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Bette & Joan: The Divine Feud
This joint biography of Bette Davis and Joan Crawford follows Hollywood's most epic rivalry throughout their careers. They only worked together once, in the classic spine-chiller "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane" and their violent hatred of each other as rival sisters was no act. In real life they fought over as many man as they did film roles.
The story of these two dueling divas is hilarious, monstrous, and tragic, and Shaun Considine’s account of it is exhaustive, explosive, and unsparing. “Rip-roaring. A definite ten.” - New York Magazine.
The story of these two dueling divas is hilarious, monstrous, and tragic, and Shaun Considine’s account of it is exhaustive, explosive, and unsparing. “Rip-roaring. A definite ten.” - New York Magazine.
451 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 1989
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 299 reviews
March 25, 2009
Vulgar, cruel, and without any redeeming social value. I enjoyed it immensely.
August 23, 2017
This book is bonkers!!!
I have a confession to make, my first time hearing the name Joan Crawford was from the movie Mommie Dearest. The campy and amazing movie based off of the (I believe) untrue accounts of child abuse levied against her by her daughter Christina Crawford. Because of that for years I didn't watch any of her movies but I finally came to my senses and have over the years slowly made my way through her catalog and I must admit I prefer her campy horror movies( I'm a terrible person I know).
I have another confession to make, the first Bette Davis movie I ever saw was Wicked Stepmother. I had no idea that the frail looking old lady in that film was an iconic and legendary actress. If you haven't seen Wicked Stepmother and you love campy awful movies I highly recommend you see it.
Alright confessions over now on to the review.
I love Old Hollywood biographies. The more scandalous the better and no two Old Hollywood actresses were more scandalous than Joan Crawford & Bette Davis. This two woman were best frenemies before that term existed. Both woman were smart, talented, and driven and in a perfect world they should have been friends. They spent 40 years in a petty passive aggressive feud. I love petty feuds, I absolutely love it every time Mariah Carey swears she doesn't know Jennifer Lopez(she knows her).
Bette & Joan The Divine Feud which is the source material for the Ryan Murphy Tv series Feud, is as stated above completely bonkers. Its fun, fast paced, gossip filled, candid,and unbelievable. Its two biographies of two legends for the price of one. If you love splashy biographies or if you enjoyed the tv show I highly recommend you read this book.
I have a confession to make, my first time hearing the name Joan Crawford was from the movie Mommie Dearest. The campy and amazing movie based off of the (I believe) untrue accounts of child abuse levied against her by her daughter Christina Crawford. Because of that for years I didn't watch any of her movies but I finally came to my senses and have over the years slowly made my way through her catalog and I must admit I prefer her campy horror movies( I'm a terrible person I know).
I have another confession to make, the first Bette Davis movie I ever saw was Wicked Stepmother. I had no idea that the frail looking old lady in that film was an iconic and legendary actress. If you haven't seen Wicked Stepmother and you love campy awful movies I highly recommend you see it.
Alright confessions over now on to the review.
I love Old Hollywood biographies. The more scandalous the better and no two Old Hollywood actresses were more scandalous than Joan Crawford & Bette Davis. This two woman were best frenemies before that term existed. Both woman were smart, talented, and driven and in a perfect world they should have been friends. They spent 40 years in a petty passive aggressive feud. I love petty feuds, I absolutely love it every time Mariah Carey swears she doesn't know Jennifer Lopez(she knows her).
Bette & Joan The Divine Feud which is the source material for the Ryan Murphy Tv series Feud, is as stated above completely bonkers. Its fun, fast paced, gossip filled, candid,and unbelievable. Its two biographies of two legends for the price of one. If you love splashy biographies or if you enjoyed the tv show I highly recommend you read this book.
May 15, 2013
This book is required reading at the National Organization for Offensive Gay Stereotypes (along with my previously reviewed Get Happy), but I didn’t just read it to get the free caftan. I have been obsessed with old Hollywood biographies for a while now, and had heard from several trusted sources that this was one of the best. Now that I’ve read it, I couldn’t agree more. The best biographies offer both juicy details and extensively researched facts, and this book is bursting at the seams with both. Even if you’re not typically interested in biographies and claim not to care about these two megastars, you will find yourself caring within a few dozen pages. It’s that well done.
I initially was concerned that a biography dealing with two stars instead of just one would lack focus, jumping back and forth between two disparate lives without cohesion. The very beginning of this book feels that way, as the two stars did indeed have very different origins. However, Considine manages to maintain a brisk pace and brings it all together rather quickly. Even before the ladies meet or share any association, it is easy to be drawn into their individual stories. Fortunately, their lives become intertwined fairly quickly.
I had also been concerned that the book would choose sides, slanting the story whichever way painted the author’s favorite in a more positive light. That fear was also quickly laid to rest. There is a slight indication that Considine favors Davis (the upper crust, theater trained, legitimate “actress”) over Crawford (who came from nothing, had more beauty than acting talent, and was more of a “star” than an actress), but such favoritism is kept to a bare minimum. The author is aware that he must produce as accurate a picture as possible of both actresses, and not pull any punches. He accomplishes his task of impartiality by sharing some rather unpleasant tales of both. Neither comes across well at all, which–if we’re honest–is exactly what we want as readers of books like this. We want dirt. We want diva bitches. And dirty, diva bitches is exactly what you get here.
Younger readers may be unaware that these women–arguably the top two female stars of their time–hated eachother with a burning passion. It was fairly common knowledge in Hollywood at the time, however. The growing enmity between them is well-documented with an extensive bibliography and sources including close friends and industry insiders, and goes well beyond the scathing tell-alls their respective daughters wrote about them.
