Catalog

"Like, dislike-these were not words I applied to Miss Crawford. Until we were cast as the costars of Whatever Happened To Baby Jane? I knew her only slightly. Our paths had seldom crossed, even though for three years we had adjoining dressing rooms at Warners."
 
   "In truth I did not know her any better after the film was completed. Twenty years after we had worked together, and half a dozen years after her death, we are still a team in the public's mind. We finished only one film and started another. We did not compete for parts since we were opposing types of actresses. "

   "Feud is a Hollywood word, a wildly overused Hollywood word. Did Bette Davis and Joan Crawford ever feud during the filming of Whatever Happened To Baby Jane? No!"

(Bette Davis)

   "I knew my lines, showed up to the set on time and tried my hardest to get along with everyone including Miss Davis."

(Joan Crawford)

   Each woman had something different to offer the cinema and each perhaps had something to envy of the other. Bette Davis had an illustrious background and beginning ; she had started in theatre and made a powerful imprint in film, growing to accumulate 10 oscar nominations and 2 wins (matched only by Katherine Hepburn and Meryl Streep) . Joan Crawford on the other hand had the glamour 'it' look and presence that made her pursued for parts with big employers. She had the conventional beauty and face that gave an impression of grace, a body of style and unapologetic assurance. 

   Crew members from films the women did confirm that both were nothing but professional towards one another and other costars. Tension was predisposed with the media pressure and desire for scandal and conflict. As one biographer put it both had read what had been said in reports and perhaps grew to subscribe to it personally  (Charlotte Chandler, biographer). 

   At worst the two demonstrated their their envy and socialized indifference through cool stares, and decorative or feisty remarks to friends and associates. We all have the right to choose the people we will bond with, perhaps there was not enough in common on personal levels for the two to exceed this. All this said- the feud was not exactly propelled by either woman but driven by reporters and an environment that thrived on action. Therefore- can we call it a feud? How authentic does all of that make it? Food for thought.