tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post5881410423628848460..comments2024-03-08T18:49:51.289-05:00Comments on Classic Film and TV Café: Bette Davis in The Little Foxes -- Evil PersonifiedRick29http://www.blogger.com/profile/08358116647815569722noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-69402138251534420592016-10-23T12:15:51.148-04:002016-10-23T12:15:51.148-04:00I have to add that even though she is wicked, Bett...I have to add that even though she is wicked, Bette Davis manages to make Regina an occasionally sympathetic character. Horace is definitely a good guy, but he displays some of the same uncaring, unfeeling attitudes that the villains of the movie do. You can tell that Regina is stung by her husband’s only addressing letters to their daughter and not her. When Horace returns home there is a scene where Regina compares herself in the mirror to her photograph as a younger woman. It’s clear she hopes he will still find her attractive, perhaps for old times’ sake. But his greeting and interactions with her are all cold and unsympathetic. Part of Regina’s scheming comes from understanding limits as a woman in Victorian society. And while her final actions are despicable, they also seem to be born of desperation.Blakeneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04778630656258229069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-13539315737187194892011-01-23T12:19:00.312-05:002011-01-23T12:19:00.312-05:00It`s interesting that 75 years after the 1900 sett...It`s interesting that 75 years after the 1900 setting of "The Little Foxes", the wealthy southern mill owners began repeating the cycle of exploiting the poor/ advantageous location by outsourcing to foreign countries.<br /> I love Richard Carlson as David. Carlson as a young actor had an earnest, gentle sweetness which you rarely see in young men of today`s generation. Carlson was great in his 1950`s sci-fi films, but it is a shame that his lovely, endearing performances in his early films(1938-1943) are overshadowed by his status as a sci-fi film icon.<br /> LorraineGemini730https://www.blogger.com/profile/09168137982164985965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-25800151602310709152011-01-14T05:23:04.465-05:002011-01-14T05:23:04.465-05:00A great review of a great actress in a great film....A great review of a great actress in a great film. What was it about those Warner Brothers Women?FlickChickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17351624749230610755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-49916176254843263682011-01-11T18:57:33.701-05:002011-01-11T18:57:33.701-05:00This is a great review and a fun and informative b...This is a great review and a fun and informative blog! The siblings are truly unlikable and one can imagine them totally destroying the "vine" and anyone attached to it. It is extra fun to know that Teresa Wright and Patricia Collinge would shine again together two years later in "Shadow of a Doubt." I was most intrigued to read about the different interpretations of Regina Giddens and respect Bette for standing her ground on her performance. Well done, Becky!toto2https://www.blogger.com/profile/09652682900471649463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-53000236547816326322011-01-11T11:51:31.028-05:002011-01-11T11:51:31.028-05:00Great review, Becky. I love Davis in this film. T...Great review, Becky. I love Davis in this film. This is one of her most memorable performances--it's like a bookend piece to The Letter. It is sad that this was the last film Davis and Wyler did together. She loved him very much (she once said he was the love of her life), and to think that her need to have everything her way cost her from ever being directed by him again is a little sad.Kimberly J.M. Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09078951928157843937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-35219337289012754302011-01-11T09:02:09.321-05:002011-01-11T09:02:09.321-05:00Becky, what a wonderful review on one of the great...Becky, what a wonderful review on one of the great Bette Davis films. The scene in which she watches him have a heartattack is absolutly unforgettable.. I can not wait to see the film Little Foxes, again later on in the month.Dawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03476174860119487509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-50103589512760888222011-01-11T07:58:20.448-05:002011-01-11T07:58:20.448-05:00Thank you, everybody, for your thoughtful comments...Thank you, everybody, for your thoughtful comments. It's hard for me to say which is my absolute favorite Bette, since my mind has always had a tie between Little Foxes and The Letter. But what the heck, I love them all!ClassicBeckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03591715859057540467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-50696252626830389442011-01-11T06:31:57.610-05:002011-01-11T06:31:57.610-05:00A superb and well written post, Becky. I especiall...A superb and well written post, Becky. I especially like your final thought, about people who somehow confuse the actor with the character whom she (or he) has portrayed. I find that utterly fascinating and just a little frightening, particularly what happened to Gene Tierney. But, as you said, it's a tribute to a splendid performance.sarkoffagushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00922698736476674377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-19116354975419707702011-01-11T02:02:48.042-05:002011-01-11T02:02:48.042-05:00Though I don't have a BD favorite (the honor s...Though I don't have a BD favorite (the honor seems to shift among my favorites of her films), this is one of her great roles. I remember reading that author/playwright Lillian Hellman based the characters on members of her own family...must've been a lovely brood...<br />As always, a great post Becky...not just your perceptive take on the film and performances, but the many details about the production.The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-15098522247119098002011-01-10T23:50:40.171-05:002011-01-10T23:50:40.171-05:00COMTESSA DE BLOGOVIA!!! well done...my favorite B...COMTESSA DE BLOGOVIA!!! well done...my favorite BD film!! I absolutely love this film..from HELLMAN'S dark play to the flabby weakness of HERBERT MARSHALL..from the great acting by TERESA WRIGHT to the "slapfest" from RICHARD CARLSON!! anyone who has not seen and enjoyed this film is beyond redemption!!doctor sabelotodohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17753057330165133638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-5663612704466547842011-01-10T23:36:27.074-05:002011-01-10T23:36:27.074-05:00Actually, while Regina seems to agree with Horace ...Actually, while Regina seems to agree with Horace that the Alexandra and Leo should marry, she does make it clear that she has no intention of following through. The only times where Regina shows any soft feelings are toward Alexandra, and she rightly wants her to develop more independence and spirit.<br />I read the play before I ever saw the movie, and visualised the character pretty much as Davis portrayed her.<br />There are scenes which are worth re-watching. My husband loved the scene where David slaps Leo - he would rewind and watch it over and over in slow motion! My mother and I loved Horace's scene on the stairway. (My husband didn't like it that we liked that so much.) <br />Thanks for the nice post - reading it has put me in the mood to watch again and it's on TCM USA on Feb 2 2011 :-)<br />I read that Miriam Hopkins also coveted the role. She would have been a fascinating Regina too!panavia999https://www.blogger.com/profile/12022750065016664499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-59921435319106360972011-01-10T20:12:37.475-05:002011-01-10T20:12:37.475-05:00Becky, this is a splendid review highlighting one ...Becky, this is a splendid review highlighting one of Bette Davis's signature roles. Like you, I can imagine no one in the else in that part--although, interestingly, Ann Blyth played Regina in a 1948 prequel called ANOTHER PART OF THE FOREST (Dan Duryea played Oscar, his FOXES character's father!). As you pointed out, the whole cast is in top form (Patricia Collinge was spotlighted as a Cafe underrated performer; see index to read more about her). I always think it's interesting when a filmmaker and performer don't get along, but make a fabulous film. Perhaps, they pushed each other to new heights. In any event, THE LITTLE FOXES is a first-rate Hollywood drama and your review did it justice!Rick29https://www.blogger.com/profile/08358116647815569722noreply@blogger.com