Bette Davis: The Great Dame of Hollywood Quiz

Answer: Ruth Elizabeth Davis

Born April 5th 1908, Ruth Elizabeth Davis was the first child of Ruth Augusta Flavor and Harlow Morrell Davis. As a child, Bette was often called Betty, but changed her name later in life to Bette. It is thought Bette was inspired by Honoré de Balzac's novel "Cousin Bette".

Answer: The Wild Duck

Bette saw "The Wild Duck" (1926) staring Peg Entwistle. Bette later was to have said "Before that performance I wanted to be an actress. When it ended, I had to be an actress. Exactly like Peg Entwistle." Soon after Bette Davis applied to many play houses, including George Cukor's theater company.

Answer: The Letter

Bette Davis starred in "The Letter" in 1940. Bette played Leslie Crosbie, a woman who shot her lover and claimed it as self defense. The film was directed by William Wyler, and also starred Herbert Marshall and James Stephenson. In the film version, the ending is different to the book because the production code didn't want a character to get away with adultery and murder.

Answer: True

1937 through 1941 Bette Davis was known as "The Fifth Warner Brother" because she was the most profitable actress on the lot and was given the best roles Warner Brothers had to offer. Bette also had her pick of directors and crew, which was almost unheard of at the time.
There were four Warner brothers: Harry, Albert, Sam and Jack.

Answer: Jezebel

Bette Davis won her second Oscar for Best Actress in 1938 for "Jezebel" directed by William Wyler. Bette was devastated after David O. Selznick did not think her right for the part of Scarlet. During the filming of "Jezebel" Davis entered into an affair with the Director, William Wyler whom Bette called "the love of her life".

Answer: True

The Hollywood Canteen was a club for visiting servicemen to come dance, eat and see movie stars. The Hollywood Canteen was an old nightclub that Warner Brothers Studios, along with Cray Grant and Julie Styne, made into a success. Bette Davis was very active in the Canteen and made sure there were always a few stars there to mingle with the servicemen. Bette even did a cameo as herself in the 1944 movie called "Hollywood Canteen".

Answer: Gary Merrill

Gary Merrill played Bill Simpson, Bette's character's love interest. Bette Davis married Gary Merrill on July 28th 1950, only 25 days after she divorced William Sherry, the father of her only biological child, Barbara Davis. Gary adopted B.D. and later Bette and Gary adopted two more children, Margot and Michael. The two divorced in 1960.

Answer: Joan Crawford

Bette Davis was often said to be a pain to work with, so it's not a surprise that she ruffled a few feathers on the set. Joan Crawford, who was also difficult to work with, starred along side Bette Davis in "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane". It is said that the two actresses behaved on set, but detested each other and often said snide things off stage.

When Bette was nominated for an Academy Award, Joan started a campaign against her.

Answer: My Mother's Keeper

B.D. wrote " My Mother's Keeper" (1985), which was a tell-all book about Bette. It accused Bette of neglect, alcoholism, and abuse. Many people came to Bette's aid including her ex-husband, Gary Merrill and her adopted son Michael. B.D. had gone on TV before the writing of the book to commend Davis's parenting, etc. Bette Davis even commented on the title "My Mother's Keeper", saying that she was the one supporting B.D. and her family, rather than the other way around.

Answer: She did it the hard way

Bette Davis does has an epitaph that reads " She did it the hard way". The epitaph was mentioned in Bette Davis's autobiography "This N That" and Bette tells us it was suggested by Joseph L. Mankiewicz after the filming of "All About Eve" was finished. The goddess on top of Bette's tombstone was shaped after her beloved daughter B.D., obviously before she wrote the book.