Bette and Joan: Blind Ambition (2005) part 1

[@windstorm1000]

Joan and Bette remind me of the human versions of two bolts of lightening---and you just can't ignore that type of energy. They are endlessly fascinating.

[@windstorm1000]

Here we are, all these years later, still talking passionately about these two fascinating ladies---I think that says several things--they were stars, strong women-- and there aren't any these days.

[@John-xd6de]

Ww2

[@Peter-ov6xh]

I love the little film clips they interweave with the interviews, as if Bette and Joan were commenting on the show.

[@flenif2247]

Both were amazing.

[@dancamp1531]

JAON AND BETTE BOTH LEGEND THEY OPEN DOORS

[@gianca60]

Somebody will make a movie about their feud.Or maybe was already done?

[@chewbacca4me]

@SharpEdges Do you mean the scene where she's talking in the car? If so, that movie is called 'The Damned Don't Cry.' :-)

[@gloriaswims3478]

Both were great actresses. I liked both. Love those older movies.

[@windstorm1000]

Fascinating biography of the two great stars. Excellent commentators (that's female impersonator Charles Busch in the dark jacket--he's 'done' Bette). Doesn't get any better than this.

[@PinkPoodleSkirt77]

LOVE IT~!!! Marvelous job to the uploader... this is a superb & super interesting documentary! I recommend this 3 part gem to all my fellow classics junkies! :)

[@edwardjames50]

For those who are not aware, John Epperson is, in fact, a drag queen known as Lypsinka. who tours with Christina Crawford when she promotes her umpteenth edition of "MD". He appears as Joan, and does a "dialogue" with Christina, which hardly qualifies him as an unbiased commentator in any documentary about Crawford.

[@BallymurphyBabe]

Thank you for letting me know. That is very informative and I would agree with you.

[@ericluriergo8251]

Rafael Storm I USED to be an early fan of Lypsinka-No more! Touring with Christina Crawford! Ick.

[@jamilettecortes2213]

BallymurphyBabe fulionsheel

[@liviathepoisoner]

I love them both although they didn't like each other. I think they had more similarities than differences and maybe that's why they hated each other. Two great actresses, two great enemies.

[@iDalisMediaTV]

Bette should have won the Academy Award that year for her portrayal. She was flawless.

[@jeffeastwood15]

Which year? She definitely should have won for The Little Foxes.

[@josephvalenti7268]

She was definitely cheated, because of the campaign machinations of Joan Crawford and Hedda Hopper! She should have one for the Letter, Little Foxes, and All About Eve. I am team Bette, she was a real actress, that could do stage or screen. She believed the only thing that counted what was in front of the camera! She had the ability to look at a script and tell what worked and what didn't! Hollywood has a hard time accepting smart women!

[@kjgammon1658]

Nope, bancroft, page, or Remick all just as good,,,, and more natural... not so over the top...no one stole anything 'cept clown make-up..joans underplayed, desperately ominous performance largely overlooked due to davis's camp...

[@jaimesilva6637]

Baby,Jane,,es,un,Film,Espectacular, 🇨🇱,Gran,Actuación,de,Ambas,Actrices,💝🎞️🎥🎬🎭

[@hughhaefner5486]

Davis' performance in baby Jane should have got her another Oscar. Something shady went on there. I believe Davis story of Crawford begging the academy NOT to give Davis the Oscar. She was incredible as Jane Hudson. What a great part for her.

[@kjgammon1658]

Doubt joan had that kind of power...

[@valsainking]

I believe Davis was beyond cringe and tacky in whining about the fact that she "should've won that Oscar" to anyone that would listen right up until the day she died. I mean, there's cringe and then there's grotesque complete-lack-of self-awareness cringe, and Davis was all about the latter, sadly. I always felt so badly for the talented Anne Bancroft, who had to suffer through Davis' very public lack of class and decorum by essentially claiming Bancroft was not deserving of that honor. Bancroft had to endure this humiliation for over 3 decades without saying a word, and all because Davis was obviously not a mature enough woman to accept reality with class and dignity and get the f over it even after 37 years! As I said, the woman was pure cringe!

[@valsainking]

@@kjgammon1658 Good point! No actor is likely ever able to wield the kind of power necessary to sway thousands of Academy voters. That's just a ridiculous caper Davis concocted in her own embittered mind in an effort to rationalize her bitter loss.

[@Davey74Boy]

absolutely correct...Joan was a fine/very good actress but Bette was phenomenal!!! Joan was more of a movie star and Bette was more of an actress (theater).

[@gfgall]

Ridiculous.

[@chubbtm5]

The Davis-Crawford feud was largely a press invention. Davis said many times, she didn't really know Crawford, through Crawford tried to initiate a friendship. This is a case where the lie is more interesting than the truth, where the legend will outlive the reality.

