A Tribute to Bette Davis

It's always interesting to see a well-deserved tribute to one of Hollywood's busiest actresses during the Golden Age, and especially when so many of her friends and co-stars were still living and able to attend such a ceremony.

The AFI's salute to BETTE DAVIS was a star-studded event, including brief talks from such luminaries as GERALDINE FITZGERALD, PAUL HENRIED, ROBERT WAGNER, NATALIE WOOD, OLIVIA DE HAVILLAND, WILLIAM WYLER and others.

I read afterwards that NATLIE WOOD was annoyed that Olivia brought up the fact that she too had won two Oscars while talking about Bette--as if she was taking some of the spotlight away from Bette's success. I do recall de Havilland saying something like: "I always wanted the career that Bette had." But since she and Bette Davis remained good friends, I don't think Olivia was trying to upstage Bette at all.

All in all, a fun evening--especially for fans of Bette Davis and the Golden Age of movies.

This was a wonderful tribute to Bette Davis, who arrived beaming and looking every inch, THE STAR. I was fortunate to see the show in a rebroadcast on American Movie Classics, I think, or was it PBS? I popped a cassette into my VCR and now I have a great copy. I cherish all the wonderful film clips and comments of all who attended. This is a treasure.

I think this can be purchased from The American Film Institute. I bought the James Cagney tribute directly from them several years ago.

I have long wanted the AFI to honor Doris Day. They wrote me back and informed me that they had offered to honor Miss Day several times, but she declined.