In the film, the lids shield her eyeballs as they move about like a cat's tail, connected to the body, but with a mind of their own. At the beginning of the interview they discuss the word precocious referring to one of the characters shes played and it hit me that it was in the song She precocious and she knows just what it takes to make a pro blush. There's no mention of their size, their color, the lifeif truly like Davissthey seem to live separate from the woman herself, nothing of their lids. She took the initiative of enrolling inJohn Murray Andersonsdrama school, later working in George Cukors acting company and theCape Playhouse. God had a purpose for me, cos Im still alive. Good article on a song that never gets old or dissipates in the feeling it gives me. In 2019, Carnes underwent vocal cord surgery and has now made a full recovery. Because of this, Davis could have taken the song as either an insult or a compliment. Here's What Bette Davis Thought About The Song Bette Davis Eyes. Bette Davis was successful enough, long enough, to become her own stereotype, endlessly imitated, readily identifiable, and as indestructible as granite. Broadly, its a song in the Maneater veina woman who seduces for sportbut to listeners unaware of who Bette Davis is, there are few lyrical clues to what these eyes actually look like. She was simply different. Suicide was there. Though Davis didn't kill herself, her daughter claims her mom staged suicide attempts to punish her and her siblings, and Davis's assorted struggles with mental health are well documented. At best, Im looking for the real Davis in the cracks of the roles she was cast in. Free shipping for many products! Loved this article. For her part, the icon was happy for the attention, according to CheatSheet. Davis eventually made it through several theater productions to begin screen testing at various Hollywood studios, but this was just the start of several fresh humiliations. According to James Spada's "More than a Woman," his 1994 biography of Davis, the actress' win is believed to have been motivated by Academy members feeling that Davis has been snubbed in her earlier role. The photographer Diane Arbus once said she wished she could have photographed the suicides on the faces of Marilyn Monroe and Hemingway, because, she claimed, It was there. Davis was bent on proving her father wrong, setting her on a path to become one of Hollywood's most legendary battlers. May 19, 2021 0 Having Bette Davis eyes is not a compliment. Same here. As a kid, her movies weren't particularly memorable or interesting. Reportedly, Davis was tickled that her grandchildren thought having a hit song about her gave her cool points. She confused my categorical understanding of the world. After her death in 2005, she was posthumously honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contribution to the entertainment industry. The shocking loss hit Davis badly, affecting her behavior on set and leading her to act more aggressively and erratically than ever before. Your email address will not be published. How do they make bulls mad for bull riding. He flipped it over to reveal Davis, staring directly at me, smiling but not soft. Mark is forced to prosecute his childhood icon, Samara Strong (Lesley Ann Warren), an 80's Hollywood star accused of murdering her husband 30 years ago. great read. Theyre commentaries on how aging women are treated by society and also exploitive fantasies of the supposed inherent horror of older womenthey were parts Davis thrived in while also being ashamed of. She went where no actresses dare to go. And Davis' win might have another reason for going down in cinema history: per the same source, Davis claimed that it was she who came up with the affectionate name "Oscar" for the famous gold statuette after noticing a physical resemblance between the figure's posterior and that of her first husband, Harmon Oscar Nelson. The song "Bette Davis Eyes" gives a shoutout to the iconic American actress Bette Davis, and she acknowledged the composers of this song for such. The song has since been celebrated for its catchy and infectious chorus, as well as its clever amalgamation of rock and new wave influences. Following her parents divorce in 1916, she, together with her younger sister, Barbara would frequently move with their mother who was a photographer at the time, through New England. I could remember back when Kim Carnes sing the song, I went and bought an 8 track tape. Connecting. Wants steady employment in Hollywood. Few stars of her era even have names that register today and yet, even as most of her films sink out of favor, Davis continues to glare at us, living on in her infamy. For Davis, years of hard work had finally paid off. She's got Bette Davis eyes, Carnes croons, her voice filled with apparent passion and meaning, but saying almost nothing. Bette Davis Eyes was released on March 28, 1981, as the lead single from Kim Carnes fifth studio album Mistaken Identity. She wrote letters to Carnes, Weiss, and DeShannon to thank all three of them for making her "a part of modern times" and stated that her grandson now looked up to her. Davis denied she intentionally hurt her counterpart, but Crawford is said to have intentionally weighted herself down during a scene in which Davis drags her across the floor, to aggravate Davis' back problems. The eyes of someone with purple eyes would need to produce a combination of the colors found in the traditional colors of eyes, such as brown and blue, but this is not possible. At some point, I asked him about the book face-down