re: Bankhead and Davis and Miriam Hopkins, too
Last Edit: PlayWiz 02:53 pm EDT 09/12/24
Posted by: PlayWiz 02:39 pm EDT 09/12/24
In reply to: Bankhead and Davis re: dark victory - Marlo*Manners 09:31 am EDT 09/12/24

Bette Davis certainly was aware of and appreciated Miriam Hopkins' great talent as an actress, but she really detested her as a person -- even calling her out in a clip from the old "Dick Cavett Show" years later. She didn't go into the affair, but Bette knew of Miriam being known to try to upstage other actors. They did two films together, "The Old Maid" and "Old Acquiantance", and I would kind of bet that Bette enjoyed shooting the scene in the latter film where she got to physically throttle Miriam! I think Hopkins was a terrific talent, especially wonderful in "Trouble in Paradise", "Design for Living", "These Three" (1st version of "The Children's Hour"), the wonderful comedy "The Mating Season" (going toe to toe with Thelma Ritter and Gene Tierney) and many other films. If her reputation for being difficult decreased her employment as she matured, William Wyler certainly employed her in her later years. I recall when I was in college gong to a showing of the Fredric March "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" that after one of her big scenes, some frat guy in the back of the theater yelled out "That broad can act!!!" Very true.

There are numerous funny stories about Tallulah.

1) She was something of a nudist. Once when the doorbell rang to her apartment, she opened the door wearing nothing but a sweater. The delivery boy was speechless, to which Miss Bankhead replied in that unmistakable low, sultry voice, "What's the matter? Haven't you ever seen a sweater"?"

2) She was shooting "Lifeboat" with Alfred Hitchcock directing. On the set, the lifeboat itself was reachable by a ladder that the cast had to climb to get into it. Miss Bankhead wasn't wearing underwear beneath her dress, and someone informed Hitchcock, to which Hitch replied, "Well, I think that falls under the department of hairdressing!" Funny guy!

3) When Bankhead when out to Hollywood, she was asked what her plans were. She replied, "To fuck that divine Gary Cooper!"

Whatta gal!
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