Bette & Joan - The Divine Feud

This is a really well-written book---two bio's in one, parallel chronologies expertly interwoven, and bountiful barbs. Hilarious as well as poignant, this one volume brought these true legends much more to life than any of their individual auto/biographies I've read. Through comparison and contrast---more often than not in their own oblique or direct words---Considine captures Bette and Joan from angles not, I think, so fully considered in other works. One comes to a better understanding of their personalities and how each both affected, and was affected by, their numerous characters as well as each other in their endless arguments over which was the "actor" and which the "star." Augumentatively orbiting each other for decades until their professional tangent in "Baby Jane", these two really did share much mutual respect and admiration, though seemingly less for the person and more for the performer. Virtually all of it, however, went unexpressed or unbelieved.One wonders what might have been had these two followed the last sentiments of Jane to Blanche: "you mean all this time we coulda been friends?" But think of the tangalizing tale of Hollywood oneupmanship we would have missed if they had.(note: there is no mention of Bette's death in this 1989 publication, which evidently preceeded it in October of the same year)

THis book examines the so-called fued between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. It follows the girls lives from childhood, to their acting careers, and to their battles with their grown children. It is extremely thorough Mr. Considine interviews numerous actors, families, and the lovers of both Davis and Crawford. If you are a Joan Crawford or Bette Davis fan, this is the book to get

This is a wonderfully trashy book that focuses on the careers and lives of the great Joan Crawford and Bette Davis. It's by far the best book on either of them. Great book for anyone with a good sense of camp who enjoys these great actresses!