Betty Hutton Interview, Part 2

[bmbrian]

I am amazed at her articulate, thorough self-analysis. She really has studied herself and the corresponding effects of the events of her life.

[defundthewar]

@Duke535 Lorna likes it both ways, blaming the "disease"- althoughsome people think most of addiction is responsibility. OK, MGM gave Judy her first pills, the thousands that came later were Judy's idea. MGM never gave her a drink, yet we know the rest. But Lorna also spills the beans: both Crawford and Garland made the "night visits"... both would invade the kids' rooms at midnight or later, the raging tantrums, narcissim, the constant nagging. But we're getting off the topic of Betty :)

[defundthewar]

@Duke535 Lorna's ghosted book, Me & My Shadows, portrayed Judy as no other did, with insider information no one else had. For one thing, that Lorna had to be essentially maid/mother/nurse to Judy, that a parade of men "courted" Judy, that the kids sometimes went without food, that Judy was a pyromaniac, that Judy deprived them of sleep, she was on drugs during son's pregnancy resulting in retardation, that Judy narrowly missed her son's head with a flung knife. It out-Mommies Mommie Dearest.

[defundthewar]

@Duke535 That's a good point, and it must certainly give the kids a convoluted view of the world. A little off topic, but I remember the Soon-Yi/Woody Allen brouhaha, and Soon-Yi sniped about Mia... "She's no Mother Teresa!" That said, you don't actually have had to be there as a fly on the wall to be able to tell that Betty- a superb entertainer & actress- was a terrible mother, as was Garland, and we know about Crawford. Not that they were bad people, but completely, 100% into themselves.

[mkrobinson95]

@defundthewar - The BIG distinction between Betty vs. Judy/Joan with regards to their mothering skills ... I believe Betty is the only one of the three who ever admitted (and she did this multiple times) that she was indeed a very poor mother, spoiled her kids to make up for it, and focused on her career rather than the children she brought into the world. At least Betty's kids had father(s) to go to when she went south ... Joan's poor kids (Christina and Christopher) didn't stand a chance!

[defundthewar]

Yes, Betty's ability to accept responsibility is something that would never occur to Joan/Judy, although in one of Judy's stoned-out tape recordings (they're all over youtube), she told the machine she never cared about anyone but herself. No truer words were ever spoken, so just maybe she had a clue. On the male side, there's the neglectful Sinatra and the sadistic Crosby. But for full blown insanity, I vote for Saint Loretta Young, who didn't believe in birth control, and we know the rest.

[mkrobinson95]

@defundthewar - I wouldn't have put Loretta Young into this conversation, but agree she was a bit paranoid ... I guess considering the era ... but adopting her own daughter and not telling her the truth for years is nuts. Gable's son has not acknowledged Judy Lewis as his half-sister; at least he hadn't as of 6/01, where Larry King interviewed Lewis & read a statement from Gable stating "My father said he had no other children and my father's word is good enough for me." Just look at her face!

[defundthewar]

It's the old double standard; Gable thought that any woman who slept around deserved what she got. Sinatra certainly has unofficial offspring all over the world, notably with actress Eva Bartok. Frankie Jr. wound up in court for child support. Of course, with women, it's riskier. What is bonkers about Young was her prissy, holy attitude when everyone knew Gable was Judy's father, and Young knew everyone knew. Judy had ears like the open doors of a deLorean. Betty at least not insane.

[mlduree]

I know her daughter Lindsay. She is a nice woman. She has a healed heart and I don't know why she would choose not to go. She speaks little of her mother. Funny, how easy it is to judge when you stand far, far away. No one even noticed the comment that said, "you weren't there, I was". It is in here and yet everyone is so busy judging that they don't notice a family member posted it.

[mkrobinson95]

@mlduree - you obviously are neglecting to acknowledge my comment following the comment from "hemming57". For him/her to leave a cryptic message like that with NO explanation of who was making the comment, etc. left a lot to be desired. Someone can say "I was there" ... ok, so what about it? I know the gentlemen who took care of Betty in Palm Springs and they know A LOT about these daughters too ... and so do I. Betty was neglected by her family and in the end they just didn't give a damn.

[DA90027]

Hollywood is a shitty place. No one is truly your friend. Betty seems really introspective here and dead on with her thoughts.

[rentatrip1]

God Bless Betty- How can another person judge ?  Far be it from me to say what Betty should have done etc.- She blessed the world with her talent & her joy- & she always was humble enough to know she was "lucky" or fortunate...

