Best Actress 1950, Part 3: Gloria Swanson and Bette Davis
Best Actress 1950, Part 3: Gloria Swanson and Bette Davis
This is a review of the Oscar-nominated performances by Bette Davis in “All about Eve” and Gloria Swanson in “Sunset Boulevard”.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
02:59 The writing of “All about Eve” and “Sunset Boulevard”
13:22 Who can play Norma Desmond?
16:10 The career peak of Gloria Swanson
22:32 The casting Margo Channing
27:25 The…
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Reviews
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I'm not sure if this even makes sense, but I'd rate Gloria slightly above Bette if only because Margot Channing was very much an extension of Bette's own self and persona to the point where it could be considered meta, while Gloria was nothing like Norma Desmond in real life and created this bizarre character from whole cloth – a creation that has been referenced and parodied and imitated so much that it has displaced the original. I do think All About Eve is the superior film although I think Sunset Boulevard is more accessible. I watched Sunset as a kid and enjoyed it immensely even if some of the more adult elements went over my head. Watching All About Eve at the same age I had a hard time getting into it, and only now can appreciate it fully where I can comprehend the complex dialogue and intricacies in the storyline.
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First rate presentation! Meticulous and insightful.
Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. Thank you.
You did exceedingly well for videos about Joan Crawford in Mildred Pierce and Patricia Neal in Hud. However, this video is definitely up there as well.
It was unfortunate that Gloria Swanson did not win the award. She was phenomenal in Sunset Boulevard. Love that film.
I use to think norma Desmond was a real actress. I didn't know it was a character
Absolutely stunning! Your analysis of both actresses and both roles was one of the best I’ve ever seen/heard. Your channel (meaning you) is a blessing and precious gift to all of us out here in dark. Thank you ❤️😌
Which do you think, Fritz, would be the top three years for the best line-ups for Best Actress? 1950 is definitely one.
Wunderschön, Fritz. Ich habe dein Video verschiedene Mal angesehen. 🙂 Vielen Dank für diesen Video-essay über diesen legendären Schauspielerinnen.
Thanks!!!!!! It is a great video!!!!! Thanks Very Much from Buenos Aires, Argentina
I've viewed twice and will do so again one day. Fritz, your research and presentation are splendid; and the Bette quotes in between the pix of Jack Warner and her are an absolute scream! 😃😆🤣
Sorry, but I get tired of this nonsense that Davis spins about being a victim in her marriages. Davis was anything but blameless, and she egged her husbands on mercilessly.
Thank you so much for this in depth, concise, and comprehensive video! This was the video I was looking forward to the most covering this race. I do think this was a year vote splitting made a huge difference affecting the outcome of the victor in this race. I do think Gloria Swanson & Bette Davis would have made absolute all timers in the history of Best Actress. Though I think Gloria would have had a more prosperous career in the 1950s had she deservingly won and Bette would have won for her actual best performance to win the Oscar. The fact that she won for Dangerous and Jezebel over Of Human Bondage, Dark Victory, The Little Foxes, The Letter, All About Eve, or Baby Jane is still baffling. Great video, Fritz! I hope you do a double video on Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl & Katharine Hepburn in The Lion In Winter one year.
great documentary!
thought Bette extraordinary in All About Eve but Norma was unreal in Sunset Boulevard sorry I go with Swanson although Bette is my favorite actress. I thought Bette should’ve won for The Little Foxes, wonderful wonderful wonderful‼️✨‼️✨
“My name is Billy Wilder, I’m the director of [Sunset Boulevard] and why don’t you go and f*ck yourself?” is one of the few times I yelled at a YT video in a while 😂😂😂
Gloria and Bette both have the same Transatlantic accent.
Wow! What an in-depth and informative presentation. My vote goes for Swanson. I can Watch SB over and over again. But Davis was also so deserving.
Have both these films,and they are absolute masterpieces.Throw in " The Men' with Marlon Brando in the same yr.
The quality of movies in the Golden Age was extremely high.
Respectfully, if one feels Gloria Swanson was ‘over the top’ one misses the point. Norma Desmond is over the top, and Swanson displayed that in her portrayal.
Bette Davis’ performance seems more natural and contemporary because the character is not stuck in time or the past, as Desmond is.
