Bette Davis talks about suing Warner Brothers

[sweet161402]

Love all her movies but Marked Woman with Bogie was my favorite!It was classic Bette. "I'll get you,if I have to crawl back from my grave to do it!" WOW!

[girliboi]

i wish we had movie stars like this today.. i mean there's a few good actors/actresses, but nobody is a real "star" anymore.. everybody borrows expensive clothes and jewelry for the oscars, but there isn't any TRUE glamour anymore.. i guess that's the one thing the old studios DID give their actors who were under contract - they taught them how to be STARS..

[InfiniteWhizBang]

That southern accent was not very authentic.

[CelestialEmbodiment]

 Without Yoko by his side, Yukio Mishima would've been sad & lonely.

[simonsteam]

Incredibly smart. and clued up lady. really refreshing. could listen to her talk all day.

[CelestialEmbodiment]

Pray for Wang Yue...

[Saitoko7]

@CelestialEmbodiment We did, and she died anyway. What's she got to do with an interview with Bette Davis, though?

[pinchmeImnotdreaming]

How refreshing to listen to an intelligent, honest and perceptive lady. The great majority of so-called stars nowadays are pretentious morons boring us with their self-promotion and juvenile, hypocritical liberal politics.

[NFitalianGuy]

Very intelligent woman and one hell of an actress and legend!

[55kudu]

One thing I've noticed is the way she acknowledges and bows to the audience right after greeting the host, and she does it at the end on another part. Stars don't really do that on talk shows anymore, it's all in a bubble today.

[jhecht424]

@55kudu Because Bette had that class to care for her fans that adored her so much. She was humble and courteous enough to acknowledge her fans. These days most so-called stars could care less about their fans.

[55kudu]

@jhecht424 I see you appreciate the great Davis like I do. There is no other person as iconic as her, in my opinion, she is the pinnacle all must aspire to achieve in talent, drive, intellect, knowledge and personality. She had it all and more to spare. I have jury duty in Lowell, MA in September and afterwards I'm going to stop by her birthplace. Can't wait to see her humble beginnings!! I'm sure you've heard her say her famous comment of "No compliments in Yankee land"... so hilarious.

[jhecht424]

@55kudu I certainly do. =) She's an icon, simply put. As it sounds like you're close to her birthplace, I'm about a half hour or so drive from her final resting place. One of these days I need to go and pay my respects to such an incredible human being.

[55kudu]

@jhecht424 So you're in the L.A. area, that's really great. I always wanted to visit CA but never got out there. Maybe one day. Bette Davis is our favorite it sounds like, and with good reason. Always so entertaining, provocative and absorbing. I'm very anxious to see her house and yard, etc. The people who live there are used to people stopping by to view the house so I should have no problem. I'll enter a post after I go to Lowell, MA. Thanks for responding.

[55kudu]

This is almost my favorite part of the interview with her comments about "Gone With The Wind" and her linguistics analysis. I love when she relaxes, asks for water and lets loose with the gin remark. I wish she had said more about her relationship with Joan Crawford, one of the most legendary in Hollywood history.

[BGSourgas]

@55kudu At first i thought her theory on the similarities between yankee and southern accents was crazy, but there's definitely something to it

[55kudu]

@BGSourgas I thought the same type of thing... when she said it I was thinking what? But then when she reminded us that Virginian settlers came North it made more sense. What a mind she had with so much acquired from all her acting roles. Thanks for your comment. It was very entertaining.

[Cosmic86x]

one of the most charming ladies ever. i would love to travel back in time, buy a ticket for the Dick Cavett Show and see her live in living color :)

[hcvang]

is this the cute little old lady from boston legal??? golden girls??? she doesnt sound like her at all...

[hcvang]

@hcvang nevermind, I'm thinking of Betty WHITE ofcourse... Oooops

[romantic2543]

I'm a new Bette Davis fan, and I just keep coming back to this interview. And every time I watch it, I love her even more.