[@AbbeB]

I just want to watch this...

[@MandragoraXellesia]

I adore them both

[@whitebluebug]

Great uploads! Thanks for all the videos and greetings to Russia! ◕‿◕

[@nibsvkh]

In an interview with Barbra Walters Bette says that Joan did not want her to win the Oscar for Baby Jane even though they both would have profited by an Oscar win having a percentage of the movies take.

[@georgegallucci1845]

Davis never once complimented Joan on her performance, arguably one of her best. And this after Joan found the property and offered Bette the lead.What did she expect?

[@BallymurphyBabe]

Me favourite Joan Crawford movie was Grand Hotel. I thought she was the prettiest in that one. Very unpretentious and unlike most of her other roles afterwards. I hardly believe its her. I wish she had stayed the same as she was in Grand Hotel.

[@sharpedges6811]

What's the film at 1:48 with Joan in it?

[@BallymurphyBabe]

Interesting to hear but mostly gossip and hearsay or personal opinions expressed by the interviewees. Unless the person talking knew of each one personally, you have to take what they say as gossip.

[@jw77019]

Was Joan’s hair reddish brown? As she got older it seems to have a “rinse” on it, maybe Fabulous Fawn.

[@unusualfeline]

Sadly we miss out on a real fightfest blow by blow what a pity that will be an enormous epic

[@DeedeeSch1]

There will never be another, Bette, EVER!

[@chucksellers8422]

is that guy from TVs Fame?

[@jeffeastwood15]

@nibsvkh Only Joan had a % of the profits; Bette took a larger salary but Joan smartly took a gamble and got paid less up-front but ended up making more money.

[@BrianWanes]

So this is literally a handful of gays queening out super hard for Joan Crawford and Bette Davis? I'm here for it

[@scotnick59]

Fascinating. I know most all the big female stars were fire signs: Crawford, Davis, West, Ball, Swanson, etc. More creative energy!

[@kalwws]

Bette Davis, the BEST actress around the world forever!!!!!!

[@kjgammon1658]

If you like stagy over acting...vivien leigh, Deborah kerr, olivia de haviland, barbara stanwck... many others better and more natural...Davis is good though.. just hasn't aged well performance - wise over time...

[@daltonbelflower7331]

Bette Davis or Joan Crawford? It's kind of a hard decision for me to make. I mean, I've seen great performances by both actresses. It's kind of like the Greta Garbo or Marlene Dietrich, and Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield debates. But, I would definitely pick Monroe over Mansfield, probably Garbo over Dietrich, and just maybe Davis over Crawford. The only one I'm certain about is my choosing Monroe over Mansfield... that's a definite.

[@GlennaVan]

Or would you choose Monroe over Mansfield because there was more of her since Mansfield died so young?

[@dayanna901]

I'm afraid you have not seen enough Bette movies.

[@Bristain11]

I noticed that when originally watching this...but no one has the right to attack those men for that...It is how they are.

[@santinidial7491]

Mommie dearist so tainted and overshadowed joans memory and lost focus on her excellent acting.... but only joan and christina know the truth;

[@edwardjames50]

My three worst nightmares: A) being Boze Hadleigh's hairstylist, B) being Boze Hadleigh's dentist, AND C) being Boze Hadleigh's lover.

[@chickasawstarrmountain9747]

Joan Crawford was truly grateful to her fans and worked hard and appreciated what she had ;yes she was a strict mom but she wanted her children to appreciate what they had also nothing wrong with rules and chores even if your mom is famous ;I think Christina exaggerated immensely her punishments,she is the only one claiming abuse

[@debfan74]

I am a fan of both ladies! I say there is no first or second, a tie! I will say this, Bette, simply an actress, she was not a singer or a dancer, she was just a REALLY TALENTED actress! Joan on the other hand, GREAT dancer and a GREAT singer! I am sorry, you can not compare them, it is like comparing apples to oranges, simply not the same, just because they are fruits, does not mean they are the same, and that goes for Crawford and Davis, both are actresses, but talents were different on each

[@DepalmaJay]

All these old queens...I'm tired of old queens talking about "Divas"

[@readycarlos]

Then why are you watching this?

[@andrewbrendan1579]

Whoa! Take it easy! You have completely misinterpreted me and the motive for my comments and questions all of which I think are quite reasonable and interesting and based on observation and experience. I believe these gender issues and differences are intriguing and worthy of study and I have no disrespect for those I mentioned. I'm very interested in sociology and psychology. I think women are fantastic and I greatly respect them. I have zero interest in cars, sports, and collecting porn.

