Bette Davis and Dr. Jonathan Miller Discuss Psychoanalysis for Actors | The Dick Cavett Show

Bette and Dick chat a bit more about her past, including how she was almost Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With the Wind. Dr. Jonathan Miller, a doctor turned director, discusses how the American and British approach to psychoanalysis of actors differs.
Date aired - December 31st 1969 - Bette Davis
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Dick Cavett has been nominated for eleven Emmy awards (the most recent in 2012 for the HBO special, Mel Brooks and Dick Cavett Together Again), and won three. Spanning five decades, Dick Cavett’s television career has defined excellence in the interview format. He started at ABC in 1968, and also enjoyed success on PBS, USA, and CNBC.
His most recent television successes were the September 2014 PBS special, Dick Cavett’s Watergate, followed April 2015 by Dick Cavett’s Vietnam. He has appeared in movies, tv specials, tv commercials, and several Broadway plays. He starred in an off-Broadway production ofHellman v. McCarthy in 2014 and reprised the role at Theatre 40 in LA February 2015.
Cavett has published four books beginning with Cavett (1974) and Eye on Cavett (1983), co-authored with Christopher Porterfield. His two recent books -- Talk Show: Confrontations, Pointed Commentary, and Off-Screen Secrets (2010) and Brief Encounters: Conversations, Magic moments, and Assorted Hijinks(October 2014) are both collections of his online opinion column, written for The New York Times since 2007. Additionally, he has written for The New Yorker, TV Guide, Vanity Fair, and elsewhere.
#thedickcavettshow #bettedavis

[@jairosantanafigueroa4139]

Bette was so witty. I absolutely adore her. I think Katharine Hepburn and Bette Davis were two of the most interesting and fascinating women in the industry.

[@maudeboggins9834]

A young actress Dorothy something said of meeting Hepburn. Hepburn said she would call her Dotty, Dorothy said what can I call you? You may call me Miss Hepburn

[@RCSFN]

I find Bette Davis far more interesting.

[@reasonrestored9116]

I used to think so, but the more I know about Hepburn, the more I think she was a phony compared to Bette

[@MarthaMansbridge]

Hepburn was also a very sharp, intelligent woman but had little warmth in her demeanour from what I can glean of the very few 'out of character' recordings of her, she seemed to enjoy being the most intelligent person in the room and took herself rather more seriously than Bette ever appeared to do. She always seemed quite brittle and a lot more 'sure' of herself, that is in an egotistical way - she knew she was a star and I suspect she behaved that way towards a lot of people. Bette, despite the reputation her range of characters gave her, was far more real, loose, genuine, funny in her interviews - we have many more of them to get a sense of this, which perhaps makes it easier for us to comment on her and less on Hepburn.

[@maudeboggins9834]

@@MarthaMansbridge Both women had hardship whilst growing up Davis was financial whereas Hepburn was emotional. Hepburns family were very forward thinking & financially very secure but her beloved older brother killed himself & her mother shut down & never spoke of him again. She was devastated & perhaps her grief was not allowed to be expressed to survive that would hardened a lot of people. Also they both came up in Hollywood in the 30's which was cut throat, where women had to be subjected to the casting couch. Whether they did or did not I do not know. But a different era & survival was tough for actresses.

[@Eddie4518]

Can we just take a second to appreciate that this aired on the LAST day on LAST year of the 60s…

[@Texaslawhorn]

My favorite decade ever

[@lee-annebarrett366]

She is humble to say The Audience made me a star. I dont think one actress today would say that, their egos have become so out of proportion to any talent they may have had. Bette Davis was and is great because of her talent and also because she knew her career came from the audience because they came to see her.

[@cynthiacurrie5589]

Bette was a great actor and, in my opinion, the greatest actor ever and will remain so. She loved acting, so she had no feeling of superiority or arrogance.

[@jillanderson1316]

Yes you odnt hear that too much amongst the jennifer Lawrence's ' who incidentally behaves like a spoiled unruly boy, and thinks she is hilarious , they don't know how to be humble and of course it is the public who keeps you there .

[@hypolyxa7207]

Talk shows like these... Genuine laughter from both the audience and the cast, even if it's just a few people cheering, a few claps and a laugh here and there. It feels so alive. It sounds so incredibly different from today.

[@DavidLeeAndrews]

Well said

[@kthomas5301]

Fu

[@WillScarlet1991]

@@kthomas5301 🤣🤣

[@moogyboy6]

That unexpected quip from Cavett about Joan Crawford's lunch was priceless, as was Bette's reaction.