I won’t give too many details, but the book is full of man-stealing, affairs, divorce, substance abuse, professional sabotage, catty interviews with the press, and even the potential complete shut down of a film on which they were scheduled to work together. The reader sees their relationship deteriorate from mild annoyance (as they both start out in the industry), to dislike (as Joan leaves MGM for Bette’s studio, Warner Brothers, and begins competing for attention there), to full on cat-fighting glory (the “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane” and “Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte” years). The reader will be left unable to choose sides, which is the mark of a great compare and contrast biographical work.
You may walk away from this book still respecting both of these legends as actresses, and you may even doubt the veracity of some of the information (especially if it is provided by daughters Christina Crawford and BD Hyman). However, you will also have some insight into a darker side of the old Hollywood system and how ruthless those at the top had to be to get to where they were. So head over to the bookstore or Amazon (where used copies I think are selling for a penny) and pick up a copy. Delicious, gossipy trash awaits.
I initially was concerned that a biography dealing with two stars instead of just one would lack focus, jumping back and forth between two disparate lives without cohesion. The very beginning of this book feels that way, as the two stars did indeed have very different origins. However, Considine manages to maintain a brisk pace and brings it all together rather quickly. Even before the ladies meet or share any association, it is easy to be drawn into their individual stories. Fortunately, their lives become intertwined fairly quickly.
I had also been concerned that the book would choose sides, slanting the story whichever way painted the author’s favorite in a more positive light. That fear was also quickly laid to rest. There is a slight indication that Considine favors Davis (the upper crust, theater trained, legitimate “actress”) over Crawford (who came from nothing, had more beauty than acting talent, and was more of a “star” than an actress), but such favoritism is kept to a bare minimum. The author is aware that he must produce as accurate a picture as possible of both actresses, and not pull any punches. He accomplishes his task of impartiality by sharing some rather unpleasant tales of both. Neither comes across well at all, which–if we’re honest–is exactly what we want as readers of books like this. We want dirt. We want diva bitches. And dirty, diva bitches is exactly what you get here.
Younger readers may be unaware that these women–arguably the top two female stars of their time–hated eachother with a burning passion. It was fairly common knowledge in Hollywood at the time, however. The growing enmity between them is well-documented with an extensive bibliography and sources including close friends and industry insiders, and goes well beyond the scathing tell-alls their respective daughters wrote about them.
I won’t give too many details, but the book is full of man-stealing, affairs, divorce, substance abuse, professional sabotage, catty interviews with the press, and even the potential complete shut down of a film on which they were scheduled to work together. The reader sees their relationship deteriorate from mild annoyance (as they both start out in the industry), to dislike (as Joan leaves MGM for Bette’s studio, Warner Brothers, and begins competing for attention there), to full on cat-fighting glory (the “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane” and “Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte” years). The reader will be left unable to choose sides, which is the mark of a great compare and contrast biographical work.
You may walk away from this book still respecting both of these legends as actresses, and you may even doubt the veracity of some of the information (especially if it is provided by daughters Christina Crawford and BD Hyman). However, you will also have some insight into a darker side of the old Hollywood system and how ruthless those at the top had to be to get to where they were. So head over to the bookstore or Amazon (where used copies I think are selling for a penny) and pick up a copy. Delicious, gossipy trash awaits.
April 30, 2018
I love watching old Hollywood movies and learning about the actors and actresses that influence actors and actresses after them. Over the years, I have also grown to enjoy reading biographies of people that inspire me and that I find fascinating. The best biographies offer both juicy details and extensively researched facts, and this book is bursting at the seams with both. Even if you’re not typically interested in biographies and claim not to care about these two megastars, you will find yourself caring within a few dozen pages. This book has to be one of the most well-done biographies I’ve read in a long time. How lucky am I that this book gave us 2 in 1!?
The chapters within this story are divided into segments, which makes for quick and easy reading. One of my favorite things about this book was that there are plenty of quotes by fellow actors, family members, and members of the press to provide a general outlook on the ladies and not just one point of view. In truth, I was concerned that a biography dealing with two stars instead of just one would lack focus, jumping back and forth between two disparate lives without cohesion. (I’ve only read one called Romantic Outlaws: The Extraordinary Lives of Mary Wollstonecraft and Her Daughter Mary Shelley where this worked well.) The very beginning of this book feels that way, as the two stars did indeed have very different origins, but this is a good thing as it leads us readers to develop our own opinions of them. I greatly enjoyed listening to this book and getting to know more about these actresses.
Any arguments that I had or ever will have are nothing in comparison to these ladies. They truly were tough ladies who earned the title “bitch” because they took no prisoners. I wouldn’t want to have my name on their “shit list” after reading this book. I knew they didn’t like each other and messed with the other but dang… I learned so much and enjoyed all the shadiness. There were moments that I laughed out loud, talked to myself, and nodded in approval of what I read, which earned me a few looks from people.
For mega fans of these actresses, I should warn you that not all of their films are discussed, as there are too many to mention them all, but a variety of unsuccessful and beloved ones are here. This wasn’t a perfect book for me as there were some minor slow parts throughout the book but the most noticeable was near the ending. It wasn’t unexpected since they retired from film and the book ends with their deaths. This biography is definitely a worthwhile read for both seasoned fans of the ladies and the casual classic film viewer who doesn’t know who they are. I know I greatly enjoyed learning more about these formidable and great women in their own respects. It’s a good book with a rating of 4.25 to 4.5.
The chapters within this story are divided into segments, which makes for quick and easy reading. One of my favorite things about this book was that there are plenty of quotes by fellow actors, family members, and members of the press to provide a general outlook on the ladies and not just one point of view. In truth, I was concerned that a biography dealing with two stars instead of just one would lack focus, jumping back and forth between two disparate lives without cohesion. (I’ve only read one called Romantic Outlaws: The Extraordinary Lives of Mary Wollstonecraft and Her Daughter Mary Shelley where this worked well.) The very beginning of this book feels that way, as the two stars did indeed have very different origins, but this is a good thing as it leads us readers to develop our own opinions of them. I greatly enjoyed listening to this book and getting to know more about these actresses.