You watch this clip & see the energy she exploded with from inside her soul;-

Her films speak for her - forever-

[marlis44]

Oh my, she reminds me of my own mother. When I telephoned my mom to tell her my husband had just died, my mother began talking about herself. I was stymied, I needed my mom and she wasn't there. Life was still all about her.

Perhaps this reunion is why they did not attend the funeral.

[blauaugen63]

I wish Icould have met her and known her.

[4MaryAnna]

I like her but she say"her daughters were jealous of her"?,I think there was much more going on than that.

What's with her skin?It looks shiny,brown and weird.

[tousamis]

I think that Betty was misunderstood from the very start. What is sad is that she made and spent millions, also to provide the good living to her family that she had not as a poor child. But her family never really tried to forgive her mistakes. And she spent her time asking for forgiveness but it seems it was too late in her mind's daugthers. But i think that not going to her funeral was the last insult to her that was too much.

Hugo

Hugo

[layde1]

I hadn't even heard of Betty Hutton until today, looking at her singing `Murder He Said', which was fantastic. I read here that her Daughters were not at her funeral which I find absolutely dreadful! Their own Mother!You only get one Mother and I can think of very few circumstances where you would be right not to at least say Goodbye at her funeral. It's a real shame considering the emotion in this interview. I hope her Daughters feel proud of themselves.

[jackeats7]

the daughters were pissed that after she reunited with them and moved to California---she stayed awhile but came back to the east Coast--she taught at Emerson College in Boston and after her performance in 1983-retired and eventally settle in Palm Springs. Too much time away from each other change the family dynamic. they were wrong to not attend the funeral.

[death2pc]

@jackeats7

"Hollywood" is one big meat grinder that uses its stars at a minimum. Hutton was beyond exceptional, beyond words, in a league of her own but, alas, too caring, too normal, too decent and sensitive for the arena she was in. One should readily understand what Hutton was and demonstrate compassion in light of all the crap that was eventually thrown her way. I pity her children's suffering but, in the end, to not be with her, to not attend her funeral.., unconscionable! Unconscionable.

[GroovyBlackCat]

Reading between the lines (if you really listen), I think it's possible to see why the daughters were estranged. Betty comes across as a lovely, open, honest woman but it's ALL about Betty. Like she says, her childhood must have left her with an unfillable hole. Poor thing. I hope she found some peace.

[4MaryAnna]

yeah at 4:56 she leans in front of her daughter,interupts her,and starts talking about herself.yeow!

[genista2001]

Well the interview IS about Betty Hutton NOT Betty Hutton's daughter!

[genista2001]

Well the interview IS about Betty Hutton NOT Betty Hutton's daughter!

[4MaryAnna]

I have the feeling it wasn't JUST the interview,imo she comes across like EVERYTHINGS all about HER.

oh by the way,you only need to post your comments ONCE.

[genista2001]

WHATEVER!

[defundthewar]

Anyone who criticizes Betty for being self-centered doesn't understand stars, and Betty was a BIG star. I'm reminded about something Art Linkletter said about his neighbor Judy Garland. She would ramble on about herself and then say, "Enough about me. How did YOU like my movie?" I think superstars of Betty's time especially, when they were treated as gods and goddesses-- they're more down to earth now- don't have a good track record as parents, but it's understandable.

[KokoPuffs52]

As a performer, I understand the whole thing about giving your all while performing, but when everyone goes home, and you realize no one is really there for you. Then the next day you put on a happy face, perform, but realize no one is really your friend. That's why it's important to make friends outside of the business. Garland & Hutton both suffered from the child performer syndrome of getting no unconditional love. So they were always looking for the parental attention they never got as kids.

[defundthewar]

I know Betty's mother was an alcoholic, and had absentee father, so that was a big problem. Re: Garland, her father was- like a lot of gay men- attentive and caring, until he died, which was good. Re: Judy's mother, all the reports of her being a horrible, abusive witch, both verbally and even physically cruel- there is only one source of that, Judy herself. I think Mrs. Gumm's only crime was not being a kiss-ass to Judy as others were, something Judy didn't exactly discourage.

[timmytickles]

god bless betty hutton!!!