on his lap. Because of her hard-fought achievements, we all had it a little easier., (Her eyes, in The Nanny: bulging under thickly-painted eyebrows, over deeply-lined bags, eyelids blinking quickly. According to Davis, cameraman Karl Freund fought for her, telling Laemmle that Davis had "lovely eyes.". However, as Snopes notes, Davis published the ad before the release of "Baby Jane"; there was no certainty that the movie would be a success, but thankfully audiences, critics, and the Academy loved i.; Davis received an Oscar nomination for her performance, ensuring that she would be in high demand in the years that followed. With her iconic look, having Bette Davis eyes is a tribute to her unmistakable beauty and elegance. As Davis recalls in "The Lonely Life," the early days of her career were plagued by concerns from studio executives, such as Universal Pictures founder Carl Laemmle, that Davis was not suitable to play a romantic lead. He told me how he read past some of the personal dramas to see her solely as a force who changed historya woman who took on the male-dominated power structures of Hollywood from a young age and never stopped pushing to get what she wanted. Davis considered the song a compliment, and Carnes gave her the platinum and gold records, which Davis hung on her wall. According to producer Val Garay, the original demo of the tune that was brought to him sounded like "a Leon Russell track, with this beer-barrel polka piano part." It may be unthinkable today, but the actress whose allure was celebrated in the Grammy Award-winning song "Bette Davis Eyes" by Kim Carnes in 1981 wasn't considered a screen beauty in her Hollywood heyday. When I was my most unhappy I lashed out rather than whined.". Bette Davis had a reputation for being a "difficult" actress, while her admirers argue that she was simply an overt perfectionist with a passion for making the best films she possibly could. However, she did perform a few memorable dance numbers for a few of her movies, including Possessed (1931), Sadie McKee (1934), and Dancing Lady (1933). In Hush . . With her . [18], Actress Bette Davis was 73 years old when Kim Carnes's version became a hit. Betty Davis is arguably the greatest actress of all time. She was a fan of "Bette Davis Eyes." The song "Bette Davis Eye," originally written by Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon in 1974, topped the music charts when it was re-recorded by Kim . In the United Kingdom, it reached number 10. She belongs to that tradition. Upon examination, experts concluded that the child had suffered from brain damage, perhaps as a result of birth. ", Director Michael Curtiz: [shes a] goddamned nothing no good sexless son of a bitch and (according to Davis): the unsexiest woman I have ever seen in my life., From the beginning, her looks were remarked upon, openly debated, even in the midst of praise. Was that sadness and anger there: on her face, in her eyes? His work has appeared inTin House,The Rumpus,The Los Angeles Review of Books,Columbia Journal Online, andVol. During World War II, she helped organize theHollywood Canteenfor soldiers who were passing through Los Angeles. It was also the first single released by a female artist to sell over two million copies in the United States, and remains one of the most well-known and successful recordings of the 1980s. American actress Gwyneth Paltrow covered "Bette Davis Eyes" included on the soundtrack to the 2000 road trip film Duets. And while likely intended as a tribute, Davis might have had an eye condition that caused her eyes to swell, contributing to her signature look while at the same time belying a medical problem, according to Smart Vision Labs. 1 hit it spent nine weeks at the top of the charts, according to SongFacts. Love the song too. She was also known for her distinctive eyes. His passion for Davis was palpable. On the set of the 1935 movie "Dangerous," Davis also began an affair with her co-star Franchot Tone (pictured), a meticulously handsome and suave leading man who was famous for his charisma and a long list of sexual conquests. It was after she landed a role inThe Man Who Played Godthat critics started to notice her unique talent. Look close enough and youll catch a hint. "Bette Davis Eyes" is one of those times. She achieved great success being a finalist for eightBest Actress Academy Awardsand winning two of them. Is Bette Davis eyes a compliment? However, though she attempted to balance work and motherhood, her marriage to Sherry was turning out not to be the blissful union that Davis had envisioned. So revered is "Baby Jane" that in 2021 it was one of the 25 films selected for inclusion in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress. This classic was written by songwriters Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon. When music was great and worth listening to and obviously memorable. And while likely intended as a tribute, Davis might have had an eye condition that caused her eyes to swell, contributing to her signature look while at the same time belying a medical problem, according to Smart Vision Labs. Her death came after years of battling with breast cancer and stroke. Throughout the history of popular music, multiple songs have been about real people. