Feud: The Epic Rivalry Between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford

The world of celebrity feuds has certainly evolved over the years.

Nowadays, social media platforms like Twitter have become the battleground for public spats and subtle jabs.

But back in the Golden Age of Hollywood, feuds were larger than life, and two icons of the silver screen, Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, took their rivalry to new heights.

Davis and Crawford didn't hold back when it came to insulting each other.

Davis famously remarked on Crawford's choice of roles, saying, “Why am I so good at playing bitches?

I think it's because I'm not a bitch.

Maybe that's why Joan Crawford always plays ladies.”

On another occasion, she quipped, “She has slept with every male star at MGM except Lassie.”

Crawford, in turn, openly disparaged Davis's looks and made unflattering comparisons, stating, “Miss Davis was always partial to covering up her face in motion pictures.

She called it ‘art.'

Others might call it camouflage – a cover-up for the absence of any real beauty.”

She also dismissed Davis's fans as obsessive and slightly tragic, claiming, “She has a cult, and what the hell is a cult except a gang of rebels without a cause?

I have fans.

There's a big difference.”

Their bitter rivalry is now the subject of Ryan Murphy's TV series, Feud: Bette and Joan, starring Jessica Lange as Crawford and Susan Sarandon as Davis.

The show delves into the making of the 1962 thriller Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?, which brought the two rivals together on-screen.

In publicity terms, the pairing of Davis and Crawford was pure gold.

Lurid rumors of their on-set battles only added to the film's appeal.

It was even said that Crawford hired a body double to stand in for her during scenes involving physical violence, as she feared Davis's temper.

However, there were a few close-ups she couldn't escape.

But what caused such animosity between the two actresses in the first place?

Many historians believe it dates back to the 1935 film Dangerous, during which Davis fell for her co-star Franchot Tone, who was already in a relationship with Crawford.

Hurt by the rejection, Davis developed an obsessive animosity towards her love rival, who would go on to marry Tone.

However, their feud went beyond personal matters.

Professional differences and insecurities about women's roles in Hollywood fueled the rivalry.

Crawford felt that people saw Davis as an actress, while she herself was “just” a star.

In 1943, when Crawford switched studios from MGM to Warner Bros, the competition between the two actresses intensified as they vied for the same film roles.

Both Davis and Crawford craved industry recognition and the limelight.

By 1940, Davis had won two Academy Awards, while Crawford remained Oscar-less.

But in 1946, Crawford's fortunes changed when she won the Best Actress award for Mildred Pierce.

This triumph was particularly bitter for Davis, who had turned down the title role in the film.

Crawford's victory was a carefully orchestrated publicity stunt.

After being labeled “box office poison,” she had declined to attend the awards ceremony.

But upon hearing the news of her win, she invited the press to her bed, where she was supposedly confined due to illness, and received her award with full makeup.

It was a slap in the face for Davis, who had regretted turning down the role.

The rivalry between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford was a clash of egos and professional ambition.

They were both icons of the silver screen, hungry for success and recognition.

Their feud captivated Hollywood and left an indelible mark on the industry.