Bette Davis Films Delight 400 at SPAC

by Marjorie Feiner, The Knickerbocker News, June 21, 1973

It was still light at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center at 8 p.m. Wednesday, too light to show the film clips effectively. John Springer, producer of the program “Legendary Ladies of the Movies,” announced that the program would be a little late. Over 400 people waited eagerly and patiently for almost an hour for it to begin. It was worth the wait.

After some adjustment of the sound system, the program offered edited film clips of 12 movies, all starring Bette Davis. They included “All About Eve” (1950), “Of Human Bondage” (1934), “Cabin in the Cotton” (1932), “Jezebel” (1938), “Dark Victory” (1939), “The Letter” (1940), “Now Voyager” (1942), “Mr. Skeffington” (1944),” “Thank Your Lucky Stars” (1943), “Beyond the Forest” (1940), “The Catered Affair” (1956) and “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane” (1962). Each film drew appreciative murmurs as the audience recognized the familiar ones.

A standing ovation greeted Miss Davis when she appeared, dressed in a long white flowing gown. She was delightfully open and warm, and her candid remarks to all questions asked by Mr. Springer delighted the audience.

She talked quite freely about her movies and experiences. Her first film was “Bad Sister,” but she didn’t want to talk about that. She always loved character parts. “I was never a raving beauty. I went into character roles,” she admitted. “The Catered Affair” was her favorite movie.

“Glenda Jackson? I adore her,” she said. She thinks Miss Jackson will “fill the gap of women stars” today. She added that Vera Ellen was “very talented,” and Geraldine Page was a “great actress”; Liza Minnelli was just “super!”

Saratoga fascinated her. She had never appeared in an outdoor theater before. When asked her preference, she said, “I still prefer movies, even over the Broadway stage.”

When asked about sex and violence in today’s films, she admitted that “I’m not against it when it fits the story; but I feel that (sex) should be in the bedroom, not in public. I know I would have refused for myself.”

She asked for questions from the audience, and lines formed behind the set-up microphones. All questions were answered with great humor and warmth. She said that she had never said “Petah, Petah” in her life; that she wears her hair short because “she is getting very tired of long hair on the men”; she began in movies in 1929: “You count it up.”

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