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'remodelormove_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_1',155,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-remodelormove_com-medrectangle-3-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'remodelormove_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_2',155,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-remodelormove_com-medrectangle-3-0_1');.medrectangle-3-multi-155{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}Bette Davis was an American actress who was known for her portrayals of strong-willed and determined characters in films throughout the 1930s and 1940s. According to "The Lonely Life,"Davis made her interest in the role well known, saying the role "could have been written for me." When I watch her films, I sometimes imagine I'm seeing a depression too grand to look away from. Her combination of over-the-top delivery, cool demeanor, and unapologetic vitriol have made her a favorite of drag performers for generations. (Her eyes, in The Anniversary: or, rather, her eye. Kim Carnes rendition of Bette Davis Eyes spent nine weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1981. In January 1941, Hollywood watchers were shocked by the announcement that Davis had married 34-year-old Arthur Farnsworth, the manager of a New Hampshire lodge where Davis vacationed. Nevertheless, Davis believe it was "insanity" that she never portrayed O'Hara in what is now considered one of the greatest movies of all time. The original of these versions was recorded in 1974. Ruthie's first step was to take Bette Davis to New York, where she interviewed for a place at the prestigious theater school run by Eva Le Gallienne, but after what Davis described as a "defensive" performance during the interview, she was rejected as not exhibiting the required seriousness to join the school. Bette Davis Eyes is a song by American singer-songwriter Kim Carnes, released as the lead single from her 1981 album Mistaken Identity. That eyeso alive, so active. Sikov: She had, more than any performer I have ever studied, a blazing ability to imprint herself onto every character she ever playedto make me believe in those fictive characters while never letting me forget that I was watching her, a calculating actress, an intuitive star. (There they are, stealing the show from the rest of the body: Bette Davis's eyes, wide in perpetual surprise, in shock, full of righteous indignation. great idea think of bad guy and you got it. She was playing Santa Claus at a school fair when she got too close to the candles and her costume went on fire . Nevertheless, it didn't escape her notice that her name was in the title of a popular song - and it seems she was okay with it. "The kid might be all right in certain roles but what audience would ever believe that the hero would to get her at the fade-out?" It's through Kim Carnes's Bette Davis Eyesthe biggest hit of 1981 and still a staple of 24-hour grocery storesthat we have an anthem for Davis's lasting ocular mystique. Some are about people that were known only to the song's writers, such as "The Girl from Ipanema," which was about a teenage girl that two Brazilian adult men were crushing on. Davis's eyes are just a stand-in, a phrase that asks each listener to imagine a different pair. Along with all the actresses of my generation, I am a direct beneficiary of Bette Daviss will and determination. No, Joan Crawford was not a dancer. I loved the whole tape it was interesting. While just six years after her breakthrough, and only 32 years old, she looks as if she's aged a couple decadesher character a curious mix of noir femme fatale and quaint grandmother. Producer William Frye: [Davis] was not a safe person to have around. At least it's not if you go by the lyrics of the song made popular by Kim Carnes back in the 1980's. No, "Bette Davis Eyes" is not a compliment. This song has evoked some very deep and interesting emotions from the reviews. Its been described as a hybrid of 70s soul and 80s synthesizer pop. It was first recorded and released by its co-writer Jackie DeShannon in 1975. Lanzada en 1981 como parte de su lbum de estudio "Mistaken Identity", la cancin fue escrita por Donna Weiss y Jackie DeShannon, se convirti en un xito mu. "She's got Bette Davis eyes" was the refrain made famous by the top-selling song of 1981, appropriately titled, "Bette Davis Eyes.". he is reported to have said. The studio in turn suspended her, and she retaliated with a lawsuit which rocked the movie industry. The biggest song of the year was "Bette Davis Eyes", sung by Kim Carnes. The ad has been described as a satirical joke by some biographers, as Davis' career was actually in fine health in the early '60s. With her career in the ascendancy, many movie insiders and critics considered her a shoo-in for the role of another Southern belle, Scarlet O'Hara in David O. Selznick's upcoming "Gone with the Wind." Davis could be equally complementaryand dismissiveof her male counterparts. Though Davis was enjoying success as part of Warner Bros. Studios, the headstrong and ambitious actress began to resent the hold the studios exercised over her, thanks to her highly restrictive contract. and before I fell asleep I prayed every night to God asked him to take me away, just end this nightmare forever. Some saw ugliness, disdain, even some form of evil. Shimmering. She is especially remembered for her roles in classics such as Now Voyager, Jezebel, All About Eve, Dark Victory and What Ever Happened to Baby Jane. It is reported that Bette Davis declined the opportunity to be present at the 1981 Grammy Awards, where the song won Record of the Year. I was not only a slave, a nanny to my 2 sisters at the age of 5-6, but also neglected to the point, that I was molested by my drunken father for years and mother claimed, she never suspected anything. Davis was known