[carrotjuse]

How utterly charming she was. Thank you for posting this.

[significantlycynical]

what a good dresser, lovely thoughtful planned outfit; dressed up for her fans

[wheelnut53]

@significantlycynical I notice that also and she's carrying a pocketbook

[DA90027]

Totally honest and no bullshit. Too many phonies in Hollywood today!

[maszlagma]

I just love Bette! So natural and charming!

....and am I the only one who thinks that Dick Cavett looks really sexy here?

[BrianHamiltonTV]

These are some of the best interviews with Bette Davis I have ever seen. Thanks for sharing them. What a treasure!

[Vanman05]

Bette comes off a remarkably charming, real and funny! I loved this interview with Dick Cavett as he simply led her to talk as she would to a friend revealing a very likeable woman.

[scottieb33113]

@rayjr62 powerful people back in those days often didnt.

[bettescorpio]

My grandmother named my aunt after Bette and my parents named me after my aunt. So now I have her name.... Never knew how likable she was until i saw these interviews. She's got more substance than your average celebrity. It's crazy how much honesty can make someone laugh.

[xxcharmed1xx]

I love her so dearly! And i love how she interacts with the audience.. Stars today do not do that. She had such elegance and class.

[KURISUCHRIS99]

i love the way she was.

she was going to be herself no matter where she was.

i dont agree with the things she says about Joan Crawford becuase im a huge joan fan,but i love bette davis as well.

[bannon1000]

I am transfixed the way she strolls on, handbag there as if to say "I am here & thats MY bag".She was full to the brim with insight,intelligence,charisma & you put that with her honesty,straight forward & fearless personality & you have the nearest thing to a force of nature. The class, ease of talking & the wisdom is simply rare.How many stars today will have her and her era's staying power & be legends.like Bette,Liz,Katherine and Audrey there are more but these were the cream of the crop

[BrianHamiltonTV]

@bannon1000 very well said

[vHumboldt77]

What a woman and actress!!!!! a super, super star! Thanks for posting this!

[kungiiii]

wtf with translation??

[arlichar11]

betty seemed scary and unaproachable.. but good to see shes gracious, and humorous smart lady... unlike hepburn..whose nosed touched the ceiling and very unfriendly...

[xxcharmed1xx]

god, how i wish she was still alive. although she would be like 102 yrs. old.. i just love watching her interviews. she had so much class and elegance.

[Messylin]

Without a fag smoking in her finger, she wouldn't be Bette Davis!

[Operalover12002]

I have always idolized Bette Davis and always will. But I always wish she had been a non-smoker. She would not have undergone a surgery had she not smoked heavily. As a great fan of hers, I wish she should have heard more advicne on quitting smoking.

She was shining wherever she was. Many people get her wrong; I am really sad about that. She was outspoken, which must have been out of her kindness to others.

I appreciate cavettbiter for uploading other clips featuring her interviews.

[1Nbillion817]

Bette Davis > Than all

[dryan22]

I wasn't very familiar with Bette's work until recently. After seeing ten films and several interviews, she's now my favourite actress ever. Kate Winslet has to settle for number two. Bette just fascinates me, I could watch her all day.  Outspoken, honest, brave, intelligent, talented... I could watch someone like that all day. She deserves the admired position she holds in history.

[xoxCindersxox]

I searched this after seeing a show at the Edinburgh Fringe called Bette/Cavette, which literally reenacts this interview; set, adverts, everything! (With a smidgen of improv). It was really interesting and surreal.

[sanjac07]

I really wonder what Gone With The Wind would have been like if Bette played Scarlett O'Hara instead of Viven Leigh.

[gombis666]

Flynn was a racist, misogynistic, evil little man.

[SugarKatie]

bette davis carries her handbag to the show as if she's gonna leave any minute XD

[Janeways1Girl]

@SugarKatie LOL That was part of the mystic. She's the guest and when the guest arrives in your home they arrive with their jacket and bag and as the conversation progresses everyone gets more comfortable. I think that's how t.v's became living room centerpieces.

