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

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:

Features What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)

Soundtrack:

Star Dust

This really shows what BD became...

...And how it Broke Bette's heart.

I became very interested in Bette after seeing this the first time in 2006 when I came out... Not that I did not already love her as one of my favourite actresses... But because of this documentary, I have changed my opinion of Miss Davis, as not just one of the best, but The Best Actress, ever.

And as such, she was never really left a moment's peace in her personal life. However, this documentary shows, that fact never affected Davis work ethic, and she plod on regardless of what was going on with her numerous husbands.

I think the documentary ought to have had a bit more to say about The Hollywood Canteen, a pivotal point in her career, and one that awarded her the highest civilian honour in real life, even above Bob Hope. It is almost like I am proud to be a Davis fan because of what she did for our Servicemen in WWII.

A lot of people always measure Davis by the Joan Crawford Yardstick... And the documentary maker here also does that, to a small degree. I think in reality, Davis probably never even thought about Crawford, but Crawford, who was always combative with the other high profile stars at her studios (aka, Norma Shearer at MGM) - It is almost as if, Since Norma Shearer, who beat Crawford hands down at MGM, retired in 1941... Crawford targeted Miss Davis as her new "antagonist"- Something which I don't think Davis thought of at all, as any Crawford/Davis feud (Or Crawford/Shearer feud) was always more so on the part of Crawford. It is a sad laughable thing about Crawford, not that it makes me disrespect Crawford for it, but Davis just wasn't like that at all, Miss Davis was always more interested in the health of the Film (to the point of micromanaging things) to deal with petty Crawford Feuds.

The documentary maker of this, I think could have used better wisdom collecting the filmed anecdotal items: Such as those comments from Davis Former Husband William Grant Sherry's wife (who used to be Davis' nanny - I forget her name, but her name is unimportant, as, the PERSON is unimportant) - I can't believe that the documentary makers would use that particular source of footage- INCLUDING the footage where the woman, if I could loosely use that term woman, just about makes a blanket statement that Bette had something to do with Arthur Farnsworth's untimely death.

I appreciate the clips from Bob Osbourne and James Woods... And it is important to show all aspects of the person, but Betty was as complicated as anyone- The film does however show the high level of disrespect of BD Hyman toward her mother, something that shocked me, especially as how Hyman considers herself not just a Christian, but a Minister: And As Such is a Pi__ Poor example of one.

The tragedy of this documentary are the clips from BD, whose betrayal must have hurt Bette more than anything done to her by anyone else in her lifetime.

I am glad that they showed the BD clips, as they show this Girl/Woman, whom Davis loved more than anything... What an inconsiderate Phony "Christian" she was and is, using a "Mommy Dearest" attack to accumulate 100,000 dollars (which is more than the usual sum publishers forked out in those days) which she claims to have used to Christian Ministries:

And if I were to tell this BD Hyman anything, it would be that money obtained from the public Disrespect of one's blood Parent... Is NOT money that God has blessed and has put His hand on.

This documentary shows this disrespect, and not in a flattering light toward BD Hyman.

Hyman did not consider, that good ministry, IS looked at by the public, and if Hyman's (not just one but TWO) anti-Mom books is considered by Hyman as something God either WANTED, Ordained, or Supported: That She is WRONG and as a Christian I want nothing to do with THAT God, who would allow parental disrespect as a means to access money for so-called Christian Works, and that Minister or Ministry that is FOUNDED on such.

I am glad that the original book was laughed off of the shelves by the critics (then and now) and that the second attempt to smear Bette totally Failed - And I applaud this documentary for showing BD as she is- A Sherry, just like her father, who used to beat Bette... Like Father, Like Daughter- And a Hypocrite who needs to either shut-up or make it right with her Mother.