This is the story of three sisters at the turn of the century and their marital woes, with the focus on the eldest sister, louise, played by an uncharacteristically demure bette davis, who falls in love at first sight with frank, a rascally sports reporter, played by the ever handsome errol flynn. Anatole litvak directed her in the sisters and he and bette embarked on a torrid affair while he was married to miriam hopkins. The film marks the second time davis played twin sisters, the first being in the 1946 film a stolen life. The daughters of turnofthecentury druggist henry travers and his wife. The story involves sisters who were once movie stars, played by bette davis and joan crawford. Ruth elizabeth bette davis, was born on april 5, 1908 at 22 chester street, lowell, massachusetts. The sisters was bette davis s follow up to her oscar winning turn in jezebel. The sisters adapted from the 1937 novel by myron brinig, the sisters is a historical melodrama that looks at four years in the lives of three montana sisters during the early 20th century. Sam lesner in the chicago daily news saw more than luck, noting, the film is a field day for bette davis, joan crawford, and director robert aldrich, who saw in henry farrells novel. Errol flynn, in his first film with davis who marries, then deserts her. The epic hollywood rivalry that made feudwatching fabulous.
In truth, davis and howard are crazy about each other, but they spend so much time bickering that they never get around to marriage. To know more this superlative actress from the 30s, including what year bette davis died, here are some details from bette davis wiki. Bette davis was born as ruth elizabeth davis on 5 april 1908 in lowell, a city in the state of massachusetts in the united states of america. The long night 1947 vincent price henry fonda barbara bel geddes film noir. Bette davis, with her mother ruth davis, and her sister. Her father, harlow morrell davis, was a patent attorney and her mother, ruth augusta, became a portrait photographer. Anita louise is the loveliest, grace jane bryan the steadiest, and louise bette davis the most confident. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times.
The daughters of turnofthecentury druggist henry travers and his wife beulah bondi, the elliot girls all meet their future husbands at a 1904 ball in honor of president teddy roosevelt. I highly recommend this very interesting movie which unfortunately, is not seen or discussed much when either bette davis or errol flynn movies are shown. Part two of the examination of the dualistic career of bette davis through the prism of davis roles as identical twins in the fraternal films a stolen life 1946 and dead ringer 1964. In her last film twofaced woman,greta garbo played twins but actually there was only one woman with different personalities.
A stolen life was the first movie produced by bette davis production company b. In a stolen life, bette davis does double duty as twin sisters. Davis performance not only steals the show it makes the film work well. The sisters 1938 anatole litvak, errol flynn, bette davis, anita louise, drama july 9, 2017 sisters louise elliott, helen elliott and grace elliott the daughters of pharmacist ned elliott and his wife rose elliott are considered the most attractive and desirable young. Bette davis in a stolen life is a great 1946 drama film costarring glenn ford about two twin sisters who are as different as they possibly could be. April 5, 1908 october 6, 1989 was an american actress of film, television and theater. May 01, 2015 bette davis first film was a picture for universal studios in 1931 called, the bad sister. The film stars bette davis, karl malden and peter lawford with philip carey, jean hagen, george macready, estelle winwood, george chandler and cyril delevanti.
Bette davis biography childhood, life achievements. Theres as much action in it as an epic like, gone with the wind. Bette davis biography life, children, parents, name, story. Far from being remorseful in any way, bette blamed miriam for the feud that erupted out of the affair. The sisters 1938 anatole litvak, errol flynn, bette davis, anita louise, drama july 9, 2017 sisters louise elliott, helen elliott and grace elliott the daughters of pharmacist ned elliott and his wife rose elliott are considered the most attractive and desirable young women in 1904 silver bow, montana. Ruth elizabeth bette davis was a famous american film, television and theatre actress.
In 1997 her son michael created the bette davis foundation. Jan 24, 2019 bette davis had great respect for errol flynn. The sisters by anatole litvak anatole litvak, errol flynn. Louise is on the verge of engagement to a bankers son, tom dick foran, until she encounters frank errol flynn, a flashy. This is a film to watch bette davis and errol flynn playing roles that are completely different from others we are used to see them in. Louise is a most appealing type of person, a warm, intelligent womanwho loses her heart to a charming neerdowell errol flynn, in his first film with davis who. She was a real bitcha terribly good actress, but terribly. The 15 best bette davis movie performances taste of cinema. It was the first of two movies she made with errol flynn not counting warners 1943 allstar war effort thank your lucky stars in which they played themselves. In curtis bernhardts wonderful 1946 potboiler a stolen life. Sisters louise elliott, helen elliott and grace elliott the daughters of pharmacist ned elliott and his wife rose elliott are considered the most attractive and desirable young women in 1904 silver bow, montana.