[singasong718]

God, how I adore Bette and dick together. Truly one of the best interviuews I have ever seen.

[sugarshula64]

Dick cavett is a terrible interviewer, I'm sorry. Miss Davis steals the show, naturally. Bravo.

[ScinLaeca358]

@sugarshula64 He's totally bland and milquetoast and insipid, but I guess that's what people liked in the 70's...lol. I like how she constantly stomps all over him in the interview - he can't EVER get a full sentence out.

[xtinaandravenfan]

Phenomenal actress! One of my all time favourites! xx

[cvvemuri]

Its funny how alot of these actresses from the early 20th century never pronounce their R's.

[cheyenne86]

Bette Davis was her own woman, she wasnt owned like so many are.

[mooooogrl]

I'm sad she is no longer with us but proud to say I was alive when she was, even if it was only for 8 years!

[kittykitttykitty]

bette rules

[marcuslaughton]

a lady of great intelligence and keen wit. she could be so funny but what i love best of all is listening to her take on sex and relationships. she said sex was gods big joke and oh how true. you only have to listen to her for a while and you are blessed with wonderful insights and come away feeling better for it. she is a true inspiration. i loved her in life and on film. a unique individual blessed with talent and beauty but above all a take no shit approach to life that was admirable.

[NFitalianGuy]

Bette was a very intelligent and classy Woman and actress She was always a joy to watch on the screen or tv and esp inher interviews. She has a great sense of humor too and down to earth and very grounded mentally. She never beat around the bush she was very honest direct and sure of herslef. This interview really is a treat. You dont see many actresses today that have what she had

[maxmcmann]

What's refreshing is seeing a candid interview from a movie star that doesn't seem scripted. Now, actors only do interviews when they're promoting a movie or some other product, then they use the same adjectives and dialogue on every show. Never is anything interesting revealed or discussed....everything and everyone is just peachy.

[dallyx66]

That's so true. I've even heard certain people criticized lately for giving interesting or offbeat interviews! Why aren't they promoting their "product"? Sad.

[teemell19]

@maxmcmann I agree... their fake blindingly white smiles make me sick

[ensemblist]

@maxmcmann Oh so true! Ugh! The only time it feels remotely like this is on Inside the Actors Studio.

[55kudu]

@maxmcmann Phony baloney Hollywood. That's what it's been ever since Entertainment Tonight or so. I love your remarks especially the 'peachy' LOL. I grew up in the sixties and seventies and the talk was great. Cavett was always a little more candid and in-depth but Johnny Carson was always lively and many times informative. It just ain't so anymore. I like everyone but Carson Daly isn't Johnny Carson and Conan O'Brien isn't Cavett. But time marches on as Bette herself says somewhere during this

[miguelucho20008]

What was the year? Does anyone knows?

[rogerskarsten]

@miguelucho20008 November 1971. She mentions that Gladys Cooper died "last night," which was November 17, 1971, so this was probably the 18th.

[miguelucho20008]

@rogerskarsten Wow! I'm impressed. Thanks.

[NFitalianGuy]

Just a captivating woman!

[vitoperron]

my god! i just people that have something to say

[umxoxo17]

Imagine an actress going on television today wearing FUR. peta would be pissed...LOL LONG LIVE BETTE DAVIS!

[Misteron20]

What yr was that?

[iiiiiccccc]

man... imagine that, bette suing warners in 1936... that freaking empowering to me, even to this day... because i have to do that too now - and well seeing she did it in 1936, i ought to get on with it, delayed it for too long, and were 2009.

[rayjr62]

I get the feeling that Bette Davis took zero shit off of anyone. Ever.

[chilvari]

@rayjr62 Agreed! You can't pull a fsast one with Bette Davis!

[TheTubePortal]

@rayjr62 And what's really amazing about it is that she was able to do it while remaining charming, witty, and good company at the same time! Most of those kinds of people (who 'take zero shit' from anybody) are often very difficult to be around and take themselves way too seriously. Bette Davis though looks like she'd have been a hoot to be around.

