ClassyCo
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Considering FX's Feud that has recently premiered, I thought this would be a good time to get a forum started on Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. Their feud was infamous. Few actresses have been compared so much over the years as these two have. There one picture together, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962), has become a popular camp classic.
It seems that the majority agree that Davis was the better actress, while Crawford was the greater beauty. I most disagree on both accounts. Davis was an underrated beauty, and Crawford was an underrated actress (by most accounts, anyhow). Both actresses won Oscars: Davis for Dangerous (1935) and Jezebel (1938) and Crawford for Mildred Pierce (1945). Crawford was a box office powerhouse years before Davis got the "meaty" roles she is known for. By the time Davis was the "Queen of Warner Brothers", Crawford was proclaimed "box office poison" and many saw her as a has-been. When they each worked for Warner's throughout the forties, Crawford more or less took Davis' leftovers, and did the roles justice if I do say so myself.
Anyways, I don't want to get into a whole biography about their rivalry and stuff. I honestly cannot say which actress I would prefer. Both of them did exceptionally well in their films, even in the weaker films when their acting more than made up for the bad writing. Davis is known for play "tough" women, while Crawford is more known for the "glamour" type of outings. Both actresses had a "sameness" throughout their work (Yes, they kind of did). But there isn't anything wrong with that; familiarity works well by establishing an image with your audience.
I guess I'm going to cast my vote for both. What's your thoughts? Comments please, and let's be nice.
It seems that the majority agree that Davis was the better actress, while Crawford was the greater beauty. I most disagree on both accounts. Davis was an underrated beauty, and Crawford was an underrated actress (by most accounts, anyhow). Both actresses won Oscars: Davis for Dangerous (1935) and Jezebel (1938) and Crawford for Mildred Pierce (1945). Crawford was a box office powerhouse years before Davis got the "meaty" roles she is known for. By the time Davis was the "Queen of Warner Brothers", Crawford was proclaimed "box office poison" and many saw her as a has-been. When they each worked for Warner's throughout the forties, Crawford more or less took Davis' leftovers, and did the roles justice if I do say so myself.
Anyways, I don't want to get into a whole biography about their rivalry and stuff. I honestly cannot say which actress I would prefer. Both of them did exceptionally well in their films, even in the weaker films when their acting more than made up for the bad writing. Davis is known for play "tough" women, while Crawford is more known for the "glamour" type of outings. Both actresses had a "sameness" throughout their work (Yes, they kind of did). But there isn't anything wrong with that; familiarity works well by establishing an image with your audience.
I guess I'm going to cast my vote for both. What's your thoughts? Comments please, and let's be nice.