Saturday, June 11, 2011

CRAWFORD VS DAVIS


DAVIS VS CRAWFORD 002

The rivalry between leading ladies Joan Crawford and Bette David was legendary .
 
Matters came to a head when they starred together in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962).
 
Crawford later said of her arch-rival – “Working with  Bette Davis was my greatest challenge, and I mean that to be kindly. She liked to scream and yel. I just sit and knit. During Whatever Happened to Baby Jane ?, I knitted a scarf from here to Malibu.” (Variety April 1973)
 
DAVIS VS CRAWFORD 001
In her last book "This 'N That" Bette Davis said, "Feud is a Hollywood word, a wildly overused Hollywood word. Did Bette Davis and Joan Crawford ever feud during the filming of Whatever Happened To Baby Jane? No!"
"Like, dislike-these were not words I applied to Miss Crawford. Until we were cast as the costars of Whatever Happened To Baby Jane? I knew her only slightly. Our paths had seldom crossed, even though for three years we had adjoining dressing rooms at Warners."
"In truth I did not know her any better after the film was completed. Twenty years after we had worked together, and half a dozen years after her death, we are still a team in the public's mind. We finished only one film and started another. We did not compete for parts since we were opposing types of actresses. "
Bette was probably correct when she stated there was no feud. Both women were consummate professionals and neither would have acted up on the set. Crew members on Baby Jane reported that both actresses knew their lines, showed up on time and were cordial to one another during the entire filming of Baby Jane. Crawford mentioned in an interview a number of years later that while they both behaved themselves on the set, she felt Bette's competiveness throughout the filming, and that she (Crawford) would be damned if she would be the "slacker" on this project. "I knew my lines, showed up to the set on time and tried my hardest to get along with everyone including Miss Davis." Bette most certainly felt the same way.
Bette did state that she hardly knew Crawford but both actresses were aware of the stature they each held at their studios. Bette was the queen of the Warner Bros. lot and Joan was MGM's leading lady for many years. Their paths did cross at numerous Hollywood functions and both women were extremely jealous of one another. Bette had the acting credentials. An extensive New York theatrical background and high profile films which garnered her a total of ten Oscar nominations for best actress. Joan on the other hand had the beauty, glamour and style of a movie star something that Bette coveted in private. Needless to say this jealousy that each felt for the other was often acted out in icy stares, upturned noses and catty comments to friends and associates.

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