May 2, 1950 (7 years) if all options exercised
- Option G would bring her up to $1,500/wk in her seventh year
- Her next contract at Warner started July 26, 1945 and offered her $1000/wk with a seven-year option list that brought her up to $3500/wk in 1952