[xDanotchka]

I adore her entrance, with her coat on and bag as though she wouldn't trust anyone backstage with it lol truly great lady, Cavett is wonderful with strong women like Bette, Katharine, Lucille etc. because he knows his place and is submissive, and also compliments them in nearly every breath he takes lol

[frickadele]

I love short men.

[mangrovesea]

Bette Davis was only 5'2" which means Cavett was, what, 5'3"? I hate short men!

[chucknyc123]

What happened to the days of talk shows when people were on just because they were interesting and didn't necessarily have something to promote?  Television has totally sold out.

[DS9Sisko]

I detest how you, Cavettbiter, presented these clips in some chopped up "by subject" fashion as opposed to Part 1, Part 2, etc. of this famous interview from The Dick Cavett Show, but I thanks for making it available nonetheless/

[TinkerMazell]

Bette Davis, we LOVE you!

[bannon1000]

she is the very definition of SUPERSTAR,she has intelligence,wit and magnetism by the bucket load.This lady broke the mould in so many ways-i admire and respect this "true to herself " LADY.

[hihosilverlining2]

what a diva lol. She was a total one off. And not like most "stars" today who don't have any talent. Fantastic woman.

[grace317]

she reminds me of the kind of aunt who is kind of embarassing, crude and laughs inappropriately, whose laughter kind of makes you laugh too..

[thekingofmoney2000]

grace317, Bette was not "crude" she was an amazing classy women and an amazing actress!

[grace317]

I think swearing is defined as crude no matter who does it. Amazing, yes, she is.

[ginasweetie2006]

I like his socks

[inagod]

class act

[Muffy2314]

How sad this great one had that stroke and breast cancer at the end of her life. So vital here. i guess none of us ever know whats ahead. probably better that way.

[newyorkeastside]

they just don't make people like that any more.......shes a real class act !

[calicobabe123]

he was TOTALLY flirting with her!!!!!

u can tell a hole lot.

[notenut]

gotta love her

[Muffy2314]

Betty looks like a real blue-blood. you can almost see the blue under her gorgeous skin. she was class no doubt about it.

[hellishcrazy]

the whole time I was watching Gone With the Wind, I kept asking my self why the hell they didn't cast Davis? that role is perfect for her! I can't believe they tried to offer it to her and she turned it down.

[MrMidwest]

I think she was attractive, but I don't know if she was beautiful enough for the role.

[bjnevin]

Perhaps but Vivien Leigh did a marvellous job- I genuinely feel she gave one of THE greatest performances by an actress ever. Her talent is underlined by her other Oscar-win for her win in a completely different role in "A Streetcar Named Desire" (except of course, for the whole "Southern belle" idea!).

[MrMidwest]

Bette agreed that it was one of the great performances.

[vjohnso1]

woahhhhh love ms. davis but c-mon, Vivien WAS scarlett o hara. NO ONE and I mean NO ONE else could have played her.

[thalialuvmx]

she was there initial cast for the role but she walked away from it the first time bc she thought it was going to be wack, and the second time she really didn't want to act with clark gable as Rhett and MGM really wanted to use him

[bdavis4life]

That isn't totally true. She never denied the role because it was never technically offered to her. She was the number one pick, yes, but the biggest reason she didn't get the part is because she had already created a Scarlett type character with Jezebel. Bette liked to make things up to make herself look better.

[bianca66porter]

wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! They sure dont make them like they used to!

[GEVMM]

Fasten your seatbelts, Miss Davis just arrived...

[leopoldhoob]

who the fuck is Dick Cavett ????.....he looks like a 70's parody...guess he is loved in the US.....sad sad sad...

[starstuff]

Where are you from? Planet Mars?

[leopoldhoob]

No......GREAT BRITAIN............

[starstuff]

Terrific.

[snorp73]

What memorable happened in Great Britain in the 60's? You guys didn't even have a woodstock. Don't hate.

