Bette Davis vs Joan Crawford

Bette later said that Joan had a terrible childhood and she was a self-made woman. All the success Joan had, she worked hard for and earned it, and Bette said she would never take that away from Joan- never. WOW, Bette Davis actually complimented Joan Crawford? Yes. I saw the video interview of Bette Davis on a certain website that has the word "tube" in it, and its there for "you" to see....

In her last book "This 'n' That" (1987 Putnam and Sons) Davis states:

"Until we were cast... in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane I knew her only slightly" (Page 133)

Between Davis and Crawford, Miss Davis always was a consummate professional. Miss Davis has no bad thing to say about Crawford in the book at all, and only expresses mild amusement at Crawford's antics regarding the 1962 lobbying of the actors who were then in plays in NYC to prevent Davis from winning the Oscar for "WHTBJ" - An Act of Sabotaged not only to the film, but to Crawford's own percentage of the take for the film, as she along with Davis received a part of the overall film profits. Maybe Crawford did not care about this, being married to Pepsi-Cola at that time.

Crawford was an actress of limited and declining function- As the films of her last couple of decades show, and her ignominious last Movie Role in the horrid film 'Trog'(Which I saw with my father in 1970)- I have heard a few people suggest that the film was below Crawford's abilities, but that is arguable. Also I have not seen Davis's last film role- 1989's "Wicked Stepmother"- So I can't compare Crawford and Davis' last film roles here.

I loved Crawford in those early films where her makeup comes off or she does not wear gobs if it: Grand Hotel for example... And there was a film she did with Clark Gable, where they are on an island and her makeup is wiped off, she looks rather nice, and she was good in that one. She was good with the tough broad roles, and she was good in Mildred Piece, except to say that if I were Jack Carson I would have given up on Mildred Pierce right away.

Where Crawford always tried to play the glamorous high maintenance type, Davis could play those roles and then turn around and play Charlotte Vale and Mildred Rogers (And I will not compare Davis and Crawford's "Mildred" roles either).

I did not know until recently that the whole idea of a feud, especially an ongoing feud between Crawford and Davis either never existed or was a publicity attempt by Crawford like the one she created for "The Women" between her and Norma Shearer (Another actress that had about a thousand times more class than Crawford).

It seems natural, in people's minds, to always compare Miss Davis with Joan Crawford, but to anyone who is a fan of Miss Davis and has seen many of each actress' films - I have come to the same conclusion that most people come to after such a consideration- That Miss Davis was probably one of the best actresses to ever grace the screen and for Crawford to even try to bring herself to the same level as Miss D by creating feuds is ludicrous.

Crawford might have attracted positive attention to herself in "The Women" but this backfired on her in all of her attempts to do it with Miss D- Which Crawford started on the first day working on the Warner Lot and asked specifically for a dressing room right next door to Miss Davis.

Wow. Interesting how you practically deify Davis and completely villify Crawford. Your contempt for Crawford is quite venomous, as though she had personally maligned you in some way. Hmmm....Are you sure someone didn't beat YOU with a wire hanger?

XweAponX wrote:

In her last book "This 'n' That" (1987 Putnam and Sons) Davis states:
"Until we were cast... in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane I knew her only slightly" (Page 133)
Between Davis and Crawford, Miss Davis always was a consummate professional. Miss Davis has no bad thing to say about Crawford in the book at all, and only expresses mild amusement at Crawford's antics regarding the 1962 lobbying of the actors who were then in plays in NYC to prevent Davis from winning the Oscar for "WHTBJ" - An Act of Sabotaged not only to the film, but to Crawford's own percentage of the take for the film, as she along with Davis received a part of the overall film profits. Maybe Crawford did not care about this, being married to Pepsi-Cola at that time.
Crawford was an actress of limited and declining function- As the films of her last couple of decades show, and her ignominious last Movie Role in the horrid film 'Trog'(Which I saw with my father in 1970)- I have heard a few people suggest that the film was below Crawford's abilities, but that is arguable. Also I have not seen Davis's last film role- 1989's "Wicked Stepmother"- So I can't compare Crawford and Davis' last film roles here.
I loved Crawford in those early films where her makeup comes off or she does not wear gobs if it: Grand Hotel for example... And there was a film she did with Clark Gable, where they are on an island and her makeup is wiped off, she looks rather nice, and she was good in that one. She was good with the tough broad roles, and she was good in Mildred Piece, except to say that if I were Jack Carson I would have given up on Mildred Pierce right away.
Where Crawford always tried to play the glamorous high maintenance type, Davis could play those roles and then turn around and play Charlotte Vale and Mildred Rogers (And I will not compare Davis and Crawford's "Mildred" roles either).
I did not know until recently that the whole idea of a feud, especially an ongoing feud between Crawford and Davis either never existed or was a publicity attempt by Crawford like the one she created for "The Women" between her and Norma Shearer (Another actress that had about a thousand times more class than Crawford).
It seems natural, in people's minds, to always compare Miss Davis with Joan Crawford, but to anyone who is a fan of Miss Davis and has seen many of each actress' films - I have come to the same conclusion that most people come to after such a consideration- That Miss Davis was probably one of the best actresses to ever grace the screen and for Crawford to even try to bring herself to the same level as Miss D by creating feuds is ludicrous.
Crawford might have attracted positive attention to herself in "The Women" but this backfired on her in all of her attempts to do it with Miss D- Which Crawford started on the first day working on the Warner Lot and asked specifically for a dressing room right next door to Miss Davis.

it is fun to read the catty comments but comparing the two actresses is like comparing apples and oranges. Joan was a GREAT star who was immensely photogenic and who at times could be a great actress. Bette was a great actress who could convince you through her talent she was beautiful, but was not. Joan rarely gave a bad performance whereas Bette could be god awful. She could be god awful in a fun way or an unwatcheable way. Joan's worst performance were never worse than boring. Bette could inspire you by some of her performances but Joan could make you care like no other about ordinary people. Bette would not have been good in Mildred Pierce. Bette could not do the 'EVERY WOMAN' experience justice. Joan could elevate the 'every woman' experience.
As people....well, Bette is a huge disappointment. A rather nasty bitter woman...but she did great things for the War effort. But a disappointment BECAUSE she could be such and inspiration to watch. Joan, well, probably a bad mother but a good person in so many other ways. In terms of her working relationships and how she treated her fans...and I would say a more sympathetic woman.
If I HAD to choose my fav. it would be Bette because I like the inspired feeling she gives me during her greatest roles. But I don't HAVE to choose do I!!!