Product Description
A star-struck fan recounts the story of how her dream came true when Bette Davis came to dinner and had to stay in her suburban home for four weeks due to a hotel strike in Manhattan. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

The REAL Bette Davis!
I have read every book that has been written about Ms. Davis and this little paperback is my favorite.I read The Girl Who Walked Home Alone today and it is excellent, but it is more about her career and films than a real picture of the woman. Someone should make a film about this story. How she ended up staying with this couple is amazing.You have dialog between two women not between a super star and a housewife. Since Ms. Davis was not all that fond of women, preferring men, I guess she mellowed in old age and allowed a younger woman to get to know her.Even briefly. It is an entertaining insight into the daily life of someone we all loved and miss.

I've read this 3 times.......If you like Bette Davis you'll have fun
I read one reviewer saying what a bad read this was and I just can't believe he/she would?!?!?!?!?!I have read this book 3 times and I think it gets better each time.I have also seen the play twice and enjoyed it both times.I have lent the book out to about 6 people and they all enjoyed it too.Its one of those books you don't have to really think about it. Its humourous airy fun..........its no Shakespeare, but just a damn good time.Bravo to Miss Elizabeth Fuller for allowing us into her time with Bette Davis.I know if I had this legendary star with me for a month I would have written something too.Its the only true way you really learn about the real person beneath the star facade.

Much Ado About Nothing
The reviews on this site called the book "a hoot." I hate that geriatric expression. I should have known better. This story would have made an excellent magazine article or a Golden Girls episode but there just isn't enough here for a book. Bette Davis spews some funny lines here and there but Fuller is no writer and not even an interesting character. In fact, she's really out there. I'm sure Ms. Davis thought she was a total nutcase. I also can't believe that Fuller had the audacity to take this even further and perform it on the New York stage - playing herself no less! In a way, I think it's quite sad because Ms. Davis was heartsick at the time for her daughter's scathing, tell-all book. I'm sure she never dreamed that a country bumpkin like Fuller would also capitalize from her name years later.

Still, as we learn in the book, Fuller is all about believing in communications with the otherworld. If that's true, I'm sure Ms. Davis has already made contact, hopefully depositing a couple of choice words and a poltergeist-ish bop to Fuller's noggin. Her dull-as-dirt husband or one of those hayseed handymen should have knocked some sense into this woman the minute she mentioned picking up a pen.

Bette Davis Delight
You should defintly get this book! Its a lot of fun it shows Bette is witty and of course bitchy! lol Its great fun and well worth it. I could see her saying "brother or christ" definitly get this book its a lot of fun!

A RARE INSIGHT.
This is a delightfully funny little book in which author/psychic Elizabeth Fuller shares her experiences with her legendary house guest - Bette Davis, who stayed with Fuller and her husband and small son for a month!Amusing episodes include Liz taking Bette to McDonald's (she promised her son a visit) and the attention Davis attracted.Bette and the author watched JEZEBEL together one evening as it aired on the telly.I liked the book because it gives us insight into the real Bette Davis, who could be very child-like and just as vulnerable as anyone.Well worth reading! ... Read more

Product Description
Bette Davis (1908-1989) was the great actress of the Golden Age of Cinema. Known for her bullish temper and incomparable candor, she began life as the favorite daughter of a lonely, unfulfilled single mother. Convinced that she lacked beauty, Davis devoted everything to her acting. In classic films such as Jezebel, All About Eve, Dark Victory and Now, Voyager, she distorted herself into grotesque, shocking characters -- always, she insisted, for the good of the role. Off-stage she never achieved the same success, becoming a serial divorcee. By the end of her life, her repertoire had narrowed into excruciating self-imitation. This book unearths the complex, self-destructive woman beneath the steely public persona. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Moser Book - Not Worth Reading
First, let me say if one wants to read a well researched, objective book on Bette Davis than start by Not buying this book! Instead - consider Dark Victory by Ed Sikov. It is a well researched and a far better, fairer reflection of the life and times of Bette Davis.

This book - Bette Davis by Laura Moser is a superficial, poorly researched negative view of an actress's life and body of work. Moser spends too much time trying to analyze a person she doesn't know by quoting people who didn't know her personally, quoting past employees with an axe to grind or, better yet the ever suspect BD Hyman who has proven throughout time her hateful contempt for everything about her Mother - except her money which supported her for years.

