Bette Davis (Paperback)

~ (Author) "The seeds of my admiration for Bette Davis were first sewn at The Cinema in Guildford, Surrey..." (more)
Key Phrases: Bette Davis, Miss Davis, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Lawrence Quirk's biography of actress Davis ( Fasten Your Seatbelts: The Passionate Life of Bette Davis, LJ 2/15/90) will probably stand as the definitive work. However, he never met her. Moseley not only met Davis, he was a confidante, and this memoir is based upon their 15-year friendship. Starstruck Englishman Moseley has made a point of not only meeting his favorites but also trying to become their friends. Davis eluded him even after Moseley became a credible figure in show business. Eventually they met, however, and their friendship lasted until a sad break late in Davis's life. Moseley's book complements Quirk's. A very personal tantly, it tempers B.D. Hyman's (Davis's daughter) My Mother's Keeper (Morrow, 1985); Moseley knew both of them and has his own version of events. A nice addition to the Davis literature.
- Rosellen Brewer, Monterey Cty. Free Libs., Seaside, Cal.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"A fascinating private glimpse of the legendary tornado that was Bette Davis." -- Liz Smith, New York Daily News

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Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: University Press of Kentucky; 2nd edition (August 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813190371
• ISBN-13: 978-0813190372
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #762,022 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A FUN READ FOR FANS OF LA DAVIS, November 19, 2003

By	"scotsladdie" (GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

While this book isn't by any means a definitive biography about the legendary Bette Davis - nor does it pretend to be - it's actually more fun to read than many books about Bette, because it reveals many facets of Davis's complex personality and fun tidbits which one doesn't find in other books written about this celebrated lady. Roy Moseley was introduced to the world of Bette Davis movies via his mother - who was a fan - as a boy and grew to admire her so much that he made it a point to know her personally - a feat he accomplished!

There are various anecdotes in the book which are refreshing, surprising and funny: seems Bette was a most contradictory woman who could be extremely unpredictable: honest, caring and lovable one minute and harsh, cynical and monstrous the next. Apparently, like most great stars, geniuses, etc., she was quite insecure and a walking paradox who was fascinating but exhausting to be around!

The book is a valuable read for fans (and there are many) of this great First Lady of the Silver Screen because it reveals the real woman behind the legend. As I have long suspected, Moseley pointedly states that many things Davis said in print about her life were totally worthless as historical facts biograpy-wise, because she tended (as many stars of her era did) to romanticize/whitewash her personal life to the point of rendering it rather dull. And dull definitely is not an adjective one would use to describe this brilliant woman!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This Nut Betrayed Davis during and after her life!, October 9, 2005

By	Harvard Vale "PlayWrightNYC" (New York,NY) - See all my reviews

The books is -- sort of -- fun. But, Mr. Moseley is whinnnnnny about being shut out of Bette Davis's life, after he went behind her back to work on a book with an author, without her consent - is this a 'friend'?
Poor Mr. Moseley, with only brushes with Greatness (Davis and others) he is left to write books to bad mouth the dead, to find his fame -- how pathetic.

3.0 out of 5 stars It's a good read., August 4, 2007

By	C. CAMPBELL (California USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I enjoyed reading Moseley's book, as it offered some intimate views of Miss Davis's life during the time he spent with her. It was sometimes difficult, however, to follow things in a chronological fashion as the author tended to skip around a lot. I think that was due to telling a certain story and then needing to backtrack or skip ahead to fill in some facts and info.
It did bother me a little to realize the lengths many people will go to in order to be around movie stars. People had to morph into marionettes on strings in order to placate Miss Davis, and yet at the same time, she disliked the very qualities she demanded in people.
Moseley's book showed the strange, contradictory workings of Davis's mind and personality. She was both sensitive/vulnerable and cruel/overbearing at the same time. She wanted to be liked but her actions guaranteed conflict and resentment.
Moseley himself gave this reader the impression that he was somewhat full of himself and that he enjoyed name-dropping, but I liked his book anyway.