In 1930, Bette packed up her belongings and moved to Hollywood to screen test for a six month contract with Universal Studios. Her first film, Way Back Home (1931) was unsuccessful. That same year she tried again with The Bad Sister, which was also unsuccessful. With her movies not producing the profits Universal Studios wanted, they let her go. By 1932, Bette did not receive another contract with Universal Studio, so she signed a seven year contract with Warner Brothers. Her first critically acclaimed hit movie was Of Human Bondage, released in 1934. Thanks to her spectacular role in Dangerous (1935), she was nominated for a best Actress Oscar. Bette's talent was awarded when she became the first actress from Warner Brothers to win the Coveted Award. Unsatisfied with the roles she kept receiving, Bette left Warner Brother Production. After a dispute in 1936, in which Bette left the United States, she was offered another contract and better roles from the Warner Brother Production. The next five consecutive years, Bette received Oscar nominations.
Bette Davis was known for being difficult to work with, yet she was still a powerful woman in the film industry. She earned the title of highest paid woman in America, by 1942. She was known for playing difficult and unsympathetic roles. Confident on-screen and off, Bette had no problem performing in an industry that was dominated by men. Her personal life was just as hectic as the movies she played in. After being married four times, Bette had three kids. Two of which she adopted. Aside from acting, Bette helped organize the Hollywood Canteen during World War II. This was a once-abandoned night club that she turned into a place to entertain the soldiers passing through Los Angeles. Bette later went on to say, "There are few accomplishments in my life that I am sincerely proud of. The Hollywood Canteen is one of them." Bette was in hundreds of films by the 1970's, and was the first woman to receive the American Films Institute's Lifetime Achievement Award. Bette Davis was an incredible actress that forever changed how women were viewed in the film industry.
I have never heard of Bette Davis. I am surprised to learn that she basically sucked it up in her first two movies, then ended up wining an Oscar years later. I wonder if the scripts were bad or if she had to play a certain role and she couldn't? She sounds like a tough woman who wasn't afraid to take a risk. It's crazy she was the highest paid woman in the time period and that she was the face of the film industry. That's quite an accomplishment. It's cool that she helped open the Hollywood Canteen for the soldiers.
ReplyDeleteI have respect for any women being the first to do something back in the day. Back in the day women did not have it easy. It also surprised me that Universal Studios and Warner Bros companies were in business that far back in time. I did not know that those companies were in existence. For me it is interesting to read about the first female actress. I have no clue who she was until I read this blog. It doesn’t shock me that she was hard to work with because being the first in anything is not a walk in park. I do give her the props for doing what she did.
ReplyDeleteBefore reading this, I had never heard of Bette Davis. I had never known she was a big name actor back in the 1930s and 1940s. Warner brothers have made many of films and I have never seen any of them with her in these films. They must have had a lot of money to get her in their movies either being the highest paid woman in America. It must have been hard on her to have three kids while working in the film industry. I don’t follow who wins Oscar nominations, but she must have been a good actor to receive these.
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ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing such an amazing post with us and keep blogging...
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