Bette Davis earned a DARK VICTORY

In our Bette Davis journey, we have arrived at the year 1939, which history has claimed was the greatest in cinematic history. I tend to agree. It was also a pinnacle time in Bette’s career. As we discussed last week, she won the Oscar for her performance in JEZEBEL (1938) at the 1939 Academy Awards. Many films competed in 1939’s crowded array of offerings, in … Continue reading Bette Davis earned a DARK VICTORY

A Film Study: BETTE DAVIS

Welcome! In this series we will explore the legendary actress Bette Davis through an introduction of her life and a selection of her films. By examining her life, we gain a glimpse into understanding her drive to become one of the best actresses on the Hollywood screen. Fans beloved her but the larger-than-life Bette was frequently misunderstood. The brutally honest but hard-working yank has often … Continue reading A Film Study: BETTE DAVIS

Beautiful Tearjerker: PENNY SERENADE (1941)

Get your hankies ready. Today, we’re discussing George Stevens’ PENNY SERENADE. This is the third feature film pairing of Cary Grant and Irene Dunne. While audiences had seen both Dunne and Grant in some dramatic roles in the 1930s, each had gained their biggest successes via comedies. This film takes a dramatic turn to melodrama. Director George Stevens (December 18, 1904 – March 8, 1975) … Continue reading Beautiful Tearjerker: PENNY SERENADE (1941)