Bette Davis: Larger than Life

by Richard Schickel, George Perry

“Until you’re known in my profession as a monster, you’re not a star,” Bette Davis once said. Let’s just say in Hollywood she was considered the ultimate star. The Academy Award-winning actress was one of the movies’ most riveting and volatile personalities both on and off the screen. She comes to life in the pages of this lavish, fully illustrated tribute produced in conjunction with her estate.Bette Davis remains one of the most acclaimed and well-known stars in the history of film. Breaking new ground for women, she was a fighter who took on the Hollywood establishment at the drop of a dime. She reveled in lifelong feuds (such as with arch nemesis and co-star Joan Crawford). She was a mother, wife, and friend. She was also a no-nonsense New Englander who happened to have more talent than the movies seemed able to contain. Her personality leapt off the screen and earned her an unprecedented number of high-profile nominations and awards for her work in films like Jezebel, Dark Victory, All About Eve, and Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? As the epitaph on Davis’s tombstone reads, “She did it the hard way.” Through a biography, comprehensive filmography, and hundreds of rare photos, readers will find out why.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Film

264 pages, Hardcover

First published October 6, 2009

About the author

Richard Schickel is an important American film historian, journalist, author, filmmaker, screenwriter, documentarian, and film and literary critic.

Mr. Schickel is featured in For the Love of Movies: The Story of American Film Criticism. In this 2009 documentary film he discusses early film critics in the 1960s, and how he and other young critics, rejected the moralizing opposition of Bosley Crowther of The New York Times who had railed against violent movies such as Bonnie and Clyde.

In addition to film, Schickel has also critiqued and documented cartoons, particularly Peanuts.

Schickel was a recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1964. He has also lectured at Yale University and University of Southern California's School of Film and Television.

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book, because they have the summaries and photos of all the films that Bette Davis has done. She's my favorite actress of all times, and I don't get tired watching her movies over and over again.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great coffee table book for Davis fans. If you're looking for an in-depth biography this isn't it, but it does have an overview of her life and career, a synopsis of every film, and lots and lots and lots of awesome pictures.

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked how this book was broke up following each stage of her life. We had Bette's life, then as she moved into movies we got an in depth look at each movie along with small stories about each one. There were tons of pictures included, which was an added bonus.

[Cecilia Quick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great coffee table book about a talented, moody, smart, fierce MOVIE STAR. Bette Davis was uncompromising and tough as nails, and starred in some of the greatest movies ever made. She was also a loyal friend, surprisingly kind, and had a great sense of humor. Fascinating woman. This is a fun book. It contained some tidbits I hadn't heard before, and the pictures are great. I love the summaries of all of her movies; now I've learned of a few that I didn't know before and want to see. I enjoyed this book from cover to cover.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I notice that a lot of the reviews here are for a Kindle version, which only includes Richard Schickel's introductory essay. The print version also features further chapters on stages of Bette's career, articles on every film she made, and it is fully illustrated. As an overview, it's pretty much everything a Davis fan could want. Published by Running Press, whose film books are always high quality.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautiful, oversize volume provides a walk through the great Bette Davis's long and successful career. Broken down into different phases of her career, the book provides a synopsis and background/production information about each of her films, as well as loads of wonderful photographs. While this is not a biography, there is quite a bit of biographical information contained within. Truly, this is an absolute must for fans of the great Bette Davis.

[Patricia Poropat-]

enjoyed;must read

[Jude Brigley · Rating 5 out of 5]

informative and engaging

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really great collection of her work. Would have given it five stars except I did find a few mistakes when reading it. Still a nice book to have in your library.

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book about a remarkable woman. It talks about her movies and a behind the scene of what happened while filming. Beautiful pictures of Bette.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Illustrated with beautiful photos and movie stills. Not a comprehensive bio by any means, but a solid overview, with a page or spread dedicated to each film. Well worth the read!