Bette Davis and Joan Crawford’s feud continued until their deaths and has since become part of a Hollywood legend. Their rivalry is explored in tonight’s episode of Talking Pictures on BBC Four.
The feud arose with personal resentment for each other, as Crawford had entered the industry earlier than Davis and was a superstar by the time Davis arrived on the scene.
Reportedly, the first clash between the leading ladies occurred when Crawford’s announcement of her divorce overshadowed Davis’s introduction to stardom.
News broke in 1933, with Davis’ premium film being shrugged off in the papers in favor of the Crawfords news and the Davis film being dropped from theaters early due to poor sales.
52 years after this, Davis told journalist Michael Thorton that she hadn’t forgiven Crawford because she overshadowed her introduction to Hollywood and “never would.”
Getting over each other would become a recurring theme in the duo’s battle, as each constantly tried to outdo the other even when they were starring in the same movie.
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Their relationship will only get worse after their first engagement as both women fall for the same man, Franchot Tone, a battle that Crawford will win.
The verbal beatings began at this point, with Davis claiming that it was Crawford’s fame that caught Tone’s attention while Crawford responded that he “thought Pete was a good actress, but never thought of her as a woman.”
One of Davis’ most devastating digs appeared in Crawford at this time as well, and will be cemented into history with the 1989 biography Bette And Joan: The Divine Feud.
Davis reportedly said of Crawford, “I’ve slept with every male star in MGM except Lassie.”
In the same book, Davis claimed: “Joanne always cries a lot. Her tear ducts must be very close to her bladder.”
Despite the women’s warring ways, the directors were incredibly keen to share the duo on screen.
In the end, the two succumbed to the demands and co-authored the psychological horror film What Happened to Baby Jane? in 1962.
The horror included some physically demanding shots, and the stars used this to gain the upper hand in their dispute, with Davis allegedly hitting Davis hard enough to require stitches according to Harper’s Bazaar.
Davis is said to have said, “The best time I had with Joan Crawford was when I pushed her down the stairs at What Happened to Baby Jane?”
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One particular scene required Davis drag Crawford across a room, leading to rumors that Crawford had covered her pockets with stones or even wore a weightlifting belt to make the job more difficult for her co-star.
Crawford denied the allegations, saying “it simply didn’t happen” but noted that she didn’t make the scene as easy for her co-star as she might have.
The movie was a huge hit and sparked the commissioning of another sequel, Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte, with the two stars filming together once again.
Both actresses needed so much convincing to get involved that Davis allegedly told the director when he suggested shooting with Crawford: “I wouldn’t deal with her if she was on fire.”
Crawford exited the film a week and a half later and was replaced by Olivia de Havilland.
According to KQED Arts, Crawford made a scathing remark: “I resent her. I don’t see how she built her career out of mannerisms rather than the ability to truly act. It’s bogus, but I think the audience likes it.”
In an interview with Life Magazine in 1971, Crawford declared that she had the “discipline” that Davis lacks, saying, “She has a cult, and what the hell a cult except a gang of rebels for no reason. I have fans. There’s a big difference.”
Ultimately, the controversy would end with Crawford’s death in 1977, and Davis was widely quoted as having the last word with: “You shouldn’t say bad things about the dead, you should just say well…Joan Crawford is dead. Good” on Although the legality of this quote is discussed.
Talking Pictures: Bette and Joan airs tonight at 8:30pm on BBC Four.
Pete and Joanne: Divine Enmity Available over here.
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