Bette
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If there was ever a rivalry and feud that outshone the rest, the one between legendary actresses Bette Davis and Joan Crawford was likely it. What originally fuelled the falling out of the two was actor Franchot Tone who was the object of affection of both, who Davis fell in love with but Crawford married in the mid 30's. From thereon bad blood is said to have remained between them until the death of Crawford in 1977. Although numerous memorable remarks were made about the other by both during their neverending sparring (Davis about Crawford: "She slept with every male star in MGM except for Lassie." Crawford on Davis: "Working with Bette Davis was my greatest challenge and I mean that kindly. She liked to scream and yell. I just sit and knit. During the filming of What ever happened to Baby Jane?, I knitted a scarf from Hollywood to Malibu...") the one made by Davis upon learning about Crawford's death may be the one revealing to what extent there was animosity between them. Davis simply said: " You should never say bad things about the dead, only say good. Joan Crawford is dead. Good."
Joan Crawford saw her finest hour with her performance in 1945's Mildred Pierce with which her popularity reached its peak and also earned her her only Academy Award (The role was previously offered to Davis who passed.) Although considered a screen legend, Mildred Pierce is the only piece in Crawford's body of work that qualified as a true classic. Never as glamorous as her rival, Davis made a name for herself by bold choices and originally taking on roles other actresses would not take on, relying more on her talent than looks. Davis was outspoken and had the image of a tough lady who refused to comply with the standards of the industry. By the late 40's and early 50's the careers of both actresses were on the decline. However, Bette Davis had a short but very significant resurrection when landing the role of a lifetime as Margo Channing in the classic All About Eve from 1955. Her performance in it is widely held as one of the all-time best performances by a female actress. In the heydays of Davis and Crawford, studio executives would be trying to pair the two actresses two headline a film, however, without any luck due to disagreements. In 1962 Davis and Crawford set their differences aside to finally co-star in Whatever happened to Baby Jane?, hoping to revisit their past glory. By this time a project involving the two aged dames was hardly a guarantee for financial success and the head of Warner Bros, Jack. L Warner, was originally quoted saying that he wouldn't want to spend a nickel on either one of those two "old broads".
Joan Crawford had previously done advertisements for Pepsi and was also affliated to the brand by having been married to the former CEO, why Bette Davis had a Coca Cola-machine installed on the set of the film. Returning the favour, Crawford forbid her twin daughters to interact with Davis' daughter. The last great installment of the feud came when Davis was nominated for an Academy Award for her part in the film, desperately wanting to win her third Oscar which would have set a new record for numbers of Oscars won by an actress (The record was later held by Katherine Hepburn).Crawford is believed to have actively campaigned against Davis' potential win and even accepted the Oscar that night on the behalf of winning actress Anne Bancroft who was absent from the show. Davis being Davis never forgave Crawford for her stunt.
Towards the end of their lives both Crawford and Davis experienced their share of personal tragedy. During a time when unauthorized kiss-and-tell stories had yet to hit the book shelves, Crawford's daughter shocked the film industry by writing a biography (Mommy dearest) about her alcoholic mother, including stories of child abuse and neglectance. Later Davis' daughter BD Hyman, who the former referred to as "the love of my life", wrote a similar book at a time during which her mother was battling cancer. BD Hyman likely seized the opportunity to capitalize on the success and fame of Crawford's daughter, thinking Davis wouldn't likely survive her illness anyway. Neither actress ever reunited with their daughter.