The sisters is a 1938 american drama film produced and directed by anatole litvak and starring errol flynn and bette davis. Bette davis and joan crawford fight timeline and facts. Over a long career spanning six decades, she had made appearances in several successful and top grossing films, such as the man who played god 1932, dangerous 1935, and the little foxes 1941. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto intl film festival awards central festival central all events. These dreams were achieved in 1938 when davis was cast alongside flynn in the sisters, a film adaptation of myron brinigs novel of the. Jul 22, 2017 despite davis having two academy awards already behind her, this must have felt bitter. Jun 15, 2016 bette davis, with her mother ruth davis, and her sister barbara harriett bobby davis berry her only sibling. The 1938 filmization of myron brinigs novel the sisters stars bette davis, jane bryan and anita louise as louise, grace and helen elliot. A timeline of the real feud between bette davis and joan crawford. Bette davis in honor of the late hollywood starlets birthday, we look back at her most stunning moments in photos. The new york times relegated davis s film to a small. However, the third sister, louise bette davis in a soft, sympathetic role, is the most lovely and intelligent. The film was produced, and directed by curtis bernhardt with a supporting of, dane clark, walter brennan, charles ruggles, and bruce bennett. Baby jane hudson played by davis is a former child star of the vaudeville era whose fame was so widespread that there was even a baby.
In a stolen life, bette davis does double duty as twin. It wasnt a very good film and didnt do well, however, lucky for us, even with this less than stellar first performance, she made it through. These dreams were achieved in 1938 when davis was cast alongside flynn in the sisters, a film adaptation of myron brinigs novel of the same name. Flynn are excellent in their respective roles, as is the strong supporting cast. Yet it is great fun, too, because this is pure cinema drama set in a real house of horrors. Davis was regarded as one of the greatest actresses in hollywood history and it comes as no surprise that the list of the best bette davis movies is very extensive. The thought of davis playing twin sisters one rich and not so nice. With bette davis, glenn ford, dane clark, walter brennan. The supporting cast includes glenn ford, dane clark, peggy knudsen, charlie. The bitter sexual jealousy that made bette davis wage war. I was delighted with this part because it was a change of pace, bette davis said about playing louise elliott in the sisters. Of the 3 sisters, louise bette davis is the one around which the film centers. Joan crawfords rumored stag film and her sellout brother on sundays episode, hagsploitation, ryan murphy investigates the scandalous rumor that dogged. Originally flynn fresh off his robin hood success was given sole billing above the title but davis fought for and received her name above the title.
The sisters is a 1938 american drama film produced and directed by anatole litvak. Bette had only been in the movie business for a couple of years by this point, but was about to come to the critics attention in her breakthrough film of human bondage. Bette davis dances with errol flynn in the sisters. I was always challenged by a new type of person to play. The sisters 1938 anatole litvak, errol flynn, bette. Ryan murphys new fx series feud chronicles the bitter rivalry between screen legends bette davis and joan crawford as they film whatever happened to baby jane. Any fan of bette davis knows that the only thing better than having bette in a movie is having.
The whales of august 1987 starring bette davis, lillian. This was presented on the lux radio theater, on august 25, 1947. Full portrait of bette davis, 1937 get premium, high resolution news photos at getty images a 29 year old bette davis ca. Bette davis is doubly wonderful in her double role. A stolen life is a 1946 american drama film starring bette davis, who also produced, and directed by curtis bernhardt. Initially, irene dunne, miriam hopkins and kay francis were scheduled to play louise, but when all three stars declined due to various reasons, davis was offered the part. Apr 02, 2017 though the central story in feud season 1 revolves around the acrimonious, decadeslong rivalry of bette davis and joan crawford, those two women are by no means the only hollywood legends. The sisters 1938 errol flynn got top billing in warner bros. Apr 24, 2017 hollywood lost bette davis on october 6, 1989, in neuillysurseine, france. Sisters use chalk to create a rainbow mural on the front of their house in.
The sisters full frame, manufactured on demand, mono sound. Engaged to marry the towns most eligible bachelor, louise instead runs off with frank medlin errol flynn, a charming, misguided sportswriter who wants to write the great american novel. She admired him for his contributions to the art of cinema, and was continuously clinging to the hope that she would one day work with him. The casting is one of the crucial successes of the film, although it is hard to imagine how aldrich convinced the two divas to appear together. Oct 10, 2012 in 1964 davis was 56 years old and by todays standards, and in common with many actors of the time, looked a lot older. Bette davis recipe for split pea soup appeared in a cookbook published in 1933 entitled famous recipes by famous people. The sisters was bette daviss follow up to her oscar winning turn in jezebel. The supporting cast includes glenn ford, dane clark, peggy knudsen, charlie ruggles, and bruce bennett formerly herman brix.