[@brucegwynn8509]

I think bette davis was a class act, I hang on all her wise words , very tough and intelligent actress!!!

[@BadGuyRants]

Bette Davis was not only a great actress but one of the great talk show guests. No one else like her & no one since even comes close.

[@Marcel_Audubon]

Bette at her best; the entire panel interacted very well, which rarely occurs today

[@stardusth2o]

I love watching her on Cavett. She clearly liked him very much and it shows with how open and comfortable she is with him.

[@bovnycccoperalover3579]

Bette Davis is so honest and charming.

[@salumbre365]

She was always honest, which of course got her in a lot of trouble in her life, but it's something truly precious.

[@Nic1987]

It’s so sad that we will never see actresses like this again. She truly was the epitome of Class, her and Lucille Ball.

[@11rokerito]

Joan Crawford had much more class and elegance than Lucille Ball and Joan Crawford was more fashionable than Bette and Lucille combined.

[@mykoniichistorychannel]

@@11rokerito The horror stories notwithstanding.

[@christineedwards8618]

These two! The Lord's children!

[@andrewvail5458]

What a delight she was on talk shows. Legend.

[@JuneLynn]

Bette Davis has always been one of my favorites....just down to the point, no nonsense whenever I saw her being interviewed....she was truly a movie star in every sense : )

[@meboneme1]

BETTE DAVIS IS EVERY INCH A STAR!! No pretense, just CLASS!

[@mortensenegbert6619]

Good God these are such brilliant witty people! Fascinating exegesis by Miller. Sets your brain humming to listen in on this conversation. Dick's "Baby Jane" quip was a gem too.

[@dennischiapello3879]

It's nice to see Davis in this interview. In many of her later ones she isn't nearly as charming and intelligent. When she joins in the conversation with Dr Miller, she's very apropos and she doesn't hijack the conversation or turn the focus to herself. She's simply terrific here.

[@AstralPixie]

Can't say how much I love *Bette!* Bette and Joan both loved their fans. They were classy in that way. Thank you for posting.

[@The-Malibu-Wolf]

Cavette's a great interviewer because he actually LISTENED to his guests. Lately I've noticed show hosts interrupt the guest or do something to pull focus back on themselves. Bette was dream guest. She was open and candid, without having to be prodded. Yup. Quick-witted and opinionated. Alfred Hitchcock was another good interview.📺

[@January.]

*Cavett's

[@CalTxDude]

When Hitchcock appeared on Cavitt's show, During the commercial break, apropos to nothing, he stated, "Grace Kelly... The most promiscuous woman I ever met."

[@tonytonytoooony]

The interviews I've been perusing here feel way more intimate than any talk show today. Sometimes it's like they're flirting. Pretty interesting videos though.

[@RedKatt888]

I love Bette and she really is a true Aries. Watch how she’s still, listening to the Dr/director. Her laugh is contagious and she’s forthright and gregarious. Love her

[@hanzzarkov7690]

Betty is great. Such a force. Also, gotta mention that the guy next to her is Pat McCormick. Some LEGENDARY Pat McCormick stories. He was a GREAT comedic writer with a lasting career. He wrote for Red Skelton, Phyllis Diller, Carson.. and tons of other shows incl an early Cosby show and Get Smart. You may also recognize him as 'Big Enos' from Burt Reynolds' Smokey and the Bandit.

[@ronmackinnon9374]

He was a regular on 'Barney Miller.' He also portrayed President Grover Cleveland in the Robert Altman film 'Buffalo Bill and the Indians.'

[@lapislazuli7876]

I love the conversation with Jonathan Miller and his discourse on American versus British actors and the differences. He was so wonderfully articulate and I could see Bette really was fascinated by that line of thought. I’d never heard of him before. Seems like a wonderful character.

[@srvuk]

Dick's shows never did really make it over the pond back in he day, so it is wonderful to see hundreds of entertaining interviews. Bette Davis in particular is a good example of somebody that had a less than stellar personal reputation and yet, when feeling relaxed and trusting the interviewer, a more natural side comes across that is more endearing.

[@salumbre365]

Yes, she was what was called at the time "temperamental," a subtler way to say she was a bitch. And she could be, granted, but it was a result of the things she had to go through, both in her professional life and her personal life. She never had it easy, and she had to fight tooth and nail for everything, even though she was one of the most talented, hardworking actresses to ever grace the screen.

