BETTE VS. JOAN – Read in Janet Susan Nepales’ Hollywood Bulletin column that there’s a TV series on the off screen battle between legendary actresses Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, written by Ryan Murphy. Bette and Joan were around during the golden years of Hollywood (from the ‘30s to the ‘50s).
Susan Sarandon is Bette and Jessica Lange is Joan. The two actresses were forever catty and bitchy toward each other.
Incidentally, all four actresses are Oscar awardees.
In the early ‘60s, the two aging and fading stars were cast as feuding sisters in the thriller “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?,” which revitalized their careers. At that time, Bette advertised in a Hollywood paper that she was broke and needed a job.
Joan wasn’t broke but wanted badly to act in a lead role, having done mostly cameo parts.
Bette settled for a one-time fee, but the ever business-like Joan asked for a percentage in the film’s gross…aside from her usual salary. Smart move as “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?” was a box-office hit.
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‘NICE LADY’ – Also part of the TV series on Bette and Joan is Olivia de Havilland, played by Catherine Zeta-Jones.
The ever pleasant Miss De Havilland wasn’t really into the “epic” off screen battle, but then she replaced Joan in the sequel of sorts to “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?.” Which was “Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte.” It would have starred Bette and Joan anew.
Joan was sick and couldn’t do the movie and so enter Miss De Havilland, a move welcomed by Bette.
Joan’s reaction: “Oh, I’m so happy for Livvie. She is much a nice lady…besides she needs the break.”
And Joan said that under the oxygen tent.
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FEUDING SISTERS—Actually, Miss De Havilland was also feuding with real-life sister Joan Fontaine, who couldn’t seem to accept the reality that she was not that popular and acclaimed.
To think she was ahead in Hollywood and got her Oscar before Olivia did…not once but twice.
All throughout their acting years, Joan and Olivia hardly spoke to each other. It must be said though that Joan was the combative one, with Olivia hoping that one day they’d reconcile.
In a way that day came, was it in the ‘90s?. Joan heard that Olivia was sick in Paris and was short of cash. Joan promptly sent a hefty check to cover her sister’s medical expenses.
And that ended the feud of sisters Joan and Olivia.