Helen anita louise is the loveliest, grace jane bryan the steadiest, and louise bette davis the most confident. The filmization of myron brinigs novel stars bette davis, jane bryan, and anita louise as louise, grace, and helen elliot. Katie is the goodhearted aspiring artist while pat is the evil twin who steals her man. Based on the 1935 novel, a stolen life by karel josef benes. It was 18 years since she had made a stolen life and, reunited with her romantic costar, paul henreid directing her in another identical twin role, would commence on what could be read as a fraternal twin film, dead ringer. Bette davis died on october 6, 1989, in neuillysurseine, france, at the age of 81. Dead ringer official movie trailer starring bette davis by mr. A story about time and memory, old age and final years, that manages to be uplifting.
Feb 22, 2017 a timeline of the real feud between bette davis and joan crawford. Louise is on the verge of engagement to a bankers son, tom dick foran, until she encounters frank errol flynn, a flashy visiting newspaper reporter. Meanwhile, her headstrong sister, grace jane bryan, marries an older man for money and fortune. With a career spanning 60 years and 100 acting credits, she is regarded as one of the greatest actresses in hollywood history. After years of jealousy and resentment, sisters and aged former actresses blanche joan crawford and baby jane hudson bette davis now live together in the same mansion. I suspect the reason why there are no comments before now is because this film is next to impossible to find. Dec 15, 2019 the nanny bette bathing little susy by bertitolino. She had just attended the san sebastian film festival in spain, where she had been honored for a lifetime of film achievement. This posting is my contribution to the bette davis blogathon, organised by crystal at the good old days of classic hollywood. The casting of bette davis in the sisters was a stroke of fate. Though the film was an unexpected box office success, and.
However, we have to mention that even this great actress had to face certain failures in her career with her portrayal of the twin bosworth sisters in a stolen life 1946 being regarded as one of her worst roles. Many consider davis role as margo channing in all about eve to be her best. A year later he awarded american actress meryl streep 1949 the first ever bette davis lifetime achievement award. In this film the scenery definitely doesnt stand a chance. At the time of her death, she was on her way home from a film festival in spain, where she had just been. The earthquake scenes alone are worth the price of the video. T he two major actresses who play elderly sisters in the whales of augustthe gentle, caring sarah and the cantankerous, bitter libbyreflect the reallife personalities of the two stars, lillian gish and bette davis, respectively for many years, the sisters, both widows, have been spending their. The sisters 1938 anatole litvak, errol flynn, bette davis. The film included davis performing what would become her hit record theyre either too young or too old. Her sisters anita louise as helen, and jane bryan as grace marry at the same time. When a womans twin sister is drowned, she assumes her identity in order to be close to the man she feels her sister took from her years before. Bette davis as louise elliott is a montana woman who marries san franciscan sports reporter errol flynn as frank medlin. Dead ringer also known as who is buried in my grave.
The daughters of turnof the century druggist henry travers and his wife beulah bondi, the elliot girls all meet their future husbands at a 1904 ball in honor of president teddy roosevelt. In a stolen life, bette davis does double duty as twin sisters rays. Nov 28, 20 bd one of our favorite bette davis films is warner brothers, a stolen life, one of two films where ms. She was noted for playing unsympathetic, sardonic characters, and was famous for her performances in a range of film genres, from. At a ball held on the night of the 1904 presidential election, serious louise, frivolous helen, and stolid grace, daughters of silver bow, montana pharmacist ned elliott and his wife. Born in 1908, the young bette davis knew her life was going to be on the stage and the emerging medium of film.
Beginning to suffer from mental illness, jane begins to torment blanche, who is confined to a wheelchair in her room, culminating in disaster for the two sisters. Oct 02, 2019 bette davis is remembered as one of hollywoods legendary leading ladies, famous for her largerthanlife persona and for her nearly 100 film appearances. Bette davis plays twin sisters kate and patricia bosworth. Davis is the oldest sister, and the one with biggest marital problems, since she is married to a drinking, unfocused sportswriter played competently by errol flynn.
Three sisters face maritals problems in this film that features one of the most subdued performances by bette davis you will find. The daughters of turnof the century druggist henry travers and his wife. The sisters 1938 anatole litvak, errol flynn, bette davis, anita louise, drama. The screenplay by milton krims is based on the 1937 novel of the same title by myron brinig. The daughters of turnofthecentury druggist henry travers and his wife beulah bondi, the elliot girls all meet their future husbands at a. Bette davis and joan crawford fight timeline and facts true.
1020 1600 1637 1250 907 1540 175 12 342 1271 1523 1273 368 295 517 732 855 1191 288 616 792 396 433 119 1031 1116 849 676 644 743 363 1664 1447 452 878 774 1359 484 702 380 599 820 282 1497 561 180 428