Stardust: The Bette Davis Story (2006) (TV)

User Rating:

8.6/10   

Directors:

Peter Jones
Mark A. Catalena (co-director)

Writer:

Peter Jones (writer)

Release Date:

3 May 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary | Biography

Plot:

Combining unprecedented access to Davis' vast personal archives with original interviews, this documentary reveals a startling portrait of one of hollywood's most gifted and enigmatic stars.

Plot Keywords:

Actress | Character Name In Title

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Susan Sarandon	...	Narrator (voice)
Bette Davis	...	Herself (archive footage)
Ruthie Davis	...	Herself (archive footage)
Michael Merrill	...	Himself - interviewee
James Woods	...	Himself - interviewee
Marion Sherry	...	Herself - interviewee
Vincent Sherman	...	Himself - interviewee
Cecil Clovelly	...	Himself (archive footage)
Conrad Nagel	...	Himself (archive sound)
Casey Robinson	...	Himself (archive sound)
George Arliss	...	Montgomery Royle (The Man Who Played God [1932]) (archive footage)
Leo Rosten	...	Himself (archive sound)
Jack L. Warner	...	Himself (archive footage) (archive sound)
Ellen Burstyn	...	Herself - interviewee
Jane Fonda	...	Herself - interviewee

Runtime:

USA:89 min | USA:88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color | Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

USA:TV-14

Company:

Turner Classic Movies (TCM)

Goofs:

Factual errors: This documentary claimed that Bette Davis received her eighth Oscar nomination for her film The Star (1952), but she actually received her ninth nomination for that film. Davis garnered her eighth nod two years earlier for the film All About Eve (1950).

Movie Connections:

References On Golden Pond (1981)

Soundtrack:

Star Dust

A good reason for Davis fans to rejoice...an excellent bio-profile...

And yet--having given that title to my commentary--I have to say that not everything depicted here paints BETTE DAVIS with a rosy glow. It's an accurate, no holds barred sort of documentary of her life on and off the screen--and some of it has a "warts and all" kind of truth to it that does away with gushing fan worship that some seem to prefer their favorite stars bathed in. For those fans, this is an eye-opener.

Instead, it's a penetrating look at the kind of Yankee upbringing the actress had, how she craved from her father the kind of attention she only got from her mother "Ruthie"; how her father's indifferent attitude toward her career as an actress was something she was never able to overcome; how the main influence on her life was the mother who doted on her rather than her less strong-willed sister; and, finally, how she developed into a strong and determined young woman who was not about to let anyone stand in the way of the sort of career she felt she fully deserved.

All of this is accompanied by interesting family still photos, excellent film clips, and, occasional remarks from co-workers or friends on how they see Bette Davis, the person and the actress.

While much of the material has been presented before, it has never been examined with such precision and understanding, giving a clearer portrait of the actress than ever seen before.

Peter Jones is to be congratulated for writing an excellent expose. It's not a gushing fan tribute, but an extremely sharp and penetrating look at a woman who had many admirable traits, but whose ambition and self-absorption (an ingredient necessary for a successful actress), left her with some bitter memories of a not altogether successful personal life.