Any arguments that I had or ever will have are nothing in comparison to these ladies. They truly were tough ladies who earned the title “bitch” because they took no prisoners. I wouldn’t want to have my name on their “shit list” after reading this book. I knew they didn’t like each other and messed with the other but dang… I learned so much and enjoyed all the shadiness. There were moments that I laughed out loud, talked to myself, and nodded in approval of what I read, which earned me a few looks from people.
For mega fans of these actresses, I should warn you that not all of their films are discussed, as there are too many to mention them all, but a variety of unsuccessful and beloved ones are here. This wasn’t a perfect book for me as there were some minor slow parts throughout the book but the most noticeable was near the ending. It wasn’t unexpected since they retired from film and the book ends with their deaths. This biography is definitely a worthwhile read for both seasoned fans of the ladies and the casual classic film viewer who doesn’t know who they are. I know I greatly enjoyed learning more about these formidable and great women in their own respects. It’s a good book with a rating of 4.25 to 4.5.
May 26, 2021
I was born in 1952 so as I grew up the movies of these ladies of the golden age of Hollywood were beginning to show up on late night TV.
Allow me to pause and familiarize all you young whippersnappers with the way things were in the '50s and '60s. I lived on a farm in Tennessee about half way between Johnson City and Kingsport. Now while today those are almost one city it was not so then. Our address was Rural Route 2 and we lived on a dirt road. My dad was trained in electronics (back then zinc plated and vacuum tubes) so repaired TVs. Occasionally someone would bring him a TV which he'd repair and they'd decide after the fact they didn't want to pay for the repair. So even though our cash income just about covered the farm payment we had a few TVs.
Of course we only got 2 channels and in the bedroom I shared with my younger brother we mostly got just one.
As it happened I have never been a "morning person" but always been a "night person". So while on school nights I had a "bed-time" my mother early gave up on bed times on nonschool-nights...and all summer. Thus I'd be awake until sigh-off.
Yes back then TV stations signed off after midnight.
However there was usually a late night movie (and later 2...the "late, late show").
There I learned that most of the best movies were made in the 1930s and 1940s (and I still hold that opinion. Yeah, yeah we have great special effects, but the movies are qualitatively weaker [my opinion throughout of course])
So, interesting story of one of the best known feuds (if indeed it was actually a feud) in movie history.
Interesting book, especially if you have watched their work.
Allow me to pause and familiarize all you young whippersnappers with the way things were in the '50s and '60s. I lived on a farm in Tennessee about half way between Johnson City and Kingsport. Now while today those are almost one city it was not so then. Our address was Rural Route 2 and we lived on a dirt road. My dad was trained in electronics (back then zinc plated and vacuum tubes) so repaired TVs. Occasionally someone would bring him a TV which he'd repair and they'd decide after the fact they didn't want to pay for the repair. So even though our cash income just about covered the farm payment we had a few TVs.
Of course we only got 2 channels and in the bedroom I shared with my younger brother we mostly got just one.
As it happened I have never been a "morning person" but always been a "night person". So while on school nights I had a "bed-time" my mother early gave up on bed times on nonschool-nights...and all summer. Thus I'd be awake until sigh-off.
Yes back then TV stations signed off after midnight.
However there was usually a late night movie (and later 2...the "late, late show").
There I learned that most of the best movies were made in the 1930s and 1940s (and I still hold that opinion. Yeah, yeah we have great special effects, but the movies are qualitatively weaker [my opinion throughout of course])
So, interesting story of one of the best known feuds (if indeed it was actually a feud) in movie history.
Interesting book, especially if you have watched their work.
July 18, 2012
Bette Davis and Joan Crawford were two of the biggest stars of their time, and their time lasted several decades. Each appeared in important movies and were staples of the golden age of Hollywood. Both worked for Warner Brothers for a time, made one (and a half) film(s) together, and both ended their careers in a series of cheap horror flicks. Perhaps it is because of these similarities that they seemed to have a rivalry, although they often ignored or denied its existence. This book examines the careers of both women and the surprising parallels between them.
Crawford was a poor, fast flapper whose hard work paid off and landed her at MGM, the star factory. Her entire demeanor was manufactured and she played the role of a star both on and off screen. She had a tendency to reach out to even the least prestigious people on the set, even if her gestures seemed forced at times. Davis on the other hand came from the stage. She felt superior to Crawford and other actors who grew up on the screen. She was difficult to get along with at times, but always had a sense of humor about herself and strove to be a good actress. Their personalities clashed intensely and culminated when they starred together in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? But the feud did not end there; it could only be ended in death.
This book is well researched with an extensive bibliography. It is very well written. The chapters are divided into segments which makes for quick and easy reading. There are plenty of quotes by fellow actors, family members, and members of the press to provide a general outlook on the ladies and not just one point of view. Although not all of their films are discussed, the important ones are here. A worthwhile read for both seasoned fans of the ladies and the casual classic film viewer, author Shaun Considine will not disappoint.
Crawford was a poor, fast flapper whose hard work paid off and landed her at MGM, the star factory. Her entire demeanor was manufactured and she played the role of a star both on and off screen. She had a tendency to reach out to even the least prestigious people on the set, even if her gestures seemed forced at times. Davis on the other hand came from the stage. She felt superior to Crawford and other actors who grew up on the screen. She was difficult to get along with at times, but always had a sense of humor about herself and strove to be a good actress. Their personalities clashed intensely and culminated when they starred together in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? But the feud did not end there; it could only be ended in death.
