The Unforgettable Bette Davis Feud: A Hollywood Saga
The annals of Hollywood history are replete with tales of ambition, glamour, and intense rivalries, but few burn as brightly and endure as long as the legendary Bette Davis feud with Joan Crawford. It wasn't merely a professional rivalry; it was a deeply personal, often venomous clash between two titans of the silver screen, a saga that has fascinated generations and continues to be dissected and dramatized to this day.
While reading about Bette Davis and Joan Crawford's iconic feud may seem entertaining and salacious, there's genuine sorrow hiding behind their glamorous lives. Their bitter enmity, played out in public and behind closed doors, transcended mere professional competition, evolving into a cultural touchstone that speaks volumes about the pressures, personalities, and power dynamics of Hollywood's Golden Age. This is a story of two women, both fiercely independent and immensely talented, whose paths tragically intertwined in a spectacle of animosity that became as famous as their films.
Table of Contents
- 1. The Genesis of a Rivalry: Why Did They Hate Each Other So Much?
- 2. Bette Davis: A Force of Nature
- 3. Joan Crawford: The Glamour Icon
- 4. The Battleground: What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?
- 5. Beyond the Set: The Oscars and Public Perception
- 6. The Legacy Endures: Feud (2017) and Beyond
- 7. The Human Cost: Sorrow Behind the Glamour
- 8. Why Does the Feud Still Fascinate?
1. The Genesis of a Rivalry: Why Did They Hate Each Other So Much?
Well, it's a long story. The enmity between Davis and Crawford created one of the most famous celebrity feuds of all time, a rivalry that began long before they ever shared a screen. Their mutual dislike was rooted in a complex tapestry of professional jealousy, clashing personalities, and differing approaches to Hollywood stardom. Bette Davis, known for her raw talent and willingness to portray unglamorous roles, often viewed Joan Crawford as a manufactured star, a product of the studio system more focused on glamour and publicity than genuine acting prowess. Crawford, in turn, likely resented Davis's critical acclaim and perceived artistic superiority, especially given Crawford's own struggles to be taken seriously as an actress beyond her stunning looks.
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Their paths frequently crossed, intensifying the simmering resentment. From early career competition for roles and leading men (most notably Franchot Tone, whom Davis allegedly desired but Crawford married), to perceived slights and public snubs, every interaction seemed to add fuel to the fire. This wasn't just a rivalry; it was a deeply ingrained personal vendetta that shaped their careers and public personas, making the Bette Davis feud with Joan Crawford a legendary component of Hollywood lore.
2. Bette Davis: A Force of Nature
Ruth Elizabeth Davis, universally known as Bette Davis, was an actress of unparalleled intensity and an undeniable force of nature in Hollywood's Golden Age. Renowned for her piercing eyes, distinctive voice, and fearless portrayal of strong, often unsympathetic female characters, Davis carved out a career that defied the conventional glamour-driven roles of her era. She was a trailblazer, fiercely independent, and famously battled the studio system for better roles and artistic control, earning her a reputation as both brilliant and notoriously difficult. Her dedication to her craft was legendary, often overshadowing her personal life, which was marked by multiple marriages and complex family dynamics. Davis was a two-time Academy Award winner for Best Actress, a testament to her profound impact on the art of acting.
Personal Data & Key Career Highlights: Bette Davis
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ruth Elizabeth Davis |
| Born | April 5, 1908, Lowell, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | October 6, 1989, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Active Years | 1929–1989 |
| Key Roles | Jezebel (1938), Dark Victory (1939), The Little Foxes (1941), Now, Voyager (1942), All About Eve (1950) |
| Awards | 2 Academy Awards for Best Actress (for Dangerous and Jezebel) |
By the early 1960s, Davis had been seen the prior year in *Pocketful of Miracles* (1961), a film that, while showcasing her talent, was mainly a vehicle for Glenn Ford and marked a period where both she and Crawford were struggling to find relevant roles in a changing Hollywood landscape. This shared career vulnerability would ironically set the stage for their most famous collaboration and the peak of the Bette Davis feud.
3. Joan Crawford: The Glamour Icon
Born Lucille Fay LeSueur, Joan Crawford meticulously crafted her public image, transforming herself into one of Hollywood's most enduring glamour icons. Unlike Davis, who often eschewed traditional beauty standards for the sake of her art, Crawford embraced and perfected the persona of the sophisticated, resilient woman. Her career was a testament to her ambition and adaptability, navigating the transition from silent films to talkies with remarkable success. Crawford was known for her striking looks, powerful screen presence, and shrewd business acumen, often taking control of her career in ways few actresses of her time dared. She cultivated a devoted fanbase and was a master of self-promotion, a trait that often put her at odds with the more artistically-minded Davis.
