Feud Between Hollywood Legends Unearthed: Joan Crawford and Bette Davis Clash On the Set of ‘What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?’

Hollywood icons, Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, renowned for their illustrious careers and widespread popularity, graced the screens together in a single movie, ‘What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?'

Despite being hailed as a cinematic gem, behind the scenes, the two legendary actresses were embroiled in a long-standing feud that had its roots entwined around a man.

The discord between Davis and Crawford can be linked back to Franchot Tone, a man they both held affections for.

Davis alleged that Crawford swooped in on Tone, who was her co-star in ‘Dangerous,' once she realized Davis's burgeoning interest in him.

The heartbreak and shock Davis endured from losing Tone lingered for years, even after both actors had passed away.

Following a brief marriage, Tone and Crawford parted ways, with Tone entering into three more marriages before his demise in 1968.

Crawford, on the other hand, wed Phillip Terry in 1942, but the union dissolved in 1946.

Her subsequent marriage to Alfred Steele, a Pepsi executive, ended abruptly with Steele's sudden death in 1959, raising suspicions about the circumstances surrounding his demise, as questioned by Crawford's eldest child.

Although the initial spark of animosity ignited over Tone had extinguished over the years, the flames of resentment still flickered when Davis and Crawford reunited on the set of ‘What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?'

Davis, resolute in her unwillingness to forgive Crawford for the past transgressions, openly expressed her enduring bitterness towards her former co-star.

Crawford, purportedly instrumental in persuading Davis to collaborate on the film, was cognizant of Davis's lingering enmity.

To mitigate potential risks during filming, Crawford reportedly requested a body double for scenes where physical altercations between the characters portrayed by Davis and herself occurred, citing apprehensions of Davis causing harm amidst the intense animosity.

Even after Crawford's demise in 1977, the rift between the Hollywood divas remained palpable.

The 2017 miniseries, ‘Feud: Bette and Joan,' delved into the depths of their rivalry, highlighting Davis's unapologetic disdain upon learning of Crawford's passing.

A decade later, during an interview with Bryant Gumbel at the age of 79, Davis begrudgingly acknowledged Crawford's professionalism on set but continued to insinuate Crawford's manipulative tactics to sabotage her chances of receiving an Academy Award for their collaborative work.