This book is well researched with an extensive bibliography. It is very well written. The chapters are divided into segments which makes for quick and easy reading. There are plenty of quotes by fellow actors, family members, and members of the press to provide a general outlook on the ladies and not just one point of view. Although not all of their films are discussed, the important ones are here. A worthwhile read for both seasoned fans of the ladies and the casual classic film viewer, author Shaun Considine will not disappoint.
February 10, 2017
Where to start.... This book definitely does not flatter either actress when it comes to their rise to stardom. Both are portrayed as scheming, conniving, unstrung harpies who seemingly spent most of their lives trying to outdo the other. At least that was the focus. Who knows how much of this is true and how much is fabrication and embellishment. Despite the mud slinging, this was a romp of a read and will be a winning companion to the new mini-series "Feud: Bette and Joan". I've read separate bios on both Bette and Joan that portray the good, the bad, and the desperately ugly. It's true, Hollywood was a battlefield that each actress conquered, but they fought their own private battles: husbands, daughters, ageism. Indulge in this book, then do yourself a favor and read a legit bio about each actress to get an idea of how they came to be the legends they are today.
July 26, 2022
I’m one of those queer women who’s taste might better at times be likened to a stereotypical 40-50 smth gay man. At least as far as old Hollywood divas and musical theatre are concerned. Ever since I was like.. I dunno, four? Five? And saw The Wizard of Oz for the first time and discovered Judy Garland, I gobbled it all up and never looked back.
This took me a long time (nearly a month!) to listen to, because, one: it’s long, and two: it’s nonfiction, and three: I was visiting my sister for two of those weeks and not spending a lot of time with headphones on and instead, enjoying my time with her. But I’m glad I savored it. Is all of this true? Who knows—the truth is in there somewhere, for sure, and it’s a hell of a ride. I discovered this narrator while listening to Daisy Jones and the Six, and wanted to find more titles narrated by her, as she is absolutely fantastic. Her voices for Bette and Joan were really good, but, I really loved her Joan. (I love both of these horrible, fabulous women, but I’m honestly a tiiiiiny bit more of a Joan girl, whoops). All in all, this was a hell of a listening experience and I had an absolute blast.
This took me a long time (nearly a month!) to listen to, because, one: it’s long, and two: it’s nonfiction, and three: I was visiting my sister for two of those weeks and not spending a lot of time with headphones on and instead, enjoying my time with her. But I’m glad I savored it. Is all of this true? Who knows—the truth is in there somewhere, for sure, and it’s a hell of a ride. I discovered this narrator while listening to Daisy Jones and the Six, and wanted to find more titles narrated by her, as she is absolutely fantastic. Her voices for Bette and Joan were really good, but, I really loved her Joan. (I love both of these horrible, fabulous women, but I’m honestly a tiiiiiny bit more of a Joan girl, whoops). All in all, this was a hell of a listening experience and I had an absolute blast.
May 14, 2019
I highly doubt that anyone picks this book to read as a biography of Bette Davis or Joan Crawford. The title screams "Gossipy Trash". And the issue for me here is 'TOO MUCH INFORMATION' that "ISN'T TRASHY ENOUGH" to fill 482 pages. I get the feeling that, as part of the marketing of "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane" (Best Movie Ever about Hollywood except Sunset Blvd, imo), fire was added to fan the flames of an existing mini-feud. Shaun Considine does the wrong thing: he prints every single detail of every single confession of everyone having anything to do with Bette and Joan, including fan letters. Give me a year and a hundred thousand bucks, and I'll give you: " Liz (Taylor) vs (insert name): The Feud of the Century," or maybe "Doris Day and Shirley Temple: An Even MORE Divine Feud." Like when Joan Crawford seduces Rock Hudson in the cabana and tells him to shut his eyes and pretend she is Clark Gable, it's good juicy stuff. (I SUPPOSE there was enough drugs around to convince Rock that Joan was Gable.) But if you want EVEN JUiCIER trash that's readable at about 800+ pages, you gotta read "The Pink Triangle" in which Capote, Tennessee Williams, and Gore Vidal fight over sailors under the boardwalks of Santa Monica. In which case, too much is never enough. "Bette & Joan" is too gossipy to be taken as a serious bio/memoir but not gossipy enough to be fun trash. Skip this one and read "Pink Triangle" in which EVERYONE in Hollywood in the 20th Century is trashed. For fun.
March 31, 2017
“Love is a fire. But whether it is going to warm your hearth or burn down your house, you can never tell.”
― Joan Crawford
“When a man gives his opinion, he's a man. When a woman gives her opinion, she's a bitch.”
― Bette Davis
This book has been on my radar for the longest time. Looking and looking for this book and the price was still out of this world. I finally gave in and ordered it from the library. Then I heard the show was coming out and was clued into to why it was taking so long for me to receive this book.
Through the entirety of this book, I kept singing Bette Davis Eyes. Oh, man! and it is still stuck in there. "And she'll tease you, She'll unease you, All the better just to please you." Bette Davis had those droopy, intense, flirty eyes that would make any male, female and even droopy dog jealous.
Have you ever seen two animals fight, preferably cats? They arch their backs, their hair stands on end, the occasional swipe of their claws and that mewling horrible meow and hiss. This is what I pictured while reading this. This was the true tale of two actresses who were filled with pure rage, jealousy, pettiness. And I thought me and my girl kelly were petty. Even though Joan and Bette passed away awhile ago, I still believe that the hatred is still alive and well.
I've read about three hundred pages before I skimmed the last hundred pages. With every page came the same petty jealousy as when the book first took off. It was fun and hilarious at first and then I just became bored with it. It could have been summed up in a two hundred page book with no problems. Joan loves men in all shapes and sizes and wants whatever man Bette has and oh my gosh! Guess what? Bette loves men too and wants whatever flavor of the day Joan has. And wouldn't you guess that a feud was brewing before anyone knew who the other one was. And if I had to choose Bette or Mummy dearest, it's Joan all the way.
