Lauren Bacall in "The Mirror Has Two Faces" (1996). Bacall was born Betty Joan Perske on September 16, 1924, in The Bronx, New York, the only child of Natalie ("née" Weinstein; 1901–1977), a secretary who later legally changed her surname to Bacal, and William Perske (1889–1982), who worked in sales. Both her parents were Jewish. According to Bacall, her mother emigrated from Iași, the Kingdom of Romania, through Ellis Island, and her father was born in New Jersey to parents who were born in Valozhyn, a significant center of Jewish life, in present-day Belarus, then in the Russian Empire. Soon after her
For Better, for Worse (1954 film) "Arthur Watkyn's famous stage success has proved successful material for drama societies up and down the land - but still comes up like new in this bright little film version...Warm, human and charmingly funny domestic comedy, dressed up as fresh as paint by the colour camerawork." For Better, for Worse (1954 film) For Better, for Worse is a 1954 British comedy film directed by J. Lee Thompson. It was based on Arthur Watkyn's play which had run for over 500 performances in the West End starring Leslie Phillips and Geraldine McEwan. It was also known as Cocktails in the Kitchen.