Bette Davis

by Grace May Carter

In a career that spanned six decades, two Academy Awards, and ten Oscar nominations, Bette Davis became one of the greatest screen legends of all time. But, as her epitaph says, "She did it the hard way." She was in constant battles with co-stars, directors, and studios and struggled with addictions to alcohol and cigarettes. She had four stormy marriages and even her three children brought pain and controversy - one wrote a scathing tell-all book, another had a severe mental disability, and a third was the subject of a prolonged custody battle. But in her iconic film roles - including All About Eve and What Ever Happened to Baby Jane - Davis transcended her troubles to leave an indelible mark on American cinema. Possessing none of the glamorous beauty of Greta Garbo, she had something more powerful and a restless, incandescent energy that made her mesmerizing to watch on the big screen. Here is Davis's story - her famous feud with Joan Crawford, skirmishes with Errol Flynn, affairs with Howard Hughes and William Wyler - and enough drama, confrontation, and heartache to fill several lifetimes. But she never regretted a single moment. "Being hysterical is like having an orgasm," Davis once cracked. "It's good for you."

394 pages, Paperback

Published June 27, 2018

Reviews

[Sue Edgerton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really learned a lot about one of America's greatest movie legends. Bette Davis was a strong woman who devoted her whole life to her acting craft, but at the cost of having a happy personal life. It was sad to read that she failed in her 4 marriages and that she was estranged from 2 of her 3 children at the time of her death.

[Erin_loves_2read · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed getting to learn more about Bette Davis even though she seemed to be a very disagreeable person to many!