Bette Davis as the covetous widow Mrs Van Schuyler was in her 70th year and her 86th film role when she made this film. She described the Academy Award winning costume designer Anthony Powell as 'a genius'. Powell's ideas for the film were clear.

How old was Bette Davis 1962?

While most of the attention given to 1962's What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? has focused on the alleged enmity between stars Bette Davis, then 54, and Joan Crawford, then 57 (forming the basis for FX's Feud, which begins March 5), THR's focus was on money.

Did Bette Davis give birth to any of her children?

In 1947, at the age of 39, Davis gave birth to daughter Barbara Davis Sherry (known as B.D.), and later wrote in her memoir that she became absorbed in motherhood and considered ending her career. As she continued making films, however, her relationship with her daughter B.D.

How old was Bette Davis 1971?

One of the best incidences of a star really being herself on the program is the unlikely example of the 63-year-old Bette Davis, appearing toward the end of the show's run wearing go-go boots (not kidding) and a rather short skirt.

What is Bette Davis famous line?

To fulfill a dream, to be allowed to sweat over lonely labor, to be given a chance to create, is the meat and potatoes of life. The money is the gravy.

Bedtime - "Death on the Nile" - Bette Davis, Maggie Smith

What was special about Bette Davis eyes?

Some suggest Davis's eyes were the result of the autoimmune thyroid condition, Graves' disease. Swelling the muscles around the eyes and surrounding tissues, the condition pushes the eyeballs forward, causing them to protrude, limiting their movement.

Who inherited Bette Davis fortune?

Davis's net worth at the time of her death was $2 Million after adjusting for taxes and inflation. According to her last will and testament, Bette's estate was worth $1 Million. The bulk of the estate was left to her adopted son, Michael Merrill. The other beneficiary was her close friend and assistant Kathryn Sermack.

What did Bette Davis think of Mommie Dearest?

Bette Davis, longtime rival of Crawford, denounced the book, stating, "I was not Miss Crawford's biggest fan, but, wisecracks to the contrary, I did and still do respect her talent. What she did not deserve was that detestable book written by her daughter. I've forgotten her name. Horrible."

What color were Bette Davis eyes?

Bette Davis, the actress known for playing strong, independent women, had deep blue eyes. Her signature eyes made her famous. However, during the era of black and white cinematography, those blue eyes often tended to be photograph in black and white and appeared brown or hazel.

What did Bette say when Joan died?

On May 10, 1977, Joan Crawford died from a heart attack at her New York City apartment. At the time, outlets reported Bette's response to her colleague's death as they quoted her: "You should never say bad things about the dead, only good… Joan Crawford is dead? Good."

What year did Bette Davis eyes come out?

"Bette Davis Eyes" is a song written and composed by Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon in 1974. It was recorded by DeShannon that year but made popular by American singer Kim Carnes in 1981 when it spent nine non-consecutive weeks at the top of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

How many times did Betty Davis marry?

Married four times, Davis eloquently conveyed the vicissitudes of stardom in her autobiographies, The Lonely Life (1962) and This 'n' That (1987). She also provided running commentary for Whitney Stine's account of her film career, Mother Goddam: The Story of the Career of Bette Davis (1974).

Did Bette Davis have a stroke before she died?

Davis had a mastectomy in the summer of 1983, followed by a stroke just days later. Not long after that, she suffered a broken hip.

What movies did Bette Davis win an Oscar for?

Davis won Oscars on her first two nominations for “Dangerous” in 1935 and “Jezebel” in 1938. Strangely Davis won for arguably the two least acclaimed and remembered films of her 10 nominations. The other bids were for: “Dark Victory” (1939), “The Letter” (1940), “The Little Foxes” (1941), “Now, Voyager” (1942), “Mr.

Did Joan Crawford try to seduce Bette Davis?

Bette was well aware of Crawford's reputation, saying at one point: “She slept with every star at MGM. Of both sexes.” At some point though, Crawford also moved in to seduce Davis, but Davis wouldn't have it. Perhaps in revenge, Crawford flaunted her affair with Tone, the object of Davis' desire.

Did Joan Crawford really campaign against Bette Davis?

In the Oscars race following the film, Crawford launched a campaign against Davis' win and thought of various ways of getting onto the stage. She publicly claimed that she hoped that Davis would win but she actually surprised her by accepting Anne Bancroft's Best Actress Award right in front of Davis.

Was Joan Crawford alive when Mommie Dearest?

Joan Crawford died in 1977. The movie Mommie Dearest was released in 1981. So, unless Joan Crawford “abused” Faye Dunaway from the grave, there is no story there.

What did Bette Davis daughter say about her in her book?

My Mother's Keeper is a 1985 memoir by B. D. Hyman, the daughter of actress Bette Davis, in which she alleges that Davis was a bullying, alcoholic mother.

What is Bette Davis buried?

the final resting place of Betty Davis Betty Davis is interred in Forest Lawn Memorial Park.

How much did Joan Crawford leave in her will?

Death and legacy

A funeral was held at Campbell Funeral Home, New York, on May 13, 1977. In her will, which had been signed on October 28, 1976, Crawford bequeathed to her two youngest children, Cindy and Cathy, $77,500 each from her $2 million estate.

Did Bette Davis have dentures?

He took suggestions from nobody.” Cohen dismisses Davis' criticisms. On the quality of the Davis' footage, he says that no one but Davis could tell that her dentures were slipping. He adds that in the final cut he edited out the pauses she took between lines--apparently a result of her dental problems.

Why did Bette Davis wear white makeup?

Bette wanted her character to be extremely white with her eyes and mouth outlined dramatically and a little beauty mark on her cheek. As Davis said, “I wanted to look outrageous, like Mary Pickford in decay.”

Did Bette Davis wear false eyelashes?

They were accentuated by blue eye shadow and layers of false lashes with brown, not black, mascara. I was to learn later that Bette customarily took this kind of care with her appearance when meeting someone for the first time.