Defamer
We take a moment now to honor the memory of the two biggest bitches in Hollywood history—that would be Bette Davis and Joan Crawford—whose man-swiping, lesbian-overture-rebuffing, Oscar-campaign-sabotaging exploits provided the behavioral template for generations of shock starlets to come. Today's Daily Mail provides a highly engrossing and detailed account of their lifelong rivalry, its poisonous roots stemming of course over ownership of a man—in this case, actor Franchot Tone. (He might not look like much, but trust us—this guy was totally the Joel Madden of his day.) It all came to a head on the set of the 1962 sleeper thriller that would offer both women not only an unlikely comeback, but all the near-fatal accident-rigging they could handle:
"Davis, the attacker in the movie, was supposed only to simulate violence.But as she raised and swung her right foot, encased in a black anklestrapped shoe, she made contact with Crawford's head, gashing her scalp, which needed three stitches, and causing a lump the size of an egg."
Both women survived the shoot, and Davis would even earn an Oscar nomination—which she'd lose to Anne Bancroft. Crawford would of course go on to live in infamy as the subject of Faye Dunaway's kabuki-inspired turn as the dry-cleaning-averse actress in Mommie Dearest. Davis, meanwhile, would too wind up the subject of an unflattering memoir by one of her children, but eventually be better remembered for her timeless advice on the best way an aspiring starlet could get into Hollywood.
Comments
I say recast this with Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Aniston and watch the money roll in.
And to think Bette Davis was 56 when that movie was released. (A good six years younger than Susan Sarandon is now.)
"what ever happened to Baby Lohan?"
For some reason the idea of Joan Crawford and Bette Davis having a long rivalry that resulted in a desire to catfight is not nearly as enticing to me than if it had been Rita Hayworth and Ingrid Bergman. Those two dames were disturbingly tranny. No wonder only The Joel Madden of His Day was interested.
Bette Davis wins a Dark Victory over Joan "Eyebrows" Crawford every G-D time, ladies!
Afterall, it was Bette who played Jezebel!
Why am I so good at playing bitches? I think it's because I'm not a bitch. Maybe that's why Miss Crawford always plays ladies - Bette Davis
THE BEST TIME I EVER HAD WITH JOAN CRAWFORD WAS WHEN I PUSHED HER DOWN THE STAIRS IN 'WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE?' -BETTE DAVIS
"I wouldn't piss on her if she were on fire"--Davis re Miss Crawford.
I don't know who said it but I have often heard that Joan slept with everyone at MGM but Lassie.
Joan's eyebrows > Bette's eyes
For a moment there, I thought the photo was of Brooke Shields and Madonna looking quite rough.
what?? you're all taking Bette's side.. ;-P Bette's own daughter had to make her own cult to get away - more 'mommie dearest' than Christina ever could be..
saw whatever happened to baby jane? on youtube (no shit, the entire movie is there in 16 parts). they don't make bitches like those two anymore. the fucktwats today can't even put together a snide sentence much less act.
@kookla: that would be weirdly awesome. we need more psycho biddies on screen. i mean, wasn't dame judi dench just mahvelous in notes on a scandal ?
"Whatever happened to Baby Jane" starring Sean Young and Betty White!
Does anyone remember that Simpsons episode where Lisa had a dream she was Baby Jane to Maggie's Blanche. Now when I think of an aging Bette Davis I think of Lisa Simpson.
Bette wins. Fountain is still the best way to get into Hollywood.
Hate to break everybody's bubble, but that's an old Hollywood story and totally apocryphal. It's been recounted -- and debunked -- dozens of times.
"My mother taught me that one must only speak good of the dead. Joan Crawford is dead. Good."
I pretty heart everyone on this thread.
I pretty much heart... I mean.
The amazing compilation of Bette quotes here really does bring a tear to my eye.
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