The two had collaborated before on Old Acquaintance and Mr. She initially approached Vincent Sherman to direct. The studio often made this offer to its actors as a tax dodge, but Davis wanted to follow through with it. In 1944, when she inked a new contract with Warner Bros., part of it stipulated that she would produce five films, all of which she would star in, beginning with A Stolen Life. But then, why should we expect anything less?Ī Stolen Life was the only film Davis ever served as producer on. It’s really just a captivating performance from Davis. She's just a mixed-up girl making a mistake, we think. In Davis's hands, Kate's actions are understandable. When you're watching it all unfold, though, you don't think of these things, or at least I didn't. If Kate had just been honest about her identity, Bill probably would have found his way back to her. The ruse goes against Kate's very nature, however, and she discovers that Bill was miserable and ready for a divorce. Kate can't fight for Bill while her powerful sister is alive, but once she is gone, she tries to win him back in the worst possible way, the same way Pat first met Bill and stole his affections. In a way, the story almost becomes comical. The actress would play twins again in the 1964 thriller Dead Ringer, but I think A Stolen Life is the better film and contains more refined work from Davis. Kate, however, has that signature Davis throb in her voice, a sign of her vulnerability. As Pat, nothing sounds sincere and it feels like everything she hears is being memorized to be used for her own gain later. She infuses both sisters with their own idiosyncrasies and layers - sometimes I can even detect different vocal inflections. Of course, the person holding this whole film together is Bette Davis. She flashed, and sparked, and crackled like an angry live wire thrashing in the wind." Well, I don't know what Bette Davis did the day she started Glenn on his career, but I sure know what she did when she read Glenn's interview. Role of Apple Annie in his starring film. I'll let Capra tell you the rest: "Glenn Ford gave a columnist an interview, to wit: He felt so grateful to Bette Davis for having started him on his path to success that he had demanded Miss Davis be rescued from obscurity and be given the He made a big mistake, though, when he implied to a reporter that he employed Davis as a favor. At the time, Davis wasn't finding a lot of work and Ford was instrumental in casting her as Apple Annie. Thanks to his great work in A Stolen Life, Columbia cast Ford in Gilda and a new star was born.įord and Davis would work together again in 1961's Pocketful of Miracles, Frank Capra's remake of his own Lady for a Day (1933). After seeing the results, Warner was convinced that the actor was the right choice. we were able to convince her there was nothing to worry about on that point." Jack Warner, however, didn't want to pay Columbia, Ford's home studio, a loan-out fee, forcing Davis and Bernhardt to make a secret test with Ford. It worried her for a while that she might look too old for him, but. Sent him to see Bette, and she knew at once our search was over. Kate's reaction is seriously one of the best things I've ever seen: When it comes time to throw her bouquet, she ignores all of the excited women with their outstretched hands and tosses it to her uninterested sister. (Fun fact: Davis would later wear this wedding dress to the wrap party for June Bride .) It is obvious that Pat is reveling in winning Bill. At their wedding reception, the newlyweds are beaming as Kate is forced to be her sister's bridesmaid. We cut to a newspaper item reporting Pat and Bill's upcoming nuptials. It becomes clear she isn't getting anywhere, though, and she asks Pat to leave so she can cry alone. "When Bill's kind fall in love, they mean it!" she exclaims. Kate knows what a terrible match this is and tries to make her sister understand. She then rubs salt in the wound by saying that Bill told her he was very fond of Kate, but that's all he felt. She responds that they're crazy about each other. When Pat comes into her room, Kate asks what her feelings are towards Bill.
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