[@zsuzsablom6256]

She is a gem!

[@maudeboggins9834]

Just loved Miss Davis. She was something else. Integrity, humor & intelligence. Rather a good actress too.

[@paulbacchus1015]

♥️💚💜A delicious episode of Dick Cavett show , the legendary Bette Davis on top form as alway's and the alway's fascinating Dr Jonathan Miller, a great show, very absorbing.

[@jerryrichardson2799]

Cavett would interview Jonathan Miller again in a later iteration of his show, which would end with with with Miller talking about the late Erving Goffman author of _The Presentation of Self in Everyday Society._ I bought a cheap ebook copy of it today, by odd coincidence. I watched it in the late 70s.

[@javierorozco7518]

Bette marvelous. An icon. Strong talented gifted humorous simply wonderful. Errol was gorgeous, a rather tricky character he was.

[@michellemcalpine4443]

Her voice. Such a joy 😊 😊

[@salumbre365]

Dick Cavett always was, is, and will be the ultimate talk show host. After watching these wonderful old shows where bright people were asked bright questions, it's terrible to come back to our current times and our current TERRIBLE talk shows...

[@January.]

AGREE

[@idum01]

Johnny Carson was also very good but I agree Cavett was the best.

[@jamesa.romano8500]

"We have only time here to roast a parrot and slip it into Joan Crawford's lunch, so we'll be right back!" *LOL* BD got a kick outta that

[@AstralPixie]

Funny line!!

[@Milestonemonger]

I love the way she says: MARVELOUS 🥰

[@spockboy]

Bette is adorable. Jonathan Miller would have made a fantastic Sherlock Holmes in a film.

[@fabioantonioart]

Great and a much-needed discussion.

[@ARTHURJADAMS]

Dick Cavett always had great conversation.

[@ianwilson2007]

Fascinating

[@mizocosmic]

Bette Davis We Love You!!!

[@bojack40]

Fascinating insights from Miller

[@enjoythemoment6596]

Bette Davis is a gem!!!💎 ❤

[@imsocuteimsorich4952]

I love this interview betty you rock,Rest in peace,💖😘👍🌈🌹love you girl,amen,🌹

[@jadezee6316]

what a brilliant woman Bette Davis was

[@tarnopol]

Just put up every Jonathan Miller segment ya got. Brilliant, interesting person.

[@jerryrichardson2799]

Totally agree.

[@bossdeman]

The class and quality of these personalities... wow...

[@Vejur9000]

The queen.

[@louisgrassimedium]

That's a true legend, haha guest comes out, she stays seated, in the first seat..... She knew she was a walking legend :)

[@marcco44]

an exceptional woman

[@yasminx16]

I love how Bette flirts

[@danieldalton6544]

Sorry, but IMHO, Cavett was a better show than Carson. Carson had non offensive, light, fast, shallow exchanges, zinging quips and one liners and Cavett just had these great, substantive, intimate, deep, colorful, contemplative conversations with said celebrities.

[@bsjeffrey]

she has bette davis eyes.

[@juliestrom412]

🎆

[@andrewsharisky7259]

Nice to see her real hair and not one of those unflattering wigs she often wore.

[@n_v9386]

Perfect way to close out the 60s

[@juliestrom412]

What a formidable yet casual girl 🌅

[@bossdeman]

Jonathan Miller was a genius.

[@34c65]

Marilyn Monroe, always gave credit to the people/fans that made her a star ,she said no studio did this, people made her a star, she was so classy and such a sweet soul

[@paulnolan4971]

What a woman she was.

[@RJS1974]

No actress today would let herself age in this way and remain in the public eye. BD is so interesting just as she is. The years of smoking, drinking and hard work show clearly on her face.

[@DreamingCatStudio]

Dick Cavett is a beautiful man, inside and out. Bette Davis marvelous as always. Doctor very, um, talkative. Who was the poor comedian?

[@scottross9628]

I forget from time to time how HUGE Pat McCormick was.

[@mykoniichistorychannel]

Like seriously.

[@wishiwascooler]

Who was the other guest not mentioned in the title?

[@erichwyatt6554]

Baby setting up coughing and smoking . Bette was born to play "BABY JANE HUDSON " Rock it girl .