After reading many books on Miss Davis, Moser's book was a big disappointment. Not only would I like my money back, I'd like the time spent reading the book back. Fortunately 145 pages didn't take up too much time. Nor does it offer much in capturing the essence of a full and incredible actress like Davis. By the way Miss Moser, all those films you speak of that bombed (in the late 40's - 60's) a lot of them are considered classics today. The film industry during the 50's and 60's released some of the worst films to great public acclaim (Americans had crap for taste in films then). After World War II, Hollywood and Americans in general only saw women in the roles of sex kittens or housewives. The fiery strong intelligent women that Davis depicted in the 30's and early 40's were outcasts in post war America. The only exception was 'All About Eve' made in 1950. It's no wonder her career suffered during the mid 50's. Strong roles for older women were almost non-existent during that period. I also disagree with Moser's assessment that Davis was nothing more then a parody of herself from the mid-50's to her death. Granted, she didn't always pick the best roles later in life, but I can understand those choices when considering her financial woes at the time. But, I still wouldn't categorize her performances as nothing more than self parody.

I'm not saying Miss Davis was all positive, sugar and spice, nor would I want that from her. What I love about Bette Davis, besides her talent as an actress was her fierce independence, tenacity and for lack of a better term - balls as a woman. She showed women of her day and mine, that women can seize the day and leave their mark in this world, but they better be prepared to fight for their right to do so.

This book doesn't scratch the surface of telling the complex story of Bette Davis. Take my advice, buy Sikov's book Dark Victory instead.

Based on Bette Davis' daughter's awful book..
A shallow treatment of Bette Davis' career and a mean-spirited run down of her in her private life, via BD, Bette's universally despised daughter, who wrote a memoir of her mother so inaccurate . even the most solid of Bette's detractors hated it.

Many "facts" are lifted from BD's pages about her mother, and then Moser tries for analysis of certain films, by way of the Films Of Bette Davis. Not an original thought here at all..of course she never met Bette Davis , nor has she seen her films.

Get This N' That and The Lonely Life,by Miss Davis herself,and The "Interview" books..Mother Godamn, and I'd Kiss Ya..etc." for better information.

Moser has the nerve to cite BD's book as a souce that's not very good(she says), but irresitible..irresistable for copying and agreeing with all of it.Avoid this one.

A terrible book about a truly great artist and star.

THE BEST BETTE BOOK EVER
There is no need to buy any other book about Bette Davis but this one! It has it all---in her words as well as excerpts from others. Having read other books about this celebrated actress, this book won hands down as a must read. Trust me, you will be awed by this. It's simply a book that you cannot put down till you finish it.

Fascinating!
I loved this intriguing biography of Bette Davis.Moser's elegant prose makes it a pleasure to read.She writes with great detail and really gets into Bette's psychology.Even as a true Bette fan, I gained a lot of insight by reading this book!What a complicated woman...
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

DAVIS BIOGRAPHY IS A PHOTOFEST
"Bette Davis - A Celebration" was written by Alexander Walker, the film critic for the London 'Standard'. During his career, he interviewed Davis several times, getting under the Diva's skin.

He writes authoritatively about Davis' career: from her early days in stock companies to her super-stardom and decline. As a celebration of her career, the book charms.

But what makes this book an above-avarage bio is the hundreds upon hundreds of carefully chosen stills of her films from the extensive Kobal Collection.

As entertaining as it is hard to put down. A must for anybody who has a keen interest in Hollywood history. ... Read more

Product Description
Bette Davis, whose career spanned almost 50 years and covered theatre, radio, TV and motion pictures, was at one time the first lady of the big screen. Working with such storied performers as Henry Fonda, Humphrey Bogart, and Joan Crawford, and directors Edmund Goulding, William Wyler and Robert Aldrich, Bette Davis provided some of the most memorable performances in movie history. This volume contains detailed analyses of Bette Davis top twelve films spanning 1938 to 1987 and including The Letter, All About Eve, The Little Foxes, Jezebel, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? and The Whales of August. Each film is discussed in depth, with an examination of its script, direction, camerawork and performances, particularly as they relate to Davis s work. A second group of films, memorable largely for Davis's performance rather than the overall success of the work, are also examined. Special emphasis is placed on the way Davis viewed her own work as well as the detrimental effect her devotion to her career had on her personal life. Appendices contain a list of her marriages and children; her Oscar nominations; a discussion of Davis s missed opportunities; and a partial chronology of her films. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Worthwhile guide to Davis's best but nothing new really.
Peter McNally asks at the beginning of this paperback, "With all the books about Bette Davis, why another?" His response is that "This is the first to analyse specifically her performances in her top work". Well not really Mr McNally but it makes good marketing hype. Many of her biographies analyse in detail her greatest performances and one book, "Star Acting: Gish, Garbo, Davis" by Charles Affron uses shots from her films to analyse her development in contrast to the very different styles of Lillian Gish and Greta Garbo. You make many references to Affron's book in your text.

