I saw a clip of Wyler speaking at a ceremony honoring Bette or a ceremony honoring him. I'm not sure which. Anyway, Wyler says that he and Bette really argued over one particular scene and that she would probably still like to re-shoot it. She then laughs and nods her head. Does anybody know which scene was referred to?
-"Is it nothing to you that I shall hate you for this." H. Barret
-"Less than nothing." E.B.
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It's only six years after you asked this question. spoilers spoilers spoilers
I heard it was the scene
near the end when Bette and her husband are trying to reconcile. He tells her he loves her and she replies that she loves him. They kiss and she pulls away from him saying "With all my heart, I still love the man I killed."
There was a disagreement between Wyler and Davis about how that scene should be played. I am curious to know whose version prevailed and what the other version would have been like.
According to Robert Osborne on TCM, Wyler insisted the character should look directly into the eyes of her husband while delivering the line. Davis disagreed and thought the line would be so devestating that her character wouldn't be able to look her husband in the eyes.
shareWas just going to reply to this too because I am watching it right now on TCM, as I take it you are lol :) Great movie with incredible performances..... I'm planning on watching Man Hunt after this too.
shareOh thank you. That is so interesting! I have been wondering about the Wyler/Davis disagreement for a long time.
Did you ever see the earlier version with Jeanne Eagles? It was very good and quite different. As I recall it, we don't find out until the very end what was in the letter. It is more dramatic and shocking IMO.
Weren't Wyler and Davis having an affair?
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Forgive my correcting you all, but if you watch Wyler speaking at the AFI tribute to Bette Davis, he actually refers to another film entirely, saying (and I paraphrase) "There was one scene in Jezebel which, if it were possible, Bette would go over to Warner Bros right now and re-shoot it" at which the camera cuts to her table and, grinning delightedly, she enthusiastically starts to nods her head.
In fact, they had arguments on all 3 films they made together, about how scenes should be played.
They fought very hard indeed over Bette's interpretation of Regina Giddens in THE LITTLE FOXES (he got his way), so much so, that Davis dissed the film in later years and hardly ever discussed it. Yet it remains one of her greatest performances.