Personal Data & Key Career Highlights: Joan Crawford
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Lucille Fay LeSueur |
| Born | March 23, 1904 (or 1906), San Antonio, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | May 10, 1977, New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Active Years | 1925–1972 |
| Key Roles | Grand Hotel (1932), The Women (1939), Mildred Pierce (1945), Johnny Guitar (1954) |
| Awards | 1 Academy Award for Best Actress (for Mildred Pierce) |
Crawford's life outside of film was often as dramatic as her on-screen roles, marked by multiple marriages, adoption controversies, and a relentless pursuit of public adoration. Even her personal life, such as Joan's divorce, could overshadow Bette's starring role in a film, highlighting the constant competition for media attention that fueled their animosity. Both approaching their mid-fifties, Bette Davis and Joan Crawford were long past their glory days as royalty at their former studios, Warner Bros. and MGM respectively. This shared vulnerability and a desperate need for a hit would ironically bring them together for a project that would forever cement their rivalry in cinematic history.
4. The Battleground: *What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?*
The stage for the most intense chapter of the Bette Davis feud was set with the production of the 1962 psychological thriller, *What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?* This film, a dark and disturbing tale of two aging, co-dependent sisters, was a risky venture for both actresses. Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, both approaching their mid-fifties, were long past their glory days as royalty at their former studios. The film offered them a chance at a career resurgence, but it also forced them into an intimate, high-stakes collaboration that exacerbated their long-standing animosity. Allegedly born on the set of *Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?*, their on-screen performances were chillingly effective, perhaps because the genuine hatred between them seeped into every frame.
4.1. On-Set Antics and Escalations
The making of *What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?* became a legendary battleground. By now, feud audiences are well acquainted with two of the most notorious chapters in Bette Davis and Joan Crawford’s shared Hollywood history—their rivalry during the making of *What Ever*. Stories from the set are infamous: Davis allegedly installed a Coca-Cola machine (Crawford was on the board of Pepsi-Cola), and Crawford reportedly put weights in her pockets for a scene where Davis had to drag her, causing Davis back pain. No lipstick tube or dressing room was safe from the subtle (and not-so-subtle) acts of sabotage and passive aggression. Director Robert Aldrich found himself caught in the crossfire, attempting to harness their animosity for the film's benefit while preventing it from completely derailing production. The tension was palpable, and it undeniably contributed to the film's unsettling atmosphere, making it a classic that continues to fascinate more than half a century after it opened.
5. Beyond the Set: The Oscars and Public Perception
The animosity between Davis and Crawford didn't end when filming wrapped; it escalated during the 1963 Academy Awards season. Bette Davis received a Best Actress nomination for her performance in *What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?*, while Joan Crawford did not. This perceived slight infuriated Crawford, who then allegedly campaigned against Davis, even contacting other nominees to offer to accept their awards on their behalf if they won. On Oscar night, when Anne Bancroft won Best Actress for *The Miracle Worker*, it was Joan Crawford who dramatically swept onto the stage to accept the award on Bancroft's behalf, effectively upstaging Davis and denying her a moment in the spotlight. That was a story and a feud of biblical proportions, playing out not just on screen but in the very public arena of Hollywood's most prestigious event.
The public was captivated by this real-life drama. The press fueled the fire, eager for any new anecdote or perceived slight. This public fascination cemented the Bette Davis feud as a cornerstone of celebrity lore, demonstrating how personal conflicts could become a form of entertainment in themselves, transcending the films that spawned them. The rivalry became a cultural phenomenon, a cautionary tale, and a source of endless gossip and speculation, proving that even in the cutthroat world of Hollywood, some battles are fought long after the cameras stop rolling.
6. The Legacy Endures: *Feud* (2017) and Beyond
The enduring fascination with the Bette Davis feud reached a new generation in 2017 when Ryan Murphy released *Feud: Bette and Joan*. This FX anthology series, starring Susan Sarandon as Bette Davis and Jessica Lange as Joan Crawford, brought the legendary rivalry between Hollywood icons Bette Davis and Joan Crawford to the small screen. The show meticulously recreated the atmosphere of the *Baby Jane* set and the subsequent Oscar drama, offering a somewhat fictionalized but deeply compelling look into their complex relationship. Ryan Murphy’s popular series revived interest in the 1962 movie and the real-life drama that unfolded behind the scenes, proving that the story continues to fascinate more than half a century after it opened.
