Yet Beyond the Forest is infinitely more enjoyable than well-regarded Davis fare like Dark Victory and Now Voyager. If it weren’t for Claudette Colbert’s broken back, Davis’ career might never have recovered from that fiasco. Massacred by critics and ignored by the public, Beyond the Forest abruptly ended Davis’ association with Warner Bros. Fellow players Herbert Marshall, James Stephenson, and Gale Sondergaard are all superb.īeyond the Forest (1949) – In the film version of Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Elizabeth Taylor’s character keep trying to remember the name of the film in which Bette Davis exclaims, “What a dump!” The film in question is the King Vidor-directed melodrama Beyond the Forest, which makes Vidor’s overwrought melo-Western Duel in the Sun look subdued. William Wyler directed this tale of lies, revenge, murder, and more lies, in which a jealous woman kills her lover and then pretends to be an innocent victim to her husband and the Law. The Letter (1940) – One of Davis’ best films – and one of the best films made during the studio era, period. For once, the actress is fully convincing as a sensual, attractive woman.īuddha Quotes + Funny Games Remake + Animated Iranian Revolution for Oscar Davis plays his vain wife who discovers later in life that beauty isn’t all. Claude Rains, excellent as always, has the title role. Skeffington (1944) – Not one of Davis’ best-remembered films, but one of her best nevertheless. Curiously, one of Davis’ trademark roles was actually first offered to Claudette Colbert (who had to be replaced after breaking her back). All About Eve was nominated for 14 Oscars – a record shared with Titanic – winning 6, including best film, director, screenplay, and supporting actor (George Sanders). Mankiewicz’s literate (perhaps a bit too literate) and jaded look into New York City’s theater world. (Also, see comments at the bottom of this article.)Īmong the upcoming Davis’ vehicles that shouldn’t be missed are (for dates, see screening schedule below):Īll About Eve (1950) – Davis does a great Tallulah Bankhead impersonation in screenwriter-director Joseph L. The 1951 melodrama Payment on Demand, in which Davis plays a middle-aged woman who discovers that life as a divorcee is no fun. (There are no rarities in the series.)Īddendum: Actually, there is a major rarity in the series. “Fasten Your Seat Belts” will screen some of Bette Davis’ best-known films. He writes about the evening on his blog.) (Author Allan Ellenberger was there last night.
The nanny bette davis series#
Celebrating Bette Davis’ centennial, the Film Department of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art ( website) is presenting the series “Fasten Your Seat Belts: The Essential Bette Davis,” which began on May 1, with the unveiling of a new US Postal Service stamp in the presence of Turner Classic Movies host Robert Osborne and Davis’ personal assistant Kathryn Sermak.
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