Who else could have played the role of the husband snatching sister other than Bette Davis. And Olivia was also at one of her best performances..... (GOne with the wind not withstanding). Even the maid plays a great role.
Good film
Good performances.
GReat
Well... To your first question I'll answer with the one name that would send good old Bette into a fit of biblical proportions: Joan Crawford. I think she would have been just as good in the role, and possibly much more convincing as a... well, as an "irresistible" temptress.
Don't get me wrong: I think this is definitely a stellar performance by Davis.
And Crawford's beauty was never my "type".
And yet, I think Crawford would have been even more staggering in this role.
We think the real (reel) performance goes to Olivia DeHavilland which we believe reflects her true character. Davis outwardly gives the appearance of hardness but in reality tended to be a bully (ie coward). DeHavilland was the true 'Iron Mistress' or as Jack Warner stated in late life "behind those soft eyes was the brain of a computer". That they were close friends for all of Davis's life is amazing. It must of come out of a mutual respect for their respective talents.
shareDe Havilland actually steals the show with her more natural performance. Great close-up reaction shots of her as she sees what Bette has done. John Huston was obviously infatuated with Olivia during filming.
It's ironic that in at least three of the four films she did with Bette, Olivia did manage to be more impressive: see IT'S LOVE I'M AFTER (even Bette said Olivia had the better role), IN THIS OUR LIFE (her Roy is the backbone of the film), and HUSH...HUSH, SWEET CHARLOTTE (as the evil Miriam Deering). In all three she more than matched Davis scene by scene.
Very good points. Notice also IN THIS OUR LIFE the rather unflattering hair style that DeHavilland wears. Being married in the film she was made to appear older and more matronly in a attempt to make Bette Davis appear to be beautiful and more youthfull. This was really a streach, for on her best days Bette Davis was at best 'Attractive'. Even in THE HEIRNESS when she was supposed to be a 'plain jane' DeHavilland's natural beauty was impossible to mask. Not with clothes or makeup.
shareTrue. The upswept hairdo was supposed to make Olivia look older than Bette. It's surprising that they became such good friends during filming. Bette reportedly was furious when she saw the rushes and all the flattering close-ups Olivia had. She accused Huston of favoring her and saw to it that she got an equal amount of attention because, "after all, I'm the star." That's Bette! And yet, after a not so promising start during their first two films, they did manage to become friends who respected each other's work.
shareBetter friends then she was with her sister Joan. Did you hear the one (1) about the will. At nine (9) years old Olivia wrote a will in which upon her death she wanted Joan to have HER BEAUTY. "Because Joan had none of her own". Now that is COLD suitable for the IRON MISTESS!
shareHeard that one. Makes it sound like Olivia wanted to be an only child. They certainly resented each other from an early age, competing for attention from Day One.
share...but she sure is an excellent actress. []
In my opinion, Olivia is far lovelier and much better actress than Joan. Besides, Olivia's career has been going strong (despite some crappy films like THE SWARM) yet Joan's career has gone down in the dumps.
I wonder what they would be like if they were in a screwball comedy together at Warners, playing the roles of two feuding sisters--or better yet, the two sisters in THE DARK MIRROR. I guess the film would contain their most believable performances.
Besides, this is a classic case of sibling rivalry. I hope they make up sometime...or they might be going to a place that they might not like so well.
BTW Peter, have you seen THE DARK MIRROR yet? It's on VHS so probably could be obtained through library loan...unless, you'd rather skip it, but it's rather enjoyable as a psychological film noir detective story. I found Dimitri Tiomkin's score amusing.
shareI'll try that one. I've listened to the Screen Director's Playhouse radio version a few times.
But I'll have to see it next semester, Dolyenf. The college is closed during this time, so I won't be able to get any more movies for a month or so.
Which reminds me--I haven't pulled out ROBIN HOOD, GWTW, or LIZ AND ESSEX in months!! I'll spend sometime over break to watch them.
I love Olivia and I love Joan (both Crawford and Fontaine), but Bette is all fire and brimstone and had such personality (whether one liked it or not) that she always outshines them. She was playing a horrific creature here, absolutely unlovable (excepting the doddering old Uncle, of course), and Olivia certainly had the more sympathetic role. I wouldn't say better, however.
And while I agree that Olivia was beautiful, and certainly a more accomplished actress than her sister, I don't think she was more beautiful than Joan. Take a look at Joan Fontaine's close up in "The Women." When she does her line about the train wheels saying "go back, go back, go back, go back." She had a perfect face.
Never heard the story about Olivia's will, but it's great. Thanks!
And let's not forget how naturally stunning as a beauty she was in "Rebecca"!
"OOO...I'M GON' TELL MAMA!"
Bette is all fire and brimstone and had such personality (whether one liked it or not) that she always outshines them. She was playing a horrific creature here, absolutely unlovable (excepting the doddering old Uncle, of course), and Olivia certainly had the more sympathetic role. I wouldn't say better, however.Agree with you completely. Olivia had a candy-box wholesome beauty but Joan's seemed more elegant and sophisticated and I think wore better as they aged although Olivia surely has nothing to be upset about in regards to her looks. As far as performances in this film, Bette Davis gobbles up this movie and leaves little for anything else although Hattie McDaniel manages to hold her own in several terrific scenes and Billie Burke is quite interesting in an atypical part. share
And while I agree that Olivia was beautiful, and certainly a more accomplished actress than her sister, I don't think she was more beautiful than Joan.
Olivia and Joan always had a rivalry. Olivia never fogave Joan for won an Oscar before her. But they stop to talk to each other when Olivia found out that Joan had an affair with Howard Hughes that was Olivias' fiancê. Olivia broke the engagement and never forgave her sister again. Joan and Olivia are alive and They did not speak to each other for more than 60 years. They can not even be in the same continent: Olivia lives in France and Joan in California.
shareI feel Davis was a bit to old to play this role. She was in her thirties at the time. The role really called for a younger female, considering how irresponsible and flighty the character of Stanley was. Maybe Lana Turner, who would have been 21 at the time. If MGM could have loaned her out to Warner Bros, that would have been a better choice IMO. However, Davis, as usual, did a great job.
shareThere were some moments the camera moved in on Bette Davis, and I too thought 'she's a bit too old for the role.'
But had she been more tactfully groomed and photographed, we won't have noticed; the impact of her performance would have been even better.
Bette was justified in complaining of the excessive flattery the camera accorded Olivia DeHaviland.
John Huston's personal feelings may have got in the way?!
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I think Bette definitely had the skills to play the part and played it quite well. However, I never found it very believable that she could lure men away from Olivia de Havilland, de Havilland was much more attractive a woman than Davis, my opinion of course.
I agree 100%. Bette played the role well, but I also didn't believe men would swoon over her and leave Olivia out in the cold. I kept on seeing Vivien Leigh as being perfect for this part.
shareI disagree - Bette's character is clearly more sexual (she's not the "bad sister" for nothing!) and Olivia's is quite chaste and pure - I can easily believe a vampy character like Stanley would be able to snatch away Roy's beau.
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