[@granny58]

I WOULD'VE LOVED HER AS SCARLETT O'HARA

[@toddileelee6935]

She was about 60 years old there, she looks like shes 80. People definitely aged different back in the day

[@gailjacobson7088]

So many people died unnecessarily young because they didn’t know how addictive and damaging smoking was. So tragic

[@January.]

STILL DO

[@mykoniichistorychannel]

But she wasn't one of 'em. That being said, you're absolutely.

[@carolinec8534]

Say what you want but dick cavett had class and had questions people actually wanted to know about. Bette was great too!

[@KittyFane-sm8fy]

Great

[@maxlinder5262]

What book is she speaking about ?????

[@jillanderson1316]

Katherine hepburn , Lauren bacall and bette davis . I love her too she is so witty and bright and honest .but she would never have been scarlett .

[@DrummingTmate]

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

[@The-Malibu-Wolf]

She went nuts!🔨🏖😵‍💫

[@annalisavajda252]

I think she could have pulled off playing Scarlett O'Hara but I love Vivian Leigh in the role anyway. In the book opening they say Scarlett was not beautiful... and Vivian certainly was while with Bette there would be more emphasis on the attitude not that's she was unattractive but not like Vivian was and then Vivian could play sort of washed out and crazy characters like Blanche Dubois too I could see Bette in that role also but again Vivian the British girl won academy awards from America twice for playing southern belles.

[@somethingyousaid5059]

Not every precocious 12 year old can have his own talk show.

[@Marcel_Audubon]

DC was born in 1936

[@somethingyousaid5059]

Just a lame joke on my part. I needed Pat McCormick to help me with it.

[@jennifervonpickartz2428]

I thank G-d for You

[@wadedavid4375]

If ONLY Katherine Hepburn had done MORE CHARACTER roles! She would have made a GOOD Blanche!

[@Kirktalon]

Who is the man on the far left?

[@okjoe5561]

Pat McCormick.

[@somethingyousaid5059]

I think he and composer Paul Williams had an act back in the 1970s (or maybe they just hung out together). A startling contrast between them. Williams was as much short as McCormick was tall. If I'm wrong about all of that, someone can let me know.

[@okjoe5561]

@@somethingyousaid5059 "They were in "Smokey and the Bandit" as Big Enos and Little Enos.

[@simonschreyer4559]

7:23

[@scotnick59]

Bette's under eye pouches make her look tired; she semi-secretly had a face lift a few years later🙂😉

[@Gary-Seven-and-Isis-in-1968]

Examine if you will the level of intelligent conversation on what was considered to be very disposable TV. Now compare that with present day chat shows with their level of intelligence and wit, or lack of.. There really is no comparison. No wonder TV is a dying form of entertainment.

[@eddiel.4108]

Gross how she takes a drag of her cigarette, blows smoke in the general direction of Dick Cavett then coughs up phlegm.

[@chrisdonaldson8902]

Sorry , she was not blowing her smoke "at" Dick Cavett . This interview happened when virtually everybody smoked and ( right or wrong ) smoking was not taboo as it is today . I am not defending smoking ... I never have smoked and would not if you paid me .

[@thehangingparsiple5692]

She puffed it away. She didn't blow it in his face. Who cares what you think anyway - Bette wouldn't

[@thehangingparsiple5692]

​​@@sophiamarquis 'Educated', yet with all the indisputable, scientifically proven evidence available today, you smoke...

[@ronmackinnon9374]

Drawing on oneself to express the part IS the method. If they're doing the reverse -- using the part to express themselves -- they're doing it wrong.

[@okjoe5561]

I think Errol Flynn would have been an excellent Rhett Butler.

[@The-Malibu-Wolf]

Yup! He would also be a good Ashley Wilkes .🎥

[@bojack40]

Who is the guy to Bette’s right? She is flirting with him desperately…

[@DDumbrille]

She's only 62 here...but looks closer to 75. All that chain-smoking and drinking took it's toll.

[@WillScarlet1991]

Are you sure she was a drinker?

[@DDumbrille]

@@WillScarlet1991 You can see the bags under her eyes from SPACE.

[@WillScarlet1991]

@@DDumbrille So hard drinking causes them?

[@DDumbrille]

@@WillScarlet1991 Yup.

[@WillScarlet1991]

@@DDumbrille I thought it was a lack of sleep?

[@BoBo-ti6jh]

Bette Davis and her crazy lies.

[@thomasevans6468]

She's got Bette Davis lies

[@mykoniichistorychannel]

What lies?

[@kthomas5301]

FU

[@MokkaMatti]

Schnickens?