What could possibly make a Bette Davis movie better? Two of her, of course. This was the first of two films wherein Bette would play twins. It’s the classic tale of good twin/evil twin with a little bit of a twist. The “good twin” has a bit of a desperate, dark streak, too. Always fun.
Naturally, this is a Warner Brothers film since Warners still owned Bette at that point. It was directed by Curtis Barnhardt, who had his hands-full with his two leading ladies (Bette and Bette) as well as his producer—a newcomer to the producing racket, ALSO Bette Davis. Oh, what fun that set must have been.
"Why am I taller than you?"
Warner Brothers
The film—with music by Max Steiner—is a re-telling of another film of almost the same name (Stolen Life) from 1939. This version stars, in addition to Miss Davis, Glenn Ford, Dane Clark and Walter Brennan. The story concerns twin sisters, Kate and Patricia Bosworth. Kate is a level-headed young lady who spends her days painting and wants to be taken seriously as an artist. Patricia is a wild, party girl who wants to be taken—seriously.
Of course, there’s a man involved—Glenn Ford—who captures the eyes of both young ladies. And, trouble ensues. That’s where it gets interesting. It’s interesting to see Bette wrestle with herself on a boat in the middle of a raging storm. Good times!
"Which one are you?"
Warner Brothers
It’s not the most surprising film, but it is very good. And, certainly, Miss Davis gives it her all—two-fold. Here’s the rather curious trailer for the picture. In typical 1940’s Warner Brothers form, the trailer has nothing to do with the real film. This makes it appear that Bette’s just being naughty and shows no indication of there being twins except for a very vague reference to a shadow that bothers her or some such nonsense. There are also a lot of hyphens. But, don’t let that bother you. It’s definitely a film worth seeing.
One of the most famous artists of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, Dante Gabriel Rossetti was as much of a poet as he was a painter. And, like so many people with creative tendencies, he took a bit of delight in tragedy and general depression. Most of his works deal with unhappy people in situations wherein they cannot be with the one they love—forever.
And, such is the case with this beautiful, yet somewhat sad, painting by Rossetti from 1875. He’s based the painting on a poem that he wrote about a beautiful young maiden who died prematurely and went to heaven. But, heaven wasn’t so great for her. You see, she pined for her earthly lover and leaned on the gold railing of heaven, all day, every day, to watch him and wait for him to die and join her.
Ever the clever chap, Rossetti has styled this painting like a Renaissance altarpiece, giving it a monumental and regal quality that only makes it seem that much more important, and that much sadder.
For me, this clip from the long-running panel show To Tell the Truth is sheer perfection.You’ve got the remarkable Kitty Carlisle, who will always be an inspiration to me, and Bette Davis, who is simply the best.It’s fairly self-explanatory.Enjoy!
Oh, Mr. Punch. His heart is the right place. Well, it’s actually Julian’s heart, but Punch is using it for the time being. He just wants his sister’s son to have a decent life and gain his rightful inheritance. Of course, that means keeping the boy (who’s been renamed Colin after Julian’s late father) away from the whole slew of people who want to get him back. Of course, there’s Edward Cage, the man to whom Iolanthe Evangeline sold the baby. He wants the boy back and is basically stalking Mr. Punch and all of his friends until he finds the child. Then there’s Iolanthe who is a little put-out (to say the least) that her “business deal” wasn’t respected. Still, Iolanthe pretty crafty. She sees an opportunity to make more money and offers to keep quiet if she’s paid handsomely. Curiously, she’s joined forces (at least temporarily) with the rather creepy, yet alluring, Ulrika Rittenhouse. Ulrika just likes to be involved in painful situations, and she’s really enjoying this one. She’d best watch her back, however. After all, she’s still got that nice big blue diamond that Iolanthe wants so badly.
Then, there’s Marie Laveau. Marie thinks she should have the child. After all, she needs all the help she can get what with her busy schedule being a hairdresser and a Voodoo Priestess. Marie’s also got a grudge against Marjani who accidentally injured the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans in her attempt to protect the child.