So having established that this book is not really "new", what do we have? Well we have an easily read and detailed analysis of Davis's most famous performances drawing upon many sources including personal views, reviews of the time and quotes from other film historians, usually sprinkled with more general anecdotes placing the film in the context of Davis's personal life at the time and the stage her career was at. McNally has been a fan of Davis from childhood and concludes she was the best film actress of the 20th Century after all other contenders are considered. He is able to demonstrate that her best work was not simply confined to her years at Warner Brothers (1932 to 1949) by including "The Catered Affair" (1956), "A Piano for Mrs Cimino" (1981), "Strangers: The Story of a Mother and a Daughter" (1979) and others. He easily demonstrates that Davis's famous mannerisms were always subsumed when she had a good script, a good director and a good production. His comments on "The Catered Affair" were pleasing. Davis's performance was panned in America when it was released maybe due to bias against her attempting such a role. As McNally states, if you did not know of Bette Davis, then you could not fail to approve of her brilliant character acting.

While the book is an easy read, there is evidence that further editing would have improved it. The plots of each films are described in detail which is probably OK given what the author is trying to do but it is unforgiveable that he would make mistakes in those synopses e.g. in "The Man Who Came To Dinner", he credits Davis as appearing in a very funny scene with Jimmy Durante, a sequence actually played by Monty Woolley. Also, quite often, McNally repeats himself, losing a logical flow in his discussion of the particular film, then reverting to that point on the next page. Possibly the best bits are the Forward and Afterword when Davis's total contribution is evaluated.

Maybe the greatest value of this volume would be to a young person who has seen Davis in one or 2 films but has no idea about the breadth and depth of her work. I have a niece who was overwhelmed by Davis in "All About Eve" and asked for more information about her. This book will be the perfect gift for her next birthday. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

The essence of a Hollywood legend, if not the whole story
Having read several of Higham's biographies, I've come to the conclusion that he's more or less in the category of Kitty Kelley, if not quite as free and easy with twisting the truth around.
This bio. is itself, ok, but could have been a lot better. For one thing, (big pet peeve), The author is simply not careful with dates, and therefore one worries that he's not careful with other information as well. For example, observant readers will love Bette's 13-month-long pregnancy with daughter BD Hyman.
The book was published in 1981, and so is pre-Bette's strokes and mastectomy, and pre "My Mother's Keeper".
Not a bad read, but there are many others, written a little more carefully and covering Bette's entire life, which are more worth the reader's time.

The fast life and hard times of Bette Davis
A woman I know says she's seen "Now Voyager" 34 times.Practically everybody has seen "all About Eve" at least 10-12 times.Any insomniac can do 10 minutes on Bette Davis's fire-and-ice, or "Elizabeth and Essex." So there's been some call for a decent biography of the star.

Charles Higham, veteran Hollywood journalist, was among those who answered. (He also authored books on Marlene Dietrich, Katherine Hepburn, and Errol Flynn, the latter being quite controversial in its time, due to the allegations he made against Flynn. )However, his Davis book, while it unspools a much more dramatic offstage life than you might expect, is reasonably responsible in its treatment of his subject's juicy private existence: he makes no sensational allegations against her, and sticks pretty closely to known, or verifiable facts.

Bette Davis was born of sturdy New England stock, though her parents divorced.She wanted to be an actress from an early age, and was blessed--and burdened-- by an ambitious stage mother, Ruthie, who helped Davis achieve success (Bette supported her in luxury as soon as she was able.) In addition,she had to support an envious, emotionally troubled sister who frequently required expensive hospitalization.

She had affairs with famed director William Wyler, and multi-millionaire Howard Hughes, but she married four weak men whom she had to support. Her second husband died in mysterious, violent circumstances.Her fourth, actor Gary Merrill, took to drinking heavily; she had several widely publicizedbattles with him to keep him away from their adopted son. Then sheadopted an infant girl who turned out to be mentally retarded: she had to keep her in pricey private care.And then there was the daughter who hurt Bette the most, towards the end of her life, publishing a "Mommie Dearest"-style attack on Ms Davis, similar to that published by Joan Crawfod's adopted daughter.

So Davis saw quite a bit of turmoil in her private life, and, as for her courageous highly-publicized public battles with Warner Brothers, her studio: well, they helped every actor who came after her.

Finally, it seems she suffered all her working life from peculiar accidents, bad luck, ill health, and the odd nervous breakdown.All of which suffering should prove as vicariously satisfactory to the interested reader as a good old Joan Crawford movie.

