Feud, for those of you who’ve been living under a rock, is the FX limited series about the legendary rivalry between movie stars Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. The series is based on the book Bette and Joan, The Divine Feud by Shaun Considine.
The story takes the filming of Whatever Happened to Baby Jane (also based on a novel) as a jumping off point but transcends campy biopic territory by going beneath the rivalry to the root of what both women were about and how much they had in common despite their animosity. The production was outstanding in every way, especially Susan Sarandon and Jessica Lange as Bette and Joan respectively. If you haven’t seen it, you need to get on that right away. The series ended on Sunday, but you can still catch it on demand, or on FX now, Amazon Instant Video or YouTube Red.
Can’t get enough of these Divas? Scroll down for some lovely vintage Ms. Davis and Ms. Crawford. You’re welcome.
First up, a reel of Bette Davis’ outtakes — yes I said outtakes — from many of the classic films we’ve seen her in. It’s kind of jarring and fascinating to see her curse or guffaw out loud in the middle of scenes we’ve come to associate with high drama. Enjoy.
https://youtu.be/XT2rTg44SQc
Next, a film nerd’s dream compilation of scenes from the show next to the actual shots from films or television shows that they re-create. Let’s just say the costumes, hair, and sets were beyond accurate.
Lastly, here’s a short doc about Joan’s film The Damned Don’t Cry, a tough film noir about a woman who escapes a life of drudgery and vows to make it by any means necessary. The lead character is very much the epitome Crawford character, a tough self-made dame from the wrong side of the tracks. Check it out and then see the movie.
If you’ve never seen Whatever Happened to Baby Jane, why the hell not? If you watch it here, you’ll help sustain this blog and see a great movie. Win-win! Or you can check out that lifestyle book that Joan wrote in the 70s My Way of Life, a time capsule.
What’s your favorite Bette Davis picture? What’s your favorite Joan Crawford picture? Which actress is your fave? And which one should I do a top ten list for first?
