MovieChat Forums > The Anniversary (1968) Discussion > Davis is Delightfully Twisted

Davis is Delightfully Twisted

posted 18 years ago by Devans00
16 replies | jump to latest

If this movie was a live event, Bette Davis would deserve a five minute standing ovation. She worked those yellow teeth with bright red smeared on lipstick and those eye patches like nobody's business.

I had a great laugh at almost every line out of her mouth. They were so over the top, cruel and ridiculous. That fringy helmet hair-do over the too dramatic, dark eyebrows was frightening in itself. I'm surprised they don't sell that wig next to Jason masks or Hannibal Lector mouth guards at Halloween.

Whatever hits the fan will not be evenly distributed. --Law of Probable Dispersal

[–] Harold_Robbins 17 years ago

Although it's great fun, this is not a film I recommend to viewers new to Bette Davis, as they're sure to wonder how she could have won 2 Oscars and received 8 other nominations. It's one of her most excessive, over-the-top performances and, like Mrs. Taggart, she evidently made mincemeat of director and cast.

"I don't use a pen: I write with a goose quill dipped in venom!"---W. Lydecker

[–] Devans00 17 years ago

Yes Harold_Robbins, Bette Davis is an acquired taste. Which is why I like her. Why stick with the bland, safe and uninteresting when you can get a character like Mrs. Taggart?

Life is never fair, and perhaps it is a good thing for most of us that it is not.

[–] Rob_Dan 17 years ago

I loved Miss Davis in this film.. she gets the best of everybody in this film!!

[–] howerd 17 years ago

She's also very good and UNDERstated in the creepy The Nanny.

[–] Devans00 17 years ago

Yes, the Nanny was hella creepy too.

>>Oh, well that's different. Nevermind!<<

[–] Oliver_Alla 17 years ago

The Queen Bette Davis is always magnificent!

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] Prismark10 13 years ago

Bette stole the show.

Its that man again!!

[–] Hey_Sweden 12 years ago

I loved her delicious scenery chewing in this movie. Mrs. Taggart is a great character, she knows it, and she plays the part for all that it's worth.

What do you think this is, a signature? It's a way of life!

[–] sophisticatedbeggar 12 years ago

I watched it this evening and without knowing anything in terms of plot I found it very entertaining. Apart form the terrific lines, one thing I noticed was that Bette Davis looked ... otherworldly sexy (and this coming from a straight gal!)! She was exuding an old Hollywood aura and dynamism despite the yellow teeth, red lipstick and eye patch (or maybe because of the eye patch!) that the other two actresses just didn't possess. Granted she was hamming it up (a lot) and seemed a little bit out of place in a British movie from the 60's but despite her age she was like a whirlwind, unstoppable!

I have watched very few of her films (All about Eve, The Letter, Of Human Bondage, In This Our Life, Now, Voyager) and I feel that allthough she was not conventionally pretty she sure was sexy.

[–] MyMovieTVRomance 11 years ago

I watched it this evening and without knowing anything in terms of plot I found it very entertaining. Apart form the terrific lines, one thing I noticed was that Bette Davis looked ... otherworldly sexy (and this coming from a straight gal!)! She was exuding an old Hollywood aura and dynamism despite the yellow teeth, red lipstick and eye patch (or maybe because of the eye patch!) that the other two actresses just didn't possess. Granted she was hamming it up (a lot) and seemed a little bit out of place in a British movie from the 60's but despite her age she was like a whirlwind, unstoppable!

I have watched very few of her films (All about Eve, The Letter, Of Human Bondage, In This Our Life, Now, Voyager) and I feel that allthough she was not conventionally pretty she sure was sexy.

I agree with basically everything you said, sophisticatedbeggar. Very well-put. And I would add that it is her age that makes her stand out from the other actresses, as-well as her distinct way of speaking. Her make-up was good too. She and Joan Crawford just got better and more special with age---Joan in the 1950s and Bette in the 1960s. Joan ruled in the 1950s for that reason and Bette likewise, in the 1960s. I just love that classy, sophisticated, deliciously deranged grand-dame aura!

Please excuse typos/funny wording; I use speech-recognition that doesn't always recognize!

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] smjensen312-158-669840 11 years ago

How can anyone not love a film with the line, "My dear, would you mind sitting someplace else? Body odor offends me."

[–] jrhpax 10 years ago

Bette Davis is hammy and entertaining and bitchy in "The Anniversary," and she looks great (except for the fright wig). But it would be a crime if people unfamiliar with her groundbreaking performances in movies such as "The Letter," "Jezebel," "Marked Woman" and "All About Eve" remembered her for "The Anniversary."

She's the only reason to see this movie, but it's not much of a movie.

I take her daughter B.D.'s book "My Mother's Keeper" with a huge grain of salt and more than a little abhorrence, but I couldn't help wondering how close her character in "The Anniversary" was to her real-life personality.

[–] greenbudgie 8 years ago

I think that she delighted in looking grotesque on screen. She is probably the greatest gorgonesque actress ever in this period of her career.

[–] Devans00 8 years ago

I do like it when actors aren't obsessed about being cute. When they are comfortable with the fact their glamour days are in the past.

Then we see them enjoy themselves and get into the role.

No two persons ever watch the same movie.