But first and last, of course, there is the work and that outlives Joan Crawford-- and Bette Davis.

Suprisingly good Davis Biography
This is an excellent well-written look at Bette Davis' life and career up to 1981 when it was published.Author Charles Higham is somewhat notorious for his more controversial biographies such as the one on Errol Flynn but this one on Davis has it's feet on the ground (although his allegations that Joan Crawford lusted after Davis were quite shocking to many back then and denied by some).It was also the first book on Davis that punctured her carefully constructed image as a serene grande dame of films off the screen and the first to write of her romances with Howard Hughes and William Wyler.Even with opening the door on some aspects of Davis' life, he is fairly respectful and seems to admire her courage and strength.Davis herself did not knock the book which should say something.Try to get a hardcover version with the gorgeous pop artwork dustjacket of Davis from her ALL ABOUT EVE era. ... Read more

Product Description
In 1936 London, British mystery writer Agatha Christie teams up with Hollywood starlet Bette Davis to investigate a bitter feud between rival archaeologists that leads to a series of murders. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A Satirical Mystery
Like all Baxt's entries in the famous people murder mysteries, this one is a true satire.In it we see the incomparable Miss Bette Davis as she takes up residence in England while waiting for her contract court case with Warner Brothers.She is staying in an archeologist's house and while there the archeologist is found dead in his own study.Bette is thrown in with her neighbour, none other than Agatha Christie the famous mystery writer to and they're trying to solve a murder.Before the book is done another death occurs, and the story rushes to its conclusion.The setting of the book only takes place over a 12-hour stretch and a lot happens in that time frame.Bette gets a taste of what a truly disfunctional family is like.The book was OK and there are lots of twists and turns, but I didn't find that it showed the true Bette.It missed somehow.She was a multi-faceted woman and a wonderful actress, but this book falls short a bit in its depiction of her true character.The mystery is fun though, and if read in the context of a satire is well worth it.

BETTE MEETS AGATHA TO CATCH A KILLER!
Bette Davis is having problems in Hollywood. Warner Brothers won't provide the juicy parts she needs to broaden her screen career, and she wants to renegotiate her contract. Also, her marriage seems to be on the rocks. So naturally, she decides to sail to England to get away from it all.On the ship she meets Nydia Tilson, a prominent medium. And since Bette is looking for a place to live while in London, Nydia suggests she rent the mansion of her former fiancé, the famous archaeologist, Virgil Wynn. Bette is more that willing to do so.

Unfortunately, it appears as if someone is slowly murdering Virgil, who realizes this but with stiff British upper lip sits around fading away while planning to leave on his next (and probably last) archaeological dig.

Bette moves in the day Virgil that moves out for journey to Egypt. She also meets her next door neighbor a certain Mrs. Mallowan, who just happens to be a writer with a passion for eating apples.

The next morning Bette wakes to discover Virgil's dead body. Informing her neighbor of the situation Agatha Mallowan responds, "My specialité. A body in the library!"

The rest of the novel unwinds in true Christie-style with loads of suspicious friends, relatives and hired help. (Unfortunately, there's no butler who could have done it.)

As in all of his celebrity mysteries, Baxt has again thoroughly researched both the history of the era and the lives of Bette Davis and Agatha Christie. This results in a very believable and enjoyable work. This one set on my book shelf for a couple of years before I got around to reading it. So you might have a hard time finding a copy of it. If you do, grab it because it is a fun read. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Bette Davis; she was The Sun, The Moon and The Stars.
If you love Bette, you can't afford to miss out on this touchingly powerful (2nd.) autobiography "This 'N' That" by Ms. Bette Davis. Written in the final years of her life Ms. Davis touches on many avenues of her life, personal and private. Many of the beginning chapters talk about her mastectomy and her life devastating stoke that followed 9 days after her mastectomy. (If you or a loved one have suffered a stroke buy this book it will be a great inspiration to you.) Also, Bette talks some about her daughter's scathing autobiography "My Mothers Keeper" by B. D. Hymann. I don't know if any of you saw the "Phil Donahue Show: Bette Davis" back in late 1987, but she was brilliant talking about her book and how she hoped it would be an inspiration to mastectomy and stoke victims. She also tales many funny, sad and heartwarming stories of her career and home life in this book. I highly recommend this book, and that episode of the "Phil Donahue Show", if you can find it. You will not find that interview with Mr. Donahue in any of Bette's filmographies, but will see a brief clip in the "Stardust: The Bette Davis Story" TCM documentary. I fortunately found someone who recorded the interview when it aired on TV, and that's how I purchased a complete version of the "Donahue: Bette Davis" interview. If your interested in purchasing the full "Donahue Show" interview with Bette check on [...], and search Davis on Donahue in Movies & Television. However I must warn you, I am not responsible for any orders you make from that person on [...], that is just where I ordered my copy, I am simply referring you to a source of entertainment that you will find interesting if you like this book.

