Customer Reviews

Bette Davis (Great Stars)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

While this book has many interesting details of the great actresses films, there is little about Bette Davis the woman. In addition, the author's discomfort with female sexuality is evident in his stigmatizing of her passions, referring to her, at one point, as a "trashpot". Please.

This book is less bio and more of an encyclopedia of Davis' film work. As Davis has been the fodder for any number of biographies and most of them have been less than flattering, I found myself favoring this approach. I have been a fan since I was 5 and used to watch this fiery woman on the afternoon movie show as I watched her movies with my grandma. A Bette Davis movie always warranted popcorn and a couple of hours of chuckles as Bette strutted her stuff in those early movies. When I got older, Davis became more of an obsession because I came to realize that she elevated even really dopey movies with that hard to define flair of hers. In the early days she cranked them out during her years of servitude under the contract system.
This series delves into her film performances and contrasts them against the various changes that were taking place in the real world as well as the 'reel' world (the Hollywood film system and the changing tastes of audiences). That Davis' career lasted much longer than most of her contemporaries is often taken for granted. This book clearly illustrates Davis' ability to reinvent herself as a commodity and an actress; it also illustrates her professionalism which often isolated her from other actors in her lack of vanity. While Bette was no doubt opinionated and fearless, she had an Achilles heel in regard to her ego.
David Thompson has managed to capture the genuine Davis while reviewing her film career and provides his readers (presumably fans of Davis) with the essence of why she is still popular today.
Liked this book and found myself yearning for the days when Davis and her worthier contemporaries populated the screen.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Certain of Bette Davis's performances fascinate Mr. Thomson, such as her role in "The Letter." Thomson examines these performances in the context of her whole career and the history of Hollywood. I highly recommend this book along with his other recent biographies.