Very solid. I probably regard Sunset Boulevard higher, and as more ‘classic’ as it just resonates more with me. And the male role is way better – William Holden kills it. I saw Glenn Close do it on Broadway, the later revival, she was superb.
One other comment: Beyond the Forest holds up better than Davis gives it credit for. Certainly better than the deadly dull "Winter Meeting" which I would never watch again.
Stanwyck is arguably the best actress of the golden era, but she lacked the neuroses imo that Davis had that made her Margo perfect. Colbert is an interesting choice, but it would have been a complete differently movie.
Thanks for the marvelous video.
Thank you for your thorough and insightful review of two of my favorite films. I especially enjoyed the spotlight on Gloria Swanson, who created one of the most memorable and extraordinary characters of Norma Desmond. When I moved to Los Angeles I lived a few blocks away from Paramount studios on Rossmore and always thought of Norma’s studio return when I passed the entrance gates. Also, I was @ the opening of “Sunset Boulevard “ which premiered in Century City (Schubert Theater) with Glen Close. I loved it, but nothing comes close to the original film .. and I especially love William Holden. I appreciate how well balanced, intelligent and “mogul-like” the great Gloria Swanson was. Wonderful review/documentary, thank you🎉❤
This is a PLEASURE. It is two and half joyous hours of impeccably edited inventive vintage footage flawlessly matched with erudite voice over commentary. Instead of two separate episodes, we get rich interconnected dual portraits of these great actresses who those created iconic roles. This installment is a testament to its creator’s brilliance.
A well-researched and thoroughly enjoyable analysis of two iconic performances. Even now, some 74 years later it's a difficult choice to which of these two outstanding performances should have won best actress.
Fascinating documentary of two iconic females who gave us so much. I learned so much about both ladies. I had the pleasure of meeting Miss Swanson in NYC not long before her death, in a bakery on the upper East Side. She was reserved but gracious. You knew you were in the company of a true legend. Having seen both performances, I probably would have voted for Bette, but would’ve not been at all upset if Swanson beat her. Ironically, neither took home the award. ‘Eve’ was the better picture, in my opinion, and ultimately took home the Best Picture Oscar. Thank you for these fascinating profiles. 😊
Extremely well presented! 💯%.
I've been a fan of Davis & Swanson & others ( Crawford & Stanwyck ect )for 40 yrs..You've shown/ said info i never knew!
Very grateful! Great research! 👍💙✅✅✅😄
Bravo! A truly magisterial "deep-dive" into the context of two of the most iconic performances in the history of cinema: Gloria Swanson as Norma Desmond, and Bette Davis as Margo Channing. You prove (again) that video-essays can be just as valid a form of criticism as anything else.
l have always found it puzzling that Gloria Swanson wasn't high on Wilder's list of potential stars from day one. It's not as if there were that many huge silent movie actresses to choose from: Pickford and Negri were obvious possibilities, though Negri's heavy accent probably ruled her out pretty quickly, and Clara Bow's fear of sound movies was, l am sure, known within the industry. It isn't only with hindsight that I say Gloria should have been on anybody's top five casting ideas for Norma. That aside, THANK YOU Fritz for yet another superb and engrossing video. Not a minute too long… in fact l wish it had been longer!
Fritz, this is your best ever. I didn't know much about Swanson and thought I knew lots about Davis. You have given me a new perspective on both. The editing, clips, interviews and newspaper clippings are spot on. Keep on keeping on!
Both parts were incredible, and both actresses created stand alone legendary characters. But, Gloria Swanson deserved the Oscar. Her characterization eclipsed her own personage. Bette Davis went on to Baby Jane and other parts. Besides, Judy Holliday was not in any way the actresses Davis and Swanson were, and I'm a Holliday fan. It was pretty catty to single Marilyn Monroe out as having some unknown issues during "All About Eve". Her part was small in that early film, and aside from the Director chasing her, I've never heard of any problems or issues.
Absolutely brilliant! Thoroughly enjoyed watching.
It's a pity Miss Swanson and Miss Davis didn't get to share the Oscar a la Hepburn/Streisand.
On balance, personally I think Swanson deserved it more. That said, I also think it maybe mattered slightly less to her and her life was possibly much happier than Davis's.
I adore all of your content!!!
These videos are amazing
Clever to pair the two. Most surprising for me was how much I grew to like Swanson as a person from this piece.