Review to come.
― Joan Crawford
“When a man gives his opinion, he's a man. When a woman gives her opinion, she's a bitch.”
― Bette Davis
This book has been on my radar for the longest time. Looking and looking for this book and the price was still out of this world. I finally gave in and ordered it from the library. Then I heard the show was coming out and was clued into to why it was taking so long for me to receive this book.
Through the entirety of this book, I kept singing Bette Davis Eyes. Oh, man! and it is still stuck in there. "And she'll tease you, She'll unease you, All the better just to please you." Bette Davis had those droopy, intense, flirty eyes that would make any male, female and even droopy dog jealous.
Have you ever seen two animals fight, preferably cats? They arch their backs, their hair stands on end, the occasional swipe of their claws and that mewling horrible meow and hiss. This is what I pictured while reading this. This was the true tale of two actresses who were filled with pure rage, jealousy, pettiness. And I thought me and my girl kelly were petty. Even though Joan and Bette passed away awhile ago, I still believe that the hatred is still alive and well.
I've read about three hundred pages before I skimmed the last hundred pages. With every page came the same petty jealousy as when the book first took off. It was fun and hilarious at first and then I just became bored with it. It could have been summed up in a two hundred page book with no problems. Joan loves men in all shapes and sizes and wants whatever man Bette has and oh my gosh! Guess what? Bette loves men too and wants whatever flavor of the day Joan has. And wouldn't you guess that a feud was brewing before anyone knew who the other one was. And if I had to choose Bette or Mummy dearest, it's Joan all the way.
Review to come.
January 3, 2019
If you are a fan of Turner Classic Movies you'll want to read this book .
August 22, 2014
This book was an entertaining guilty pleasure and lots of fun to read. Bette Davis and Joan Crawford shall remain my two favorite old actresses, even though Joan stole Yul Brynner from me before I was born...and even though they were probably the meanest two women to come out of old Hollywood.
September 26, 2016
Yes,I really liked this book.I had no idea about a lot of the stuff that was in it.If you like this type of genre,and especially these 2 great movie starts,I would suggest you read it.
May 17, 2019
Two years ago when I sat down to watch TVs FEUD created by Ryan Murphy I immediately remembered this bio by Shaun Considine which...
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August 1, 2014These are two mean chicks.
October 1, 2025
5/5 stars holy crap.
This book had everything and I mean everything...
A history of the movie studio system: ✓
Husband stealing: ✓
Tell all memoirs from cut off family members: ✓
A husband dying under suspicious circumstances: ✓
Wasting millions of dollars over petty tantrums: ✓
Alleged affair with Marylin Monroe: ✓
Not letting any man know peace: ✓
Listen Ariana Grande taking one woman's husband ain't jack shit to what Joan Crawford was up to. For 40 YEARS, literally no man was safe. When she would get mad at the men she was having affairs with she would call their wives to tell them she was sending them home and the wives allegedly thanked her 😭
Bette Davis also didn't have a loyal bone in her body. Allegedly, she tried to sleep with almost every director she ever had. She ones probably one of the world biggest bitches but she had the talent to back it up. God damn did she let people know it. Some of the things she admits and brags about you couldn't waterboard out of me but I enjoyed her so much.
This book starts with the author saying both actresses were born in 1908 and immediately cuts to a quote from Bette Davis saying "I was born in 1908 but that bitch Joan was born 5 years earlier and always lied to say we were the same age"! Their feud defines Hollywood's golden age and I enjoyed reading about it immensely.
I've had a few books about movie stars who reference their movies, but you don't get the full picture if you haven't seen them. However, this book does a really good job of explaining the goings on of the stars lives while on set and explaining the movies, but don't make you feel like you're missing something if you haven't seen them. There are so many gossip columns about the two or direct quotes from the two constantly you feel like your there and reading about it as it's happening. Both of these women are terrible people, and I loved reading about it.
Pros:
-Bette and Joan have a way of insulting people in the best way possible
-We don't do gossip reports like we used to, podcasts could never
-The way this book is told is so easy to be engaged in for hours
Cons:
-Honestly not really any, they're bad people but it's part of the fun?
Highly recommend if you want a fun catty time
This book had everything and I mean everything...
A history of the movie studio system: ✓
Husband stealing: ✓
Tell all memoirs from cut off family members: ✓
A husband dying under suspicious circumstances: ✓
Wasting millions of dollars over petty tantrums: ✓
Alleged affair with Marylin Monroe: ✓
Not letting any man know peace: ✓
Listen Ariana Grande taking one woman's husband ain't jack shit to what Joan Crawford was up to. For 40 YEARS, literally no man was safe. When she would get mad at the men she was having affairs with she would call their wives to tell them she was sending them home and the wives allegedly thanked her 😭
Bette Davis also didn't have a loyal bone in her body. Allegedly, she tried to sleep with almost every director she ever had. She ones probably one of the world biggest bitches but she had the talent to back it up. God damn did she let people know it. Some of the things she admits and brags about you couldn't waterboard out of me but I enjoyed her so much.
This book starts with the author saying both actresses were born in 1908 and immediately cuts to a quote from Bette Davis saying "I was born in 1908 but that bitch Joan was born 5 years earlier and always lied to say we were the same age"! Their feud defines Hollywood's golden age and I enjoyed reading about it immensely.
I've had a few books about movie stars who reference their movies, but you don't get the full picture if you haven't seen them. However, this book does a really good job of explaining the goings on of the stars lives while on set and explaining the movies, but don't make you feel like you're missing something if you haven't seen them. There are so many gossip columns about the two or direct quotes from the two constantly you feel like your there and reading about it as it's happening. Both of these women are terrible people, and I loved reading about it.
