Elizabeth's Bette Davis Page

On April 5th, 1908, Ruth Elizabeth Davis was born. She went on to become Bette Davis, one of the best actresses of all times. Since Bette was in so many movies, I'm only including her best known and my favorite films.

Though Bette officially began her career in 1931, her first big break came in 1934. She played a waitress turned prostitute Mildred Rogers in "Of Human Bondage", based on W. Somerset Maugham's novel. The film also starred Leslie Howard, who starred with Bette in some other movies:

In 1936, Bette starred opposite Leslie and newcomer Humphrey Bogart in the critically acclaimed "The Petrified Forest". Once again, Leslie played a loser who falls for Bette's waitress, and Bogart was a gangster. This is a must-see for all movie buffs! The next year, there was another Howard-Davis pairing in "It's Love I'm After", a romantic comedy about a couple who posponed their wedding 11 times, and seem to have no desire to settle down, until another girl interrupts their plans.

Bette won an Oscar for 1935's "Dangerous", about a former stage star turned drunk, and some of the not-so-nice things she does! Want to know what mischief she gets into? Then you should definitely see the movie!

Bette also won a Best Actress Academy Award in 1939 for the previous year's "Jezebel". It was Warner Brother's answer to "Gone With the Wind", which was feverishly beginning production in 1938. Julie (Bette) is a flirtatious young Southern girl who does whatever she wants, no matter how her beau, Pres (Henry Fonda) feels about the situations. But he gets even by marrying someone else! The classic film also stars Donald Crisp and George Brent, who would also star with Bette in many other movies.

In 1939, Bette and George were once again co-stars in the classic, "Dark Victory". It's about a socialite who tries to squeeze a lifetime into a few months, because she learned she's dying. The movie also stars Geraldine Fitzgerald, Ronald Reagan, and another one of Bette's former leading men, Humphrey Bogart. This is one of my favorite Bette Davis movies, and earned Bette an Oscar nomination. That same year, Brent had a small (but very important) part in "The Old Maid". Bette starred along with Miriam Hopkins. Rumors of a feud between the two add to the excitement of this film, about two cousins who deal with life after a mutual lover is killed in the Civil War. Delia (Hopkins) wins the love of the illegitimate child of Charlotte (Bette) and Clem (Brent). Charlotte, in turn, becomes a hard old maid, so that the girl would never suspect her to be the mother. It's heartwarming, sad, but also backstabbing. It's become a staple among the ladies in my house!

Bette also got to play royalty in 1939, when she played Queen Elizabeth I in "The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex". The film also starred Errol Flynn, Vincent Price, Olivia de Havilland, and Leo G. Carroll. In 1940, Davis starred in "The Letter", which won her a third Academy Award nomination. Unlike the previous two, however, she lost this one. This film-noir classic was nominated for six other Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director (William Wyler), and Best Supporting Actor (James Stephenson).

Links to other sites on the Web

Go on to Page 2!!!!!!
Elizabeth's Humphrey Bogart Page
Elizabeth's Henry Fonda Page
Elizabeth's Vincent Price Page
Elizabeth's Olivia de Havilland Page
Elizabeth's Leo G. Carroll Page

Please take the time to read my author's note...thanks!

people have visited this site since July 1999

E-mail me at: endofroad2@aol.com