With 1950’s release of All About Eve, it seemed that Bette Davis’ star was rising once again. However, 1950 also marked the beginning of her tumultuous relationship with the simian Gary Merrill and a series of rather curious films which weren’t necessarily the best choices for her career.
By 1952, Davis’ renaissance was all but dimmed. She accepted the lead role in a film about a fading film star whose financial and personal difficulties made a “return” to films all the more difficult. To say that this tale of a former Oscar winner’s woes mirrored Davis’ own life is not entirely accurate, but it’s not too far off either.
It’s not the greatest of Davis’ films by any means, but The Star has a lot to offer. Davis’ performance is raw and angry and she seems to have been able to bring her own pain to the surface. She’s joined by the wooden Sterling Hayden as her love interest. Though rugged and attractively weathered, Hayden isn’t a good match of Davis and their attraction seems forced. But, it’s easy to not pay attention to him since Davis dominates the film.
In a small supporting role, Natalie Wood plays Davis’ whiney daughter in much the same way she played every part. She’s Natalie Wood, and that’s the best one can say of her.
However, for fans of Davis’ career, this is an interesting film and quite enjoyable. The scene in which a drunken Davis takes her Oscar for a swerving car ride is well worth the cost of the DVD.
Star of the Order of the Star of India
R. & S. Garrard & Co., 1861
Gold, White Diamonds, Yellow Diamonds, Enamel, Silver The Royal Collection
In 1861, The Royal Jewelers at R. & S. Garrard and Co. took gold, white diamonds, yellow diamonds, silver and enamel and created this magnificent star for Queen Victoria for the first investiture of the Order of the Star of India on November 21, 1861.
After the Indian Rebellion of 1858, Westminster assumed responsibility for the government of India. Victoria found it imperative to restore order and chivalry to the nation and sought for ways to encourage a good relationship between the Crown and the people of India. The Order of the Star of India was a suggestion of Prince Albert who set about designing this glorious star pin.
While promoting her film, Hush…Hush, Sweet Charlotte, Bette Davis made many television appearances in 1964, often accompanied by her co-star and good friend, Olivia de Havilland.During this period, Davis fancied herself something of a singer, even going as far as recording an album.During this appearance on “To Tell the Truth,” she not only plugs her film, but also warbles the title song.
We know that Mary of Teck enjoyed shiny objects. Over her long life, Queen Mary amassed a tremendous collection of jewels and other precious objects. The majority of these passed to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II upon the death of her grandmother.
Among these was the gorgeous Lovers Knot Brooch. This magnificent diamond piece was bequeathed to Queen Elizabeth in 1953. The brooch is a bow-shape of diamonds which forms a “lovers knot” of entwined ropes ending in diamond tassels. A symbol of marriage and never-ending love, the brooch was the perfect accessory for Her Majesty to wear at last Friday’s marriage of her grandson, Prince William of Wales and Princess Catherine, The new Duchess of Cambridge. Not only did it symbolize this special union, but gave a nod to Britain’s past, allowing Mary of Teck to attend the wedding in her own lovely way.
Last week, Stalking the Belle Époque, was all about the Royal wedding and the history of other British Royal nuptials from the traditions to the gifts to the magnificent jewels. This week, we’re celebrating two wonderful events. We’ll be taking a look at Mother’s Day related objects and events as well as being our celebration of the 349th birthday of Mr. Punch.
Speaking of Mr. Punch, he’s still front and center in Punch’s Cousin. Last week, we saw the struggle over Barbara Allen’s child intensify as Edward Cage declared that the child that he purchased would be returned to him. Meanwhile, Punch, Robert and their friends staged their own murder, framing Iolanthe Evangeline. That, of course, didn’t go quite as they had planned. Barbara—who had her hands already full with Charles’ amorous and murderous brother, Giovanni, was crushed to learn of the “death” of her brother and son. What will she do when she learns it isn’t true?
Marjani has some problems—at the top of the list is Marie Laveau who seems to have worked some of her famous magic on our friend. Will Marjani survive Marie’s attack. And, what about Iolanthe Evangeline? She’s been taken to jail for a murder she didn’t commit. Still, she can’t complain. Iolanthe is guilty of many murders and assorted crimes against humanity. Will she finally get the punishment she’s earned or will this new complication only enrage her further? Iolanthe has also got some other things on her mind—namely her ill son, Egil. With Egil temporarily in Ulrika’s hands, will Iolanthe’s son ever get medical attention? Will he even be returned to his mother? Expect some complications as Ulrika schemes to get Colin returned to Edward Cage in exchange for a weird trade which would serve, really, to only benefit Ulrika.
Furthermore, Arthur is on his way back to his wife. This isn’t good news for Barbara who was finally back on the path of a good life. As the fate of her son hangs in the balance, Barbara has to do something desperate which will change the lives of everyone forever.
If you’ve missed any chapters of Punch’s Cousin, you can read them in our complete Chapter Archive. My continued thanks to all of you who have been reading Stalking the Belle Époque and Punch’s Cousinfor the last year. You’ve made this a wonderful and rewarding experience.
I’m quite fortunate in that I get to do what I love for a living. However, I spent many years working in a career that I didn’t enjoy for a company that was anything but appreciative. Many of you are in the same position. We’re not always going to enjoy our jobs. But, we can always find something to interest us at work. Since it’s where you spend the majority of your time, it’s up to you to find ways which make working easier and more comfortable.
That’s why it’s all the more important that you relish your personal time. While you can’t necessarily do what you’re most passionate about at work, you can when you’re at home. Never forget to make time to take part in the activities and studies that most excite you. Spending time at these pursuits each day will make the time spent at more tedious activities seem all the better.
The 1980’s were the era of Aaron Spelling and his somewhat tawdry but nonetheless fun and campy prime time dramas. In 1983, Spelling produced Hotel, a rather sticky melodrama based on the 1965 novel of the same name by Arthur Hailey. The show, set in a posh hotel, centered around its managers played by Connie Sellecca and James Brolin and its aristocratic owner and their interaction with the swanky guests therein.
Spelling’s pilot for the show starred Bette Davis as the imperious owner of the hotel, Laura Trent. Davis was never thrilled with the program, stating that it should be called “Brothel.” However, in this era, Davis was having a difficult time finding roles which didn’t put cast her as some sort of Grand Guignol demon. And, so she accepted the part. Then, Davis experienced the beginnings of her famous bouts with ill health. She withdrew from the show, only having appeared in the pilot.
Curiously, Davis was replaced by Anne Baxter who ironically has played Eve Harrington to Davis’ Margo Channing in All About Eve. Just as Harrington schemed to take Channing’s place in the film, Baxter was afforded the chance to replace Davis in this real life drama.
For the pilot episode, ABC released its usual press releases and production stills. Before Davis withdrew from the show, ABS issued a series of photos stating that she would be continuing in the part. They quickly had to negate themselves. As we’ve seen lately with the cancellations of All My Children and One Life to Live, ABC has no problem contradicting itself.
This photo is an interesting artifact in that it is one of the original press photos of Davis for the show with the original notation from ABC upon which the copy has been crossed-out. “No.” has been written across the page.
Ill-health didn’t prevent Davis from continuing with her career until her death in 1989. Later, she seems relieved not to have been part of Hotel, stating that she never really cared for the program in the first place. The show ran for five years, ending in 1988.