Pros:
-Bette and Joan have a way of insulting people in the best way possible
-We don't do gossip reports like we used to, podcasts could never
-The way this book is told is so easy to be engaged in for hours
Cons:
-Honestly not really any, they're bad people but it's part of the fun?
Highly recommend if you want a fun catty time
October 26, 2017
Ok now I need to read “My Way of Life” by Joan and also BD’s exposé of Bette.
July 13, 2018
Two mammoth legends' careers detailed in an often-sensationalised but marvelling and loving style. So much TEA in this book!
November 23, 2015
I started this book with the general thought in mind that it would be full of rumors and lies abot the two stars, however, all of the facts and statements seemed rather accurate. Overall, the book itself was not bad, however, I feel it had a few major flaws.
1) The author barely acknowledged Joan's possible bisexuality. He simply said it wasn't very likely and moved on, but many accounts have stated that Joan was in fact bisexual and had multiple affairs with both men and women, including Marilyn Monroe.
2) The author seemed to be heavily biased towards Bette. Throughout the book, he seemed to want to paint Crawford as some phony slut who had no acting talent and never could compare to Bette Davis. I feel as if you're going to write a book, you should show no bias to either star, regardless of prior feelings toward them. Both stars were amazing actresses and to drag one's name through the mud and put the other on a pedestal.
Besides these two faults, I didn't mind the book at all-- I liked it quite a lot. It showed me a lot I didn't know and I learned a lot of things about the two stars and how they were very similar and very different. Overall, not a bad read, but the bias and lack of mention and outright denial of Crawford's sexuality bothered me.
1) The author barely acknowledged Joan's possible bisexuality. He simply said it wasn't very likely and moved on, but many accounts have stated that Joan was in fact bisexual and had multiple affairs with both men and women, including Marilyn Monroe.
2) The author seemed to be heavily biased towards Bette. Throughout the book, he seemed to want to paint Crawford as some phony slut who had no acting talent and never could compare to Bette Davis. I feel as if you're going to write a book, you should show no bias to either star, regardless of prior feelings toward them. Both stars were amazing actresses and to drag one's name through the mud and put the other on a pedestal.
Besides these two faults, I didn't mind the book at all-- I liked it quite a lot. It showed me a lot I didn't know and I learned a lot of things about the two stars and how they were very similar and very different. Overall, not a bad read, but the bias and lack of mention and outright denial of Crawford's sexuality bothered me.
March 6, 2017
Very entertaining! I was hoping this book would be gossipy and full of stories of scandal and catty behavior, and it far exceeded my expectations. The author doesn't hold anything back, good or bad.
August 24, 2022
Wicked fun! Great narrator--Ms. Lavoie hits all of the right notes.
July 9, 2021
First- the audiobook narration done by January LaVoy was AMAZING
Second- the was the exact type of hot gossip book I wanted to distract me from the world
Second- the was the exact type of hot gossip book I wanted to distract me from the world
June 24, 2019
I always debate with myself over whether to read biographical works, because in some cases, it tarnishes the image I have of celebrities in my head. This one certainly did that, while at the same time being one of the most entertaining "gossipy" things I have read in awhile.
Arguably two of the biggest "Screen Titans" of their time, Joan Crawford and Bette Davis had a feud that lasted decades. It involved slights, man-stealing, backstabbing, underhanded comments, brazen sabotage, and denial from both parties that it was happening, or had ever happened. This work parallels them as similar but different, both boozing alcoholics with children who exploited them for profit (with what may or may not have been lies), both talented but too full of themselves, both able to terrify people on set, both highly opinionated, blunt, and at times utterly tactless, yet both surprisingly professional.
The book taught me several things. The first, I really did not want to know -- that Hollywood was a hotbed of adultery. I knew husband-swapping was going on, but this book names names, and the names that trickled in and out of Joan Crawford's rocking trailer (and subsequently her bed) included almost all the classic male stars I grew up watching, so there's an ick factor in knowing she slept with Cary Grant, a very married Leslie Howard (whose wife thanked Bette Davis for being "the only woman in Hollywood not sleeping with my husband" o.O), Clark Gable, Kirk Douglas, and many others. Bette similarly had affairs, but not as many, owing to her "lack of glamour."
Second, the book never mentions Joan's mental disorders, although it's obvious she had a fair few, among them Narcissistic Personality Disorder. In that light, her desperate need for attention and her pathological behaviors become something that stirred my empathy more than my disgust. She seems to have had two selves -- the gracious, polite woman who wanted affection and the neurotic perfectionist who scrubbed her own floors and possibly abused her children. And, there's where the question marks still hang in the air. Did she abuse her adopted kids or not? They say yes. A few actors make suggestive remarks in that direction. Others say no. Her hairdresser says no. True or not, I have never seen "Mommie Dearest" and do not plan to.
It is also interesting to contrast the old Hollywood Stars with modern Hollywood. Bette Davis' hairdresser seems to have been right, when she says there are no "stars" anymore. People like Crawford and Davis were stars because the studios and their team made them stars -- they crafted an image and played to it. Crawford maintained a high level of glamor and beauty until she could not anymore, then retired. Bette, forever after work, took even bit or ugly parts, just to keep working.
The book is a bit too long and detailed; I lost interest at times, yet once my attention started to wander, the writer brought it back to something interesting and I kept going, reading enormous chunks of it all at once. I don't know that I'd recommend it to anyone, but it has stirred in me a desire to watch some of these "old dames'" movies. Who knows? I may even find new favorites.
