Bulging eyes, strident voice, sly looks, and assorted mannerisms — that would be a fair description of an average Bette Davis performance. At her best, however, Davis is all that plus guts, strength, and heart-stopping sincerity and pathos. Some of Davis' greatest and not-so-greatest work can be found in The Bette Davis Collection, which includes the following Davis vehicles: Dark Victory, The Letter, Mr. Skeffington, Now, Voyager, and The Star.
By the way, Davis was nominated for a best actress Oscar for each of those films — plus five more (the missing titles are Dangerous, Jezebel, The Little Foxes, All About Eve, and What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?).
Mr. Skeffington and The Star are both new-to-DVD releases, while this new DVD edition of Dark Victory has been restored from the original camera negative and remastered for optimum picture quality. Now Voyager, originally released in 2002, has also been restored from the original negative and comes in Amaray keepcase packaging. The Letter was released earlier in 2005.
Scheduled Region 1 DVD (Canada / U.S. / U.S. territories) release date: June 14, 2005
- Number of discs: 5
- Picture: Full frame, 1.33:1
- Audio: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)
- Closed captioned
- Subtitles: English, Spanish, French
Dark Victory (1939), directed by Edmund Goulding, with Bette Davis, George Brent, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Humphrey Bogart, Ronald Reagan. A spoiled rich woman discovers she has terminal cancer, and chooses to suffer nobly by living life to its fullest before the inevitably glamorous end — this is Hollywood in the '30s, after all. Dark Victory has numerous admirers, but in my view this drippy melodrama works best as campy comedy.
- Commentary by Film Historian James Ursini and CNN film critic Paul Clinton
- New Featurette "1939: Tough Competition for Dark Victory"
- Theatrical Trailer
The Letter (1940), directed by William Wyler, with Bette Davis, Herbert Marshall, James Stephenson, Gale Sondergaard. A masterful adaptation of W. Somerset Maugham's play, with every member of the cast delivering a flawless performance. As a plus, the film boasts the best production values that Warner Bros.' money could buy.
- Recently discovered alternate ending
- Audio-only bonuses: An April 21, 1941, Lux Radio Theater adaptation starring Bette Davis, Herbert Marshall, and James Stephenson; and a March 6, 1944, Lux Radio Theater adaptation starring Bette Davis and Herbert Marshall
- Theatrical trailer
Now Voyager (1942), directed by Irving Rapper, with Bette Davis, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains, Gladys Cooper, Bonita Granville. Sudsy romantic melo about a homely spinster (Bette Davis) who discovers her inner beauty with the help of psychoanalysis (via Claude Rains) and true love (via Paul Henreid). William Wyler could have made something out of this overlong sentimental piece of mush, but director Irving Rapper lacked the talent to add zest to what amounts to a B movie with A production values. The cigarette-lighting scene is great, though, and the movie does look gorgeous thanks to cinematographer Sol Polito. Also, good music, courtesy of Max Steiner.
- Max Steiner Scoring Session Music Cues
- Cast Career Highlights
- Theatrical Trailer
Mr. Skeffington (1944), directed by Vincent Sherman, with Bette Davis and Claude Rains. Mr. Skeffington is top-notch melodrama with outstanding performances by the two leads. This tale of vanity and devotion is sensibly told by director Vincent Sherman.
- Commentary by the film's Director Vincent Sherman
- New Featurette "Mr. Skeffington: A Picture of Strength"
- Theatrical Trailer
The Star (1952), directed by Stuart Heisler, with Bette Davis, Sterling Hayden, Natalie Wood. This cinematic slice of high camp stars an uncontrolled Davis as a garrulous has-been actress who, after having neurotic fits and driving around drunk through the streets of Beverly Hills, finds true love in the person of hunky and stolid Sterling Hayden (who somehow manages to keep a straight face throughout it all). Natalie Wood is her teen daughter. All About Eve it ain't.
- New Featurette "How Real is The Star?"
- Theatrical Trailer
List price: US$49.92.
Titles are available individually for US$19.97.
A Warner Home Video release.
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