[@amyclarke41]

ooh!😣

[@DMNNORTEL]

I liked them both very much-both were Aries women-highly driven and competitive. Joan's main downfall was she should never have adopted children. One of Joan's very best friends the great Helen Hayes said Joan tried to be everything to everyone but she (Hayes) wished she had never tried to be a mother. Helen's son James McArthur used to spend the night with Crawford's two oldest kids and he is on record as saying she was very mean to them. A lot of this feud between Crawford/Davis is made up crap. They didn't like each other no doubt but I would be willing to bet 90% of the things attributed to their feud is rubbish-although what Dern is saying sounds accurate

[@donspringstead1649]

These comments, some of them ar from 9 and 10 years old!

[@vacuumlover1]

NOOO WIRE HANGEERRRRSSSSSS

[@roder51]

Old Gay Queens talking about Old Drama Queens. Whoopee!

[@markdonahue9753]

Joan was a good actress too. Bette was better but Joan was talented. Just watch a woman's face or possessed

[@andrewbrendan1579]

I've also wondered why men not attracted to women are intrigued with certain women, know a lot about them, talk as if they knew these women. Is it glamor? Charisma? Living vicariously and why? Are the lives of these men so empty and do they have so little sense of identity they need someone else's life & identity? Too lesbians don't seem to have a similar interest in male iconic figures. I guess it's some kind of guy thing though this guy doesn't understand but is curious It's worth studying.

[@bleucheezy]

Haha. I made it pretty clear in all of my comments that I'm the farthest thing from a "feminist". I loathe feminism in fact as a thinly veiled male-hating movement. But that's a separate issue from having a FEW older females as icons. Bette and Joan never used their gender to play the victim, as modern feminists do (think Jodi Arias/military 'rape victims', etc). I have a pretty accurate view of weak modern hetero men as well. Men need to reclaim their roles and rights back from PC feminism.

[@jorgedominguez1957]

Joan Crawford!

[@seahamm]

The nasty comments on this page from so called straight people about the gay people who are talking about bette and joan , comments like you gays leave my bette and joan ,,, please grow up, ,

[@windstorm1000]

my sentiments exactly

[@quemarlasnaves9759]

Well said

[@seahamm]

Thanks

[@BelatedCommiseration]

I would like to know, if there is anybody of the homosexual persuasion who can be bothered to answer me who happens to be viewing this video, why is it that there is such a large gay following for both these actresses? Is it the purely the 'glamour' side of it? In that case why don't stars like Olivia de Havilland or Vivian Leigh have more of a noticeable gay following? Whilst I'm sure they do to a degree, Crawford and Davis seem to have a special place in the pantheon for some reason.

[@seahamm]

Fancy calling these men old queens , bet he is one himself but dos not no it , maybe he is a macho queen ,which is rather funny , not

[@jeffeastwood15]

@scorpio888 We can see that you're not the brightest bulb in the pack if you really believe that the day of the year you were born determines your personality =^)

[@glamorous19]

WTF @ these comments about people's sexuality? Now all of a sudden gay people must be excluded from having good taste when it comes to cinema artistry & history, acting skills/methods/techniques, etc., and must be labeled as the ones who are interested only 'cause of the "glamour" thing? Too much cliché going on. #DEAD.

[@davidhaynes689]

Even with all the success & great movie Davis did she was absolutely Jealous of Crawford cuz Joan was a movie star Queen Bee and David could not take it point blank Joan fans loved her so dear maybe of Davis was not so damn mean rude and confronting all the damn time perhaps she would be more liked out side the silver screen !!!!

[@jeffeastwood15]

Punctuation and proper spelling is your friend.

[@jeffeastwood15]

LOL

[@rainerklinderburg1771]

If it wasn't for gays fashion film & music would not be as fabulous at it is.

[@andrewbrendan1579]

So much anger and prejudice, so many assumptions about a stranger who means no offense to anyone. In trying to make me look bad, and it sounds like you have "a deep loathing " and distorted view of heterosexual men overall, you portray yourself as an extreme negative feminist stereotype, doing a disservice to feminism. Maybe you have been deeply hurt and let down in life and are still reacting to it.. You must be so unhappy. I hope your spirit finds peace. I'll let you have the last word.

[@bleucheezy]

My main point, which you also missed, was that the lives of gay men who iconize dead movie queens from the 40s are no more vapid, shallow and empty than any hetero persons' lives which are spent iconizing baseball players, nascar drivers, gun-toting bearded reality show stars, fantasy S&M novel characters, and big-tittied actresses/models...

[@matta8931]

They claim to be different but they were exactly the same, awful and horrible lol!

[@larakikia1953]

loveboth Bette and joan ( but Davis was much more great acterss than joan)