Mr. Skeffington (1944)

I think this is Bette's best performance ever. In the beginning, she actually makes you believe she's beautiful (when God know she wasn't.) And in the end, she throws all caution to the wind and makes herself as ugly as she could be. Well, not as ugly as Baby Jane but that came up later.

Other movies she made are more iconic and famous but she deserved an Oscar for this.

When I first got home from the hospital after the operation following three years worth of cancer treatment, I took one look in the mirror and screamed "oh no! I'm Fanny Skeffington!" But no one heard my cries of woe and they wouldn't have understood anyway.

This and Old Acquaintance are my favorite Bette movies.

This is my favorite Bette Davis movie. It’s epic.

From memory the music is sledgehammer.

Fanny the beauty...

trailer

I bought this movie off of Amazon showed it to my husband when he came down to visit me because we've been separated a longtime yes I was a lot like the character in the movie had a lot of men even while I was married. I showed this movie to my husband. I told him either we get back together now that we are old and sick or we divorce I'm still going to get the money.

I would not have said Mr. S was sweet and sad, but bitter and ironic.

Still, OP, I agree with you on the main point: it is one of her great performances.

Isn't this the film where Bette was a nightmare to director Vincent Sherman? He slept with her and she was easier for a few days then she was back to being bad.

Was Trippy Trellis gay?

Bette and Claude were always marvelous together.

R12, yep!

Alexis Smith tells a funny story about this movie. Bette wasn't sure she wanted to do it. So Warners tested Alexis. When Bette found out she went to Alexis and said - If I can't play the part, YOU certainly can't.

R10, yes. I believe this is also the film where the crew allegedly contaminated Bette’s eye drops because she was such a bitch on this set

[quote]but bitter and ironic.

Yes ironic, r9, but bitter? It works out in a very romantic, O. Henry type of way.

“Manby, would you call Janie Clarkson and tell her I can't possibly see her for lunch today?”

Did we ever see Janie Clarkson?

I was waiting for Janie appear in this thread.

r18 see r3

Why wasn't it called Mrs. Skeffington?

Loved Claude Rains in this.

R17, no we never actually see Janie Clarkson, she’s just a running gag throughout the film

R16 Perhaps bittersweet is the most accurate word.

A fun movie I fondly remember from watching on Detroit's TV 50's "Bill Kennedy at the Movies." Bette freely admitted she wasn't a great beauty, but went for it! I always thought Vivien Leigh would have been perfect, but she was in war time England. WB's own Ida Lupino would have been a good choice, but this was a big budget costume movie... so Bette got it. Here's my look at "Mr. Skeffington."

How many movies had Bette paintings? There was also Eve and, of course....

Long, boring and unbelievable. Even on her best day she can’t act beautiful because she wasn’t. And she is far too old to play to play a young Fanny. Rains is good. But I never care for these people and Davis overacts with that horrible voice. No one would go and see this bs now. Made for stupid American women.

Nobody cares what you think, r26.

R27 = Vincent Sherman

R26 The Grinch.

Right to my opinion R27 you lonely fat queen! I doubt if you are doing anything more important than trying on wigs. If you were getting fucked and happy you wouldn’t give man what I think about this old film.

Your desperation for attention is pathetic, r30.

Who is more pathetic -the person who wants attention or the ass who gives it to him.

I made my point, r32.

Love this movie (and Bette). Her affectations and exaggerated voice suit the character of Fanny Skeffington

It's interesting how old movies portray richness as being served breakfast in bed. Have you ever had it? It is so uncomfortable.

Bette Davis is such a great and skilled actor, she makes us [bold]see[/bold] and [bold]believe[/bold] she is beautiful.

[quote]she makes us see and believe she is beautiful.

Bette *always* gave complete credit to Perc, Orry and Maggie Donovan, r36.

Skaggy Maggy on the raggy

Lux Radio Theatre production

With Marlene and Clark Gable.? That's interesting casting.

“Scarlet O'Hara was not beautiful, but men seldom realized it when caught by her charm as the Tarleton twins were.”

So they cast Vivien Leigh who WAS beautiful.

Bette Davis was 36 when this movie was released. It’s hard for me to judge her looks because different era, different makeup but I think she’s attractive enough. The important part is her personality, and she definitely has the force of personality to carry this off.

I first saw this when I was a kid. The fact that Mr Skeffington was Jewish and the marriage was controversial went over my head.

I'd much rather see Fanny played by Bette Davis than someone who was conventionally beautiful. Davis made a meal of the role.

It’s been too many years to recall the details but I remember reading the book and being disappointed.

One of the very few times when the film was superior to the novel.

Bette freely admitted she was no beauty and she was too old for the beginning of the movie. But the WB glam squad gave it their best shot. And Bette had a field day. I recall reading that WB wanted to borrow Hedy Lamarr, but that didn't happen, thank God.

Fanny Skeffington

Here's Carol Burnett's very funny spoof, "Mr. Shleppington."

ALERT: Mr. Skeffington comes on TCM at 2PM EDT.

Like when Meryl played Sophie in SOPHIE’S CHOICE. Sophie was supposed to be beautiful like in the novel. Meryl is no great beauty but she makes you believe that she is.

PS - I am curious about how diphtheria affects your appearance like it did to Fanny.

Also, "Mr. Skeffington" is available on Tubi...

If only there were an easily available way of finding out, r49.

Just finished watching this and boy if the story of Fanny Skeffington wasn't the story of 98% of every DLer I don't know what is. "I'm 87, but people always tell me I look like I'm in my late 20s".

Bette made Fanny's vanity so sincere.