Customer Reviews

Bette Davis (Life&Times)

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First, let me say if one wants to read a well researched, objective book on Bette Davis than start by Not buying this book! Instead - consider Dark Victory by Ed Sikov. It is a well researched and a far better, fairer reflection of the life and times of Bette Davis.

This book - Bette Davis by Laura Moser is a superficial, poorly researched negative view of an actress's life and body of work. Moser spends too much time trying to analyze a person she doesn't know by quoting people who didn't know her personally, quoting past employees with an axe to grind or, better yet the ever suspect BD Hyman who has proven throughout time her hateful contempt for everything about her Mother - except her money which supported her for years.

After reading many books on Miss Davis, Moser's book was a big disappointment. Not only would I like my money back, I'd like the time spent reading the book back. Fortunately 145 pages didn't take up too much time. Nor does it offer much in capturing the essence of a full and incredible actress like Davis. By the way Miss Moser, all those films you speak of that bombed (in the late 40's - 60's) a lot of them are considered classics today. The film industry during the 50's and 60's released some of the worst films to great public acclaim (Americans had crap for taste in films then). After World War II, Hollywood and Americans in general only saw women in the roles of sex kittens or housewives. The fiery strong intelligent women that Davis depicted in the 30's and early 40's were outcasts in post war America. The only exception was 'All About Eve' made in 1950. It's no wonder her career suffered during the mid 50's. Strong roles for older women were almost non-existent during that period. I also disagree with Moser's assessment that Davis was nothing more then a parody of herself from the mid-50's to her death. Granted, she didn't always pick the best roles later in life, but I can understand those choices when considering her financial woes at the time. But, I still wouldn't categorize her performances as nothing more than self parody.

I'm not saying Miss Davis was all positive, sugar and spice, nor would I want that from her. What I love about Bette Davis, besides her talent as an actress was her fierce independence, tenacity and for lack of a better term - balls as a woman. She showed women of her day and mine, that women can seize the day and leave their mark in this world, but they better be prepared to fight for their right to do so.

This book doesn't scratch the surface of telling the complex story of Bette Davis. Take my advice, buy Sikov's book Dark Victory instead.

I loved this intriguing biography of Bette Davis. Moser's elegant prose makes it a pleasure to read. She writes with great detail and really gets into Bette's psychology. Even as a true Bette fan, I gained a lot of insight by reading this book! What a complicated woman...

A shallow treatment of Bette Davis' career and a mean-spirited run down of her in her private life, via BD, Bette's universally despised daughter, who wrote a memoir of her mother so inaccurate . even the most solid of Bette's detractors hated it.

Many "facts" are lifted from BD's pages about her mother, and then Moser tries for analysis of certain films, by way of the Films Of Bette Davis. Not an original thought here at all..of course she never met Bette Davis , nor has she seen her films.

Get This N' That and The Lonely Life,by Miss Davis herself, and The "Interview" books..Mother Godamn, and I'd Kiss Ya..etc." for better information.

Moser has the nerve to cite BD's book as a souce that's not very good(she says), but irresitible..irresistable for copying and agreeing with all of it.Avoid this one.

A terrible book about a truly great artist and star.

There is no need to buy any other book about Bette Davis but this one! It has it all---in her words as well as excerpts from others. Having read other books about this celebrated actress, this book won hands down as a must read. Trust me, you will be awed by this. It's simply a book that you cannot put down till you finish it.