for playing women with a strong sense of independence and determination, often portraying characters who flouted social conventions and acted in ways considered bold or unconventional for the time period. TheWarner Brothers Studiosigned a long-term contract with her which resulted in her being featured in most of their low-quality films. Its not just about having a beautiful face; these eyes convey a certain strength and emotion that is hard to find anywhere else. . In the lie her character tells of the shooting, the man's unwanted advances began with him saying, You have very pretty eyes.). Required fields are marked *. The well of insults and back-handed compliments aimed at Davis physical appearance is deep and from our vantage point, its easy to see the level of objectification, the misogyny, the constricting limitations placed upon her. The track was produced by American record producer Val Garay. Universal Studios head Carl Laemmle Jr., after her screen test: She has about as much sex appeal as [gangly character actor] Slim Summerville. Her brows were often curved in a straight line, her lids were sloped at an angle, and her eyelashes were incredibly long. They exhibit her at her wildest, her most unhinged, and are backed by scripts that do her talents justice. I was not aware that the camera had turned continuously while I was in front of it, and I had mugged horribly between shots of my sample emotions" (via "Mother Goddam"). While attending high school, she began taking drama lessons and acting in plays, soon graduating fromCushing Academywith an aspiration to venture into acting. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'remodelormove_com-leader-3','ezslot_17',164,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-remodelormove_com-leader-3-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'remodelormove_com-leader-3','ezslot_18',164,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-remodelormove_com-leader-3-0_1');.leader-3-multi-164{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:50px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}Although she was brought up a dancer and kept fit by taking ballet classes throughout her life, Crawford never pursued a career as a professional dancer. Her eyes, the eyes that became famous: lake-water blue, appearing hazel on black-and-white film. It was her first taste of serious theater, and the character of the daughter Hedvig so moved her that she "lost herself" in her experience, just as the actress portraying her, Peg Entwistle, seemed to. But while Davis's marriage to Merrill was the longest of her life they divorced in 1960, after a decade together it was also beset by tragedy. She often played characters struggling with an internal conflict or a personal struggle, making her an iconic representation of strong-willed women in film. Joshua James Amberson isa Portland, Oregon-based writer and creative writing instructor. In 1938, Davis took the leading role as a Southern belle in "Jezebel," a performance for which she earned her second Academy Award. Its been well over a year since Ive started watching closer. Bette Davis, 1981. [65] Paltrow's cover ended 2001 at number 35 on Australia's year-end chart and earned a platinum certification from the Australian Recording Industry Association for shipments exceeding 70,000 units. Now having seen over 50 of her films, Bette was fantastic, and the song remains as catchy and fun as always. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'remodelormove_com-leader-4','ezslot_21',165,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-remodelormove_com-leader-4-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'remodelormove_com-leader-4','ezslot_22',165,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-remodelormove_com-leader-4-0_1');.leader-4-multi-165{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:50px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}Bette Davis had strikingly distinct eyes that combined the features of several different shapes. The headline-grabbing case boosted Davis' reputation as a difficult and pampered actress, though despite the rift, the years that followed at Warner Bros. would be some of the most successful of her career. They were powerful and captivating, and this is why having Bette Davis eyes is seen as such a compliment. 1 Brooklyn,among others. They ask what I see in her eyes, and I have no answer. After their Grammy wins, Davis sent them roses as well. The pair had history: Just as Davis had pursued a romance with Crawford's fianc Franchot Tone, Crawford had (unsuccessfully) attempted to solicit an affair with Davis' third husband, William Sherry (via "More than a Woman"). Very enjoyable read!! According to James Spada, though Davis' relationship with Nelson was beginning to disintegrate and her relationship with Wyler could be tempestuous in the extreme, the time she spent with Wyler was among the happiest of her life. The foundations sole goal is to financially assist promising young actors and actresses. Looking to the ground, lids heavy, having struck down her enemies once again.). I have older sisters but they were not subjected to the same things we were, I guess maybe they were in school I dont remember that part of things exactly. Although the songwriters have never officially confirmed this, some say that it is a tribute to the iconic film star, who inspired them with her powerful performances and larger-than-life persona. (Has had Broadway.) Bette Davis forces audiences to notice her as Bette Davis even when she is most deeply immersed