Queer Icon: The Cult of Bette Davis (2009)

This documentary examines the many aspects of the gay fascination with Bette Davis, featuring film clips of Bette's most iconic moments, juxtaposed with camp burlesques of her by San ... See full summary »

Director:

M. Black

Writer:

M. Black

Stars:

Jimmy Bangley, William Clift, Bette Davis

Cast

Credited cast:
Jimmy Bangley	...	Super Fan (archive footage)
William Clift	...	Himself - Interviewee
Bette Davis	...	Herself (archive footage)
Vincent De Paul	...	Himself - Interviewee
Allan R. Ellenberger	...	Himself - Interviewee
Bernardo Espi	...	Himself - Interviewee
Fernando Feliciano	...	Himself - Interviewee
Joshua Grannell	...	Himself - Interviewee (as Peaches Christ)
Bob Grimes	...	Himself - Interviewee
Michael Guillén	...	Himself - Interviewee
Marc Huestis	...	Himself - Interviewee
Matthew Kennedy	...	Himself - Interviewee
Matthew Martin	...	Himself - Interviewee
Gentry McShane	...	Himself - Interviewee
Scott O'Brien	...	Himself - Interviewee

Storyline

This documentary examines the many aspects of the gay fascination with Bette Davis, featuring film clips of Bette's most iconic moments, juxtaposed with camp burlesques of her by San Francisco actor Matthew Martin and others, including Charles Pierce and Arthur Blake; a profile of Martin highlighting his long identification with Davis; and interviews with fans, entertainers, and gay cultural historians.

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Plot Keywords:

gay interest | 

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Genres:

Documentary

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2009 (USA)

Filming Locations:

San Francisco, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,500 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Black Summers Productions

Technical Specs

Color:

Color (Black & White and Color)

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1 / (letterbox)

User Reviews

Disappointing Documentary on Gay Fascination with Bette Davis

This is a superficial and overlong documentary on a potentially interesting subject:how straight actress Bette Davis became a good figure of camp and a regular role for female impersonators.(we learn that as early as 1946, an artist named Arthur Blake was imitating her.An interesting interpretation is given of her film Now Voyager as being about "coming out." and there are also comments about the way her acting,starting in the mid 1940s,turned to a style of Excess which appeals to the camp culture.The chief interest of this film for me,however,was getting to see 4 or 5 people I know from San Francisco being interviewed.