[divawriter]

I watched the tcm interview when she was in her eighties and it kind of reminded me of my own life. I am 55 yrs old now, but I got into drugs at a very young age (when there was no drug education). My oldest son will not speak to me. He refuses to forgive me. What did I do to him? Well, my addiction led me to leave him with my mom a lot- at her urging. When he was 13 I finally got my life together.

[mkrobinson95]

Not a big distinction, but she was 79 at the time of the TCM interview.

[rsm230]

Its a sad thing.. I loved this actrice when i was growing up.. she had problems like all of us.. me siento muy malo.. vas a recordarla para siempre..

[hemming57]

To all, don't judge Betty Hutton's daughters. You weren't there. I was.

[mkrobinson95]

With all due respect, what do you mean by your comment? My father was a nightmare, but I reached out to him and he refused to meet with me. Betty had so many insecurities and a very rough upbringing ... I reached out to my father trying to understand his background and put the past behind us, but he refused. What did she do that was so unforgiveable?

[BelliniNorma1]

I think her daughters were just plain awful. I wonder what type of people they happen to be ?

Eventually there will come a day that they become regretful for their actions.

They obviously have nasty souls.

Betty rest assured that you are already missed by your many fans - if that is of any consolation.

[sparkplugg]

Betty comes across very well on tv.A bit brainwashed by religion perhaps, but often people need to replace one crutch with another.

But the fact that none of her daughters attended her funeral speaks volumes.I'm sorry but it's true..

[889TS]

I rember seeing the greatest show on earth.The local t.v. station did a slick move.You the cirus comes to N.C. charoltte.They aired this movie.That movie interduced me to mrs hutton.Come to think of it.A lot of a list movie stars were in that movie.The pearls of pauleen was a funny movie to.Well she had a hard life.And now shes at peace with the lord.But i agree with the others about her kids not coming to her funnrel.That is just bottom of the berrel sad.

[CARMAY56]

That sure was sad about Betty Hutton.. her Children where not nice people.. That is Hollywood.. BRAINED WASHED THEM.. no (faith) and they could not accept her (religion)what a great person to be so honest...SOMEONE NEEDS TO WRITE A BOOK ABOUT HER.

[DA90027]

Betty was a very honest person, Hollywood does not knwo how to deal with honesty, they didn't then and they sure as hell don't now. I loved Betty, she had the balls to tell the truth.

[mrobertb]

It makes me grieve watching this clip, knowing that the rift between Betty & her family was never really healed. I saw her interviewed by Robert Osborne on TCM the year before she died and she mentioned then that she & her daughters & grandchildren weren't on speaking terms. She was living alone in Palm Springs at the time, still mourning the death of the priest she spoke of so often. Such a sad ending to a life filled with sorrow.

[alexandrialynn43]

I agree with all of your comments. Even if relationships are very strained within families, you would hope for funeral attendance just for closure. But I do believe there is a lot more to this than we are seeing here.

[19171969]

There were longstanding rumors in the black community that Betty was passing for white. It makes you wonder how her career was shotdown so fast when she was at the top of her game. Has anyone else heard this rumor? I heard it over 40 years ago.

[Georgie1954]

I heard that many years ago about Dinah Shore (I'm 50 yrs old). Actually my mother remembers that rumor about d.shore being black and passing as white. I never heard this about Betty though.

[irene4132]

Something went wrong,too much hurt that the daughters could not forgive and perhaps Betty still had issues.Councilling would have helped . Going a little slower after so many years apart, may have been a better idea. Not attending her funeral was the ultimate act of disrespect by her daughters, and respective families. Betty was great ,not just as an actress, but she was not ashamed to admit her mistakes.Her last interview, in her 80's was very open, very sad. May she rest in peace.

[AmandaHallay]

I didn't know her daughters didn't go to her funeral! OMG. How awful...and how selfish and ignorant of them not to have understood the suffering their mother was going through. How sad.

[marcosvalenca]

Find Betty Hutton's 2000 interview on Youtube. It's a very good one.

[Lukey89]

After all of that,

her daughters didnt attend her funeral.

Does anyone know what went wrong?

x

[jess06]

What are you serious? Her own daughters didn't go to her funeral. That is so awful.

[Barndancer61]

Well, obviously there is more to the story than we see here. Many times weak people turn to some form of religious crutch (hey if it works...!) to get through life. In many cases the religion is so pervasive in the life that loved ones can't deal with the replacement addiction (religion). These converts often talk of nothing else and drive their families away, trying to convert them. ...their choice of lifestyle begins to grate on their loved-ones. Pitty.