Arguably two of the biggest "Screen Titans" of their time, Joan Crawford and Bette Davis had a feud that lasted decades. It involved slights, man-stealing, backstabbing, underhanded comments, brazen sabotage, and denial from both parties that it was happening, or had ever happened. This work parallels them as similar but different, both boozing alcoholics with children who exploited them for profit (with what may or may not have been lies), both talented but too full of themselves, both able to terrify people on set, both highly opinionated, blunt, and at times utterly tactless, yet both surprisingly professional.
The book taught me several things. The first, I really did not want to know -- that Hollywood was a hotbed of adultery. I knew husband-swapping was going on, but this book names names, and the names that trickled in and out of Joan Crawford's rocking trailer (and subsequently her bed) included almost all the classic male stars I grew up watching, so there's an ick factor in knowing she slept with Cary Grant, a very married Leslie Howard (whose wife thanked Bette Davis for being "the only woman in Hollywood not sleeping with my husband" o.O), Clark Gable, Kirk Douglas, and many others. Bette similarly had affairs, but not as many, owing to her "lack of glamour."
Second, the book never mentions Joan's mental disorders, although it's obvious she had a fair few, among them Narcissistic Personality Disorder. In that light, her desperate need for attention and her pathological behaviors become something that stirred my empathy more than my disgust. She seems to have had two selves -- the gracious, polite woman who wanted affection and the neurotic perfectionist who scrubbed her own floors and possibly abused her children. And, there's where the question marks still hang in the air. Did she abuse her adopted kids or not? They say yes. A few actors make suggestive remarks in that direction. Others say no. Her hairdresser says no. True or not, I have never seen "Mommie Dearest" and do not plan to.
It is also interesting to contrast the old Hollywood Stars with modern Hollywood. Bette Davis' hairdresser seems to have been right, when she says there are no "stars" anymore. People like Crawford and Davis were stars because the studios and their team made them stars -- they crafted an image and played to it. Crawford maintained a high level of glamor and beauty until she could not anymore, then retired. Bette, forever after work, took even bit or ugly parts, just to keep working.
The book is a bit too long and detailed; I lost interest at times, yet once my attention started to wander, the writer brought it back to something interesting and I kept going, reading enormous chunks of it all at once. I don't know that I'd recommend it to anyone, but it has stirred in me a desire to watch some of these "old dames'" movies. Who knows? I may even find new favorites.
May 15, 2014
Bette Davis and Joan Crawford were legendary actresses. They've starred in dozens of classic films, from Mildred Pierce to All About Eve to Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? However, in the decades since their death several things have overshadowed their careers: the feud between the two (which they always denied any knowledge of when asked), the behind the scenes havoc they created, the men they slept with and the affairs they had, and the horrible treatment their daughters accused them of.
Bette & Joan: The Divine Feud by Shaun Considine uses quotes from the two stars as well as from friends, family, and rivals in Hollywood to tell us everything you could ever want to know about the legendary feud. From their births to Joan's death (Bette was still alive when the book was first published in 1989), this book covers every aspect of Bette and Joan's lives and careers. Both women survived difficult childhoods. And while Joan grew up extremely poor and allegedly resorted to lascivious pursuits to make her dreams come true, Bette believed she was superior to other movie stars having proved her acting abilities on the stage. The stars had more in common than they would have admitted and that may be the true crux of their feud. Not liking what they saw about themselves in each other, they used that to fuel their hatred of each other.
Of particular fascination is, of course, the behind-the-scenes drama of Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? The drama backstage was the peak of their feud. The film was a smash hit, leading the two stars to team up once more for What Ever Happened to Cousin Charlotte? (released as Hush...Hush Sweet Charlotte). However, Bette drove Joan to the edge of insanity, forcing her to quit after only 11 days of actual filming and weeks of holding filming up.
But the feud only continued to heat up. Long after Joan's death, Bette was still asked about Joan and their feud. And she was not afraid to give her two cents on the subject. Even death has not ended the feud as it soon became the stuff of Hollywood legend.
This book explores their dislike for each other more than anything written before or since. But it is far from perfect. First of all, it's badly in need of an update. Typos and misspellings are infrequent, but annoying. The book was originally published the year Bette died, but prior to that sad event. And while Joan and Bette have countless books devoted to their individual selves (only Marilyn Monroe has more books written about her), certain moments in both stars lives are only briefly mentioned, or omitted.
Towards the end of their careers, Joan and Bette starred in several schlocky horror movies. Only brief mention is made of them, with Joan's last movie, the abysmal Trog, barely being mentioned at all. Joan's brief appearance on The Lucy Show is mentioned, but the drama between her and Lucille Ball isn't very detailed. Omitted completely is Stephen Spielberg's directing of Joan in The Night Gallery episode "Eyes", which could have given perspective on Joan's behavior during the end of her career. Also omitted is any mention of Joan replacing her daughter, Christina, on the soap opera The Secret Storm while Christina recovered from major surgery.
As for Bette, her last film, The Wicked Stepmother, was filled with controversy, due to Bette quitting the film halfway through and passing away a few months later. However, the book was published prior to that debacle and we miss the opportunity to learn more about Bette's last days. One of her better final pictures, The Nanny, merits only a brief mention. More information on what went on behind the scenes would have been appreciated.
This ebook version is converted from the original text, but unfortunately errors found their way in. Having been in print for 27 years, hopefully, one day, the text will be updated with details on Bette's final days and new information learned about both actresses in the decades since the original printing.
In the end, Joan and Bette had more power than most women held back in those days and it's unfortunate that their backstage behavior overshadowed their contributions to the film industry. Between their feud and the books their daughters wrote, the important contributions the two made to classic Hollywood cinema has seemingly been lost in the shuffle. This book does focus more on what the two women were like behind closed doors, but never forgets to mark the classic films they made and how successful they were. Hopefully, it will lead readers to seek out their films, discovering what really made these two women the legends they are. Shaun Considine shows us how the feud became the stuff of Hollywood legend, but never forgets the important contributions made by Bette and Joan to cinema history. And one hopes that in the afterlife, Bette and Joan have buried the hatchet, become friends, and found true happiness, something denied to them in life.