Honest
I read this book after I read The Girl That Walked Home Alone. This book has much of the same information as the other. Bette is honest and forthright. Although it is a good book and I enjoyed reading it, I felt as though The Girl Who Walked Home Alone was more in detail. All in all a very good book. ... Read more

Product Description
Drinking with writers such as William Burroughs and Robin Maugham, coping with Bette Davis, The Krays and 'Mad' Frankie Fraser, managing the gloriously alcoholic comedian Mrs Shufflewick (Rex Jameson) and 'the stately homo of England' Quentin Crisp - in The Krays and Bette Davis Patrick Newley writes candidly about his experiences as a friend and colleague of some of the most eccentric and infamous figures of the 20th century. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

One of the Most Beautiful Collections of Actress Photos
I have loved this book for over 25 years now.I still have my copy I acquired when I was a teenager, the dust jacket is long gone but the book is still cherished.These are five extraordinary women in film history.This book is not as lavish as Larry Carr's first book FOUR FABULOUS FACES (on Crawford, Garbo, Dietrich, and Swanson)but it's an awesome collection of pictures and a good introduction to these stars.I've always felt Davis and Hepburn may have been included for their still being household names and good selling points for the book, though they certainly deserve to be in here, Carr is clearly not as enthusiastic about them as the other ladies and Davis particularly gets a bit of criticism that is sound but seems a little inappropiate given the way he praises Del Rio, Loy, and Lombard to the skies.This was actually the first book published that I can recall that took Davis to task for her ego and allegedly troublesome behaviour. Nevertheless, only a fool would deny Bette Davis is one of the five greatest women stars in film history, and most would say she is in the top two or even number one.The only woman who can compare with her is Katharine Hepburn and while Carr mentions a quirk or two of Hepburn's he is generally highly complementary.Carole Lombard had a major revival in the 1970's and Carr is right there with the crowd praising her elegance and wonderful comic talent; the cooly glamorous Myrna Loy is clearly another major favorite of Carr's, although recognized as a superstar, she is not written about on the level of Hepburn and Davis or even Lombard so it's especially nice to see her getting her due.And then there is Dolores Del Rio.I had never seen her before I got this book 25 years ago, probably never had even heard of her.Back then, I kind of resented someone I was not familiar with at all was put on a pedestal with these mega superstars.Well, I am pleased to say I got over my ignorance, today I absolute love Dolores Del Rio and recognize her awesome, almost peerless beauty.She was also an excellent actress and quite a historically important one given her trailblazing career as a Hispanic star.She most definately is a "fabulous face" and one that deserves to be recognized one of the most dignified and breathtakingly beautiful women motion pictures will ever know. This book is a must for anyone who loves the golden era of Hollywood.

Though it says more, these 4 stars are my favorite
First Edition, 265 pages. This book is a sequel to Larry Carr's previous book, "Four Fabulous Faces". In this edition, he concentrates on five legendary Hollywood actresses: Bette Davis, Katharine Hepburn, Dolores Del Rio, Carole Lombard and Myrna Loy.

Through ton of incredible B&W photographs, Mr Carr traces the lives and film careers of each woman and the evolution of their appearance, using screen test shots, movie stills, studio portraits, high fashion sittings and candid photographs. Many of the B&W photographs are full page size and rarely published. This book is a must for fans of old Hollywood and any one or all of the five actresses included. The book is 9" x 11" in size.

As to it saying More in the title, this book is part 2 even better fo me than part 1 which are 4 different starlets.

I was especially pleased that he had interviewed Myrna Loy for the book. So her biography part was top drawer, as are the others.

So many pages that this is the best of both worlds without sacrificing either element photos or bios. And I bought it for the photos I'll admit, and was not sorry. It is a beautiful 1st rate photo book. And I collect the best of them. ... Read more

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Describes the physical characteristics and habits of the harvester ants and the little crickets they keep as pets. ... Read more

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A study of the life cycle, growth patterns, and importance of mosses. ... Read more

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Two Nigerian folktales explain why flamingos stand on one leg and why spiders are often found under stones. ... Read more

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For individuals and couples who struggle with their social and intimate relationships, this timely book offers a wealth of contemporary romantic wisdom on traditions and myths about human sexuality.