[leopoldhoob]

Erm.......... a little knopwn group called the beatles.maybe you've heard of them ????.............fuckwit

[snorp73]

Made famous by Americans no doubt. Also belonging to American Rock N Roll along with Elvis. The Beatles wouldn't have been what they were had it not been for American pop culture and American approval. So in opposition to Dick Cavett, who do you have? We have Oprah, Barbara Walters, Johnny Carson, David Letterman, and Jay Leno. Dumbass...nothing like watching a true brit demonstrate their utter inferiority to the U.S. What is it? Still ticked over the Revolutionary War or something?

[leopoldhoob]

Made famous by americans.what an odd thing to say.........Letterman...quite amusing, Leno...ok, Oprah.don't make me laugh.a fat no talent who rose to fame on the back of a wave of tokenism, ,and I'll see your Walters and Carson, and raise you a Frost and a Parkinson......P.S..great economic performance at the moment.......best wishes

[snorp73]

Nobody here has ever heard of your later two. Amazingly though - even though you denounce her as "fat no talent" - why I do believe you at least know who she is. :-) Really, it's so transparent....strong words usually indicate a very weak cause. Try another war with us again, maybe we'll decide to not take you over. Our economics are fine, and actually the lazy ones responsible for the suckage of resources are probably more inclined to concur with you over me anyway.

[leopoldhoob]

"Try another war with us" hmmmmm, interesting...as for finance, the US housing/mortgage market is teetering on the brink of crisis due to bad lending forecasts by idiiotic conglommerates, and you know this to be true, the dollar is "wonderfully" strong against sterling at the moment, and if no-one here has ever heard of David Frost, ask your parents about his world famous interview with your "great" president Nixon in , I believe, 1974.

[immaculateboy]

There was no brighter star in hollywood than Bette Davis. Doubt there ever will be.

[tonyboyart]

mr cavett is so adorable and u can tell bette is just loving being interviewed by him and senses his attraction to her.smashing!!

[NikkiClo]

This interview was great. Bette was so honest and funny, she didn't put on a big act..she was herself.

[nyjordy]

And I do like this guy so much.. he was a great interviewer ..

does any body knows what happened to him..

means why he s not on TV anymore?

[xlovemerylx]

hes still alive hes in a movie "Driving me crazy" this year

[AdArmand]

look at her face when he says "but not THE Southern woman" - like her ego's been bruised! I love her.

[Muffy2314]

Dick was just great to ask her that.

[Larryjoe147]

she keeps picking her nose

[calihartley2010]

@Larryjoe147 she was scratching. there is a diference between picking your nose and scratching. Please look them up before commenting.

[nathaninlondon]

Rivetting!!!

[carolineorchange21]

I was so sick today and I was lucky enough to have a day off of both school AND work to be sick on (if you've got to be sick, it might as well be on a day you've already got off) so I soothed my fever with Tylenol, mineral water, AND a Bette Davis movie marathon.  I own many of her films on DVD and I guilted my friend into renting the ones I don't have, so I've had a chronic fever/Bette Davis movie marathon day - and am still a bit feverish, I guess,a after the rambling nature of this comment :/

[jennifer1003]

That's sooo funny, I was so sick on Saturday 4/5 & I took medicine & watched her movies & began to fill better! Isn't that strange? LOL

Hope you feel better carolineorchange21!!!

[carolineorchange21]

Also, this interview is a great closer to an odd/amazing/painful day.

[Breeslave]

This is when Bette Davis was still hott.  We need more shows like this on cable/broadcast Tv. I miss Dick Cavett.

[hastingsgal]

there will never be another like her. Thanks for posting these Dick Cavett interviews - fascinating.

[MadelaineAshton]

amazing

unlike the stars of today

or the stars who want to save the world in 4 minutes or less

[nightwish1000]

i love her

[email2michael3]

She arrives in full mink regalia...now that's a STAR

[biggerdouchebagjones]

SWEET!!! thanks so much!