Bette & Joan: The Divine Feud by Shaun Considine uses quotes from the two stars as well as from friends, family, and rivals in Hollywood to tell us everything you could ever want to know about the legendary feud. From their births to Joan's death (Bette was still alive when the book was first published in 1989), this book covers every aspect of Bette and Joan's lives and careers. Both women survived difficult childhoods. And while Joan grew up extremely poor and allegedly resorted to lascivious pursuits to make her dreams come true, Bette believed she was superior to other movie stars having proved her acting abilities on the stage. The stars had more in common than they would have admitted and that may be the true crux of their feud. Not liking what they saw about themselves in each other, they used that to fuel their hatred of each other.
Of particular fascination is, of course, the behind-the-scenes drama of Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? The drama backstage was the peak of their feud. The film was a smash hit, leading the two stars to team up once more for What Ever Happened to Cousin Charlotte? (released as Hush...Hush Sweet Charlotte). However, Bette drove Joan to the edge of insanity, forcing her to quit after only 11 days of actual filming and weeks of holding filming up.
But the feud only continued to heat up. Long after Joan's death, Bette was still asked about Joan and their feud. And she was not afraid to give her two cents on the subject. Even death has not ended the feud as it soon became the stuff of Hollywood legend.
This book explores their dislike for each other more than anything written before or since. But it is far from perfect. First of all, it's badly in need of an update. Typos and misspellings are infrequent, but annoying. The book was originally published the year Bette died, but prior to that sad event. And while Joan and Bette have countless books devoted to their individual selves (only Marilyn Monroe has more books written about her), certain moments in both stars lives are only briefly mentioned, or omitted.
Towards the end of their careers, Joan and Bette starred in several schlocky horror movies. Only brief mention is made of them, with Joan's last movie, the abysmal Trog, barely being mentioned at all. Joan's brief appearance on The Lucy Show is mentioned, but the drama between her and Lucille Ball isn't very detailed. Omitted completely is Stephen Spielberg's directing of Joan in The Night Gallery episode "Eyes", which could have given perspective on Joan's behavior during the end of her career. Also omitted is any mention of Joan replacing her daughter, Christina, on the soap opera The Secret Storm while Christina recovered from major surgery.
As for Bette, her last film, The Wicked Stepmother, was filled with controversy, due to Bette quitting the film halfway through and passing away a few months later. However, the book was published prior to that debacle and we miss the opportunity to learn more about Bette's last days. One of her better final pictures, The Nanny, merits only a brief mention. More information on what went on behind the scenes would have been appreciated.
This ebook version is converted from the original text, but unfortunately errors found their way in. Having been in print for 27 years, hopefully, one day, the text will be updated with details on Bette's final days and new information learned about both actresses in the decades since the original printing.
In the end, Joan and Bette had more power than most women held back in those days and it's unfortunate that their backstage behavior overshadowed their contributions to the film industry. Between their feud and the books their daughters wrote, the important contributions the two made to classic Hollywood cinema has seemingly been lost in the shuffle. This book does focus more on what the two women were like behind closed doors, but never forgets to mark the classic films they made and how successful they were. Hopefully, it will lead readers to seek out their films, discovering what really made these two women the legends they are. Shaun Considine shows us how the feud became the stuff of Hollywood legend, but never forgets the important contributions made by Bette and Joan to cinema history. And one hopes that in the afterlife, Bette and Joan have buried the hatchet, become friends, and found true happiness, something denied to them in life.
March 28, 2024
This was fun to listen to! It had plenty of these dames' c*nt* catty comments (made me laugh!), in addition to an impressive amount of sources and research. 5/5. 💋💋
December 22, 2018
While admittedly beginning with a strong Joan bias (which, also admittedly, did not bother me since Joan was my favorite of the two), this book carries you through the complex nature of a female rivalries and the delicate balance of Hollywood.
This was a fantastic read, looking at intense social spheres, impact of pop culture on society and also how petty two equally successful women can be.
This was a fantastic read, looking at intense social spheres, impact of pop culture on society and also how petty two equally successful women can be.
April 19, 2017
My mother was a big fan of Bette Davis. She made me watch Bette Davis movies when I was growing up. I think she liked Joan Crawford, also. BUT, I don't recall being forced to watch Joan's movies.
My mother was also a big fan of celebrity gossip. She had both paperbacks of HOLLYWOOD BABYLON. (Which I inherited and still have).
The 20th anniversary of my mother's death was on April 16. I did listen to this book cause of her. She would've thought it was great.
I enjoyed it. It was probably a lot longer than it should have been. I'm trying to figure out which actress was the bigger asshole.
My mother was also a big fan of celebrity gossip. She had both paperbacks of HOLLYWOOD BABYLON. (Which I inherited and still have).
The 20th anniversary of my mother's death was on April 16. I did listen to this book cause of her. She would've thought it was great.
I enjoyed it. It was probably a lot longer than it should have been. I'm trying to figure out which actress was the bigger asshole.
November 24, 2008
Wondrous, WONDROUS account of the lives and careers of these ladies. It's possible that some of the feelings depicted weren't precisely the way they are presented, but it's too much fun to discount any of it. It is gossipy, juicy, funny, catty... and also thorough. Fans of the stars will not be able to put it down and will laugh audibly at the remarks the ladies allegedly made through the years about each other.
July 1, 2018
I could not get enough of this one. I loved every second. This is a big fat bio of Crawford and Davis packed full of shade, one liners, and old Hollywood customs. These two were tough customers that’s for sure. But it also illustrates their human side. Embellished? Maybe. But wow, so so so much fun.
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