And, Julian’s sister, the appropriately named Barbara Allen—the child’s mother—is still mooning over the baby she’s now given up twice. She’s also a little worried because her husband—the odious Arthur—was shanghaied by Iolanthe Evangeline and is missing at sea. But, Barbara’s got other things to distract her, too. Her brother’s handsome, and mysterious, new footman, Charles, seems to have taken a fancy to her. What’s a girl to do? Little does she know that Arthur, in true icky form, has managed to escape his captivity and will soon be on her doorstep with a new, seedy companion.
Meanwhile, Marjani has been bustling back and forth between the Royal Street mansion and the dingy hotel in which she’s installed Punch, Robert and little Colin. Of course, Adrienne and Cecil are rather distressed, too. They were more so concerned when Marjani shared her plan to fake the deaths of Punch, Robert and the child in order to frame Iolanthe Evangeline. That can’t end well, can it? We’ll soon see. That is, of course, if Marjani makes it another day. Imagine how unpleasant it must have been when she woke up to find Marie Laveau sitting at the foot of her bed.
Expect a truly explosive week as Punch’s Cousin continues on Monday. Many thanks for all your kind comments and support. I promise this week’s chapters will not disappoint.
Miss Davis’ arch-nemesis and general thorn-in-the-side, Joan Crawford, never left the house unless she looked like a movie star. She figured that when people saw Joan Crawford, they wanted to see JOAN CRAWFORD. While most of us don’t have a need to be “red carpet ready” at all times, and though no one really expects us to be perfect, we owe it to ourselves to be at our best when we go out.
That means not leaving the house in something that you would wear to bed. Comb your hair, put on a little make-up. If you’re going somewhere, make a little effort. If you treat yourself like a star, you’ll feel like a star. And, to throw another movie legend into the mix, I’ll quote Gloria Swanson’s Norma Desmond and remind you that, “The stars are ageless.”
For a country that has no proper royalty, we have a knack for creating our own Kings and Queens. One of the greatest was Bette Davis—true “Hollywood Royalty” (all right, make all your Mommie Dearest jokes regarding “Hollywood Royalty” now). She was an actress, a producer, a wife (several times), a mother, a grandmother, a ball of fire, a bitch and a friend. Even after a debilitating stroke, a bout with cancer, and the betrayal of her eldest child, she kept going with a keen wit, a sense of humor and no small amount of pride.
I’ve always admired Miss Davis and love her films. This autographed photo dates to the mid 1940’s, though I suspect it was signed later than that. She has a special place in my study and it’s always nice to see her looking out at me. If I had half of her gumption, I’d be in very good shape.
Over the past ten months, regular visitors have started to expect certain things each week from Stalking the Belle Époque. Now, as I plan the coming week’s activities, let’s see if I’m satisfying your expectations.
1. Antiques and interesting objects from my own collection? Yes. Seven, in fact.
2. Goals for the Day? Of course! Seven, as well.
3. Punch’s Cousin? Well, you don’t really think I’d leave Mr. Punch in limbo with a baby, now do you? Besides, Marie Laveau is bothering Marjani. That can’t be good.
4. A visit to an exciting location? Absolutely! Holyroodhouse in Scotland, to be exact.
5. Gorgeous gems and jewelry? You bet! Some of the most gorgeous. We’ll be taking a look at Britain’s Crown Jewels among some other rare treasures usually hidden from the public eye.
6. Art? Check! Paintings and sculptures and fans—oh my!
7. Unusual Artifacts? Certainly. I’ve got a really odd one this week.
8. A Gratuitous Bertie Dog Picture? That’s not up to me, of course. But, Bertie has assured me that he’s willing to insert himself into another grand work of art.
9. Classic cinema? I’ve got two wonderful films coming this week.
10. Rare antique photos? You bet! And, some nifty frames, too.
11. Visits with two great celebrities who really work hard to make a difference? Two of your favorites!
12. A look at contemporary artists who are keeping the spirit of creativity alive and well? Sure thing!
13. Our favorite puppet fellow, Mr. Punch? As always, we’ll take a look at Mr. Punch’s influence on the arts and humanities.
14. The Treat of the Week? It wouldn't be a good week without one of my mother's amazing desserts! This week's offering will be really grand.
15. A Music Hall favorite? You'll find your feet tapping on Saturday!
16. And much, much more? Well, yes, there's always more!
So, there you have it. There’s a lot coming this week. I’m quite excited about all of it. Here’s wishing everyone a fantastic week!