6.1. Critical Acclaim and Public Reception
So begins FX's 2017 miniseries, *Feud*, which garnered significant critical acclaim for its performances, writing, and production design. The series received numerous accolades, including multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. Jessica Lange and Susan Sarandon were both "Indicado melhor atriz em minissérie" (nominated for Best Actress in a Miniseries), showcasing their powerful portrayals of the two screen legends. The show itself was "Melhor minissérie ou filme para tv" (nominated for Best Miniseries or Television Film), highlighting its quality and impact. Supporting cast members also received recognition, with "Indicado melhor ator coadjuvante em minissérie" (nominated for Best Supporting Actor in a Miniseries) and "Indicado melhor atriz coadjuvante em minissérie" (nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Miniseries), and Jackie Hoffman was "Indicado Globo de Ouro" (nominated for a Golden Globe). The show premiered on March 3, 2017, generating considerable buzz and reigniting public interest in the nuanced, often heartbreaking story behind the sensational headlines. Learn more about the full cast of *Feud* with news, photos, videos and more at TV Guide.
7. The Human Cost: Sorrow Behind the Glamour
While reading about Bette Davis and Joan Crawford's iconic feud may seem entertaining and salacious, there's genuine sorrow hiding behind their glamorous lives. Beyond the sensational headlines and dramatic on-screen clashes, the rivalry took a significant personal toll on both women. Their lives, despite immense fame and fortune, were often marked by loneliness, insecurity, and a relentless pressure to maintain their star status in an unforgiving industry. The constant competition and public scrutiny likely exacerbated their personal struggles, leaving little room for genuine connection or peace. Both women faced declining careers in their later years, struggling to adapt to changing tastes and the emergence of new stars. This decline, coupled with their inability to truly reconcile, paints a poignant picture of the isolation that can accompany extreme fame.
7.1. The Children's Perspective
The personal struggles of Davis and Crawford extended to their relationships with their children, adding another layer of tragedy to their stories. Joan Crawford's strained relationship with her adopted daughter Christina became infamous with the publication of *Mommie Dearest*, a tell-all memoir that painted a harrowing picture of abuse and neglect. In one final, bizarre twist, something similar happened to Davis: one of her daughters, B.D. Hyman, wrote a book attacking her as well, titled *My Mother's Keeper*. These public familial betrayals, echoing the public feuds of their professional lives, underscore the profound personal pain and dysfunction that often lay beneath the glittering surface of Hollywood stardom. It suggests a cycle of unresolved issues and deep-seated resentments that permeated their private worlds, making their professional rivalry not just a spectacle, but a symptom of deeper personal turmoil.
8. Why Does the Feud Still Fascinate?
The enduring appeal of the Bette Davis feud lies in its multifaceted nature. It's more than just two divas squabbling; it's a rich narrative that explores themes of ambition, aging, gender roles in a patriarchal industry, and the psychological toll of fame. Their rivalry offers a window into the cutthroat world of Old Hollywood, where careers could be made or broken on a whim, and women often had to fight tooth and nail for every scrap of power and recognition. The feud also taps into a universal fascination with human conflict, particularly when played out by larger-than-life figures. It's a story of two formidable women, each a legend in her own right, locked in a battle for supremacy that transcended their professional lives and became deeply personal.
8.1. A Reflection of Hollywood's Golden Age
Ultimately, the feud between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford serves as a powerful reflection of Hollywood's Golden Age itself—a period of immense glamour and creativity, but also of intense pressure, insecurity, and often ruthless competition. Their story encapsulates the era's complex relationship with its stars, who were simultaneously adored and exploited, built up and torn down. The public's continued fascination with the Bette Davis feud is a testament to its timeless themes: the struggle for relevance, the pain of unfulfilled desires, and the enduring power of human animosity, even in the most glamorous of settings. It reminds us that behind every iconic performance and every glittering facade, there are real people with real struggles, making their rivalry not just entertaining, but profoundly human.
Conclusion
The legendary Bette Davis feud with Joan Crawford remains one of the most compelling and enduring sagas in Hollywood history. From its roots in professional jealousy and personal slights to its explosive culmination on the set of *What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?* and its dramatic aftermath at the Oscars, their rivalry captivated the world. It was a story of two strong, ambitious women, both past their prime, fighting for relevance in an industry that often discarded its aging stars. Yet, beneath the sensationalism, there lies a poignant tale of human vulnerability, the pressures of fame, and the deep sorrow that can accompany a life lived in the public eye, even extending to their relationships with their own children.
The continued fascination, fueled by adaptations like Ryan Murphy's *Feud*, underscores the timeless appeal of their story. It's a testament to the power of their personalities and the indelible mark they left on cinema and popular culture. The Bette Davis feud is more than just a historical footnote; it's a complex, dramatic, and ultimately tragic narrative that continues to resonate with audiences today, offering insights into the human condition and the often-brutal realities of stardom. What are your thoughts on this legendary rivalry? Share your insights in the comments below, or explore other fascinating stories from Hollywood's Golden Age on our site.
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