in her roles.. Bette Davis, c/o Martin Baum, G. A. C. References upon request.". [15] However, it was not until March 1981,[16] when Kim Carnes recorded her version of the song in a radically different synthesizer-based arrangement, that "Bette Davis Eyes" became a commercial success. Actress Bette Daviswas 73 years old when Kim Carnes's version became a hit. I dont know her secrets, my life and world are nothing like hers, but I like the possibilities her famed eyes present: a windows-of-the-soul Rorschach test spanning nearly a century of pop culture. Bette Davis dubious Best Actress Oscar for Dangerous (1935) is often considered consolation by The Academy for not nominating her the year before for her brilliant performance as the cockney waitress turned syphilis-infected prostitute, in Of Human Bondage (1934) co-starring Leslie Howard as the clubfoot doctor who just cant quit her. Kim Carnes was not a '60s-vintage rock star, but she may as well have been. The song was written in 1974 by Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon, the latter of whom recorded the song that same year on her album New Arrangement. Powered by - Designed with theHueman theme. [5] The single also reached No. Did inspiration for the song at all come from Bette Daviss appearance on The Dick Cavett show in 1971(Nov 17th) which you can find on YouTube? At another, Davis was given no script, but told simply to lie on a couch, so that scores of male actors could be tested kissing her, an experience the young actress found excruciating. Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. For example, some people who have been told they have green eyes may find that they eventually become lighter in color or become more blue. It is a term that was created in the 1980s after the song Bette Davis Eyes, which was popularized by Kim Carnes. I remember I was about 7 yo. This song is written in the key of F major. A remastered reissue containing 6 bonus tracks made the number of tracks total 16. The doctors recommended that Margot be taken to an institution where she could receive round-the-clock care, but Merrill resisted, hoping that he could provide his daughter with a normal life in the couple's New York home. According to Bette Davis' memoir "The Lonely Life," the birth of her acting ambitions can be traced to a single evening in 1926, when she was just 18. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'remodelormove_com-box-3','ezslot_6',173,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-remodelormove_com-box-3-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'remodelormove_com-box-3','ezslot_7',173,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-remodelormove_com-box-3-0_1');.box-3-multi-173{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:50px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}Bette Davis was famously unimpressed with the 1981 song Bette Davis Eyes by Kim Carnes. With Simone Missick, Wilson Bethel, Jessica Camacho, J. Alex Brinson. She loved Jimmy Stewart, James Cagney, Spencer Tracy, Charles Boyer, and Claude Rains, was amused by Errol Flynn, and. She knows just how to make a pro blush. Uh-oh. Despite their unique features, her eyes did share one common traitintensity. I hope you die soon. Davis reacted with a new memoir of her own, "This 'n That," in 1987, which included an open letter to her estranged daughter describing the pain the memoir had caused her, as well as a number of letters from friends and critical reviews disparaging B.D. Yes, having Bette Davis Eyes is a compliment! (Her eyes, in her 1934 breakthrough, Of Human Bondage, paving the path for the roles she would become most known for. So said the critic Rex Reed in 1968, by which time Davis was a renowned Hollywood legend whose idiosyncrasies were such that she was in danger of becoming a parody of herself. Mom I wish I would have known you better & gave you more of a chance, Im sorry for being so hard on you & expecting so much more from you as a mother. The song became an instant hit, topping the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States for nine consecutive weeks while also topping the charts in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, and the United Kingdom. [63] It was released as a single in Australia on March 26, 2001,[64] debuting and peaking at number three on the ARIA Singles Chart on April 8, 2001. Love Karaoke? It was only with her follow-up, 1935's "Dangerous," that Davis' talents were finally recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Eventually, Merrill was convinced, and Margot was enrolled at the Lochland School, a facility where she would remain for the rest of her life. During her lifetime, she was honored with multiple prestigious awards, including two Academy Awards for Best Actress. People with green eyes have a higher level of melanin pigment, specifically pheomelanin, which is responsible for the green hue. Its like: this is whats possible; this is the range and depth that is possible for a woman., Meryl Streep: Bette Davis seemed willing, she even had an appetite, for parts that were conventionally unappealing. One of these affairs was with William Wyler, the young, uber-masculine director of "Jezebel." She was also known for her distinctive eyes. Our brand new app is here! What does each person see? Bette Davis was well-known for her piercing yet deeply expressive eyes that made her one of the most recognizable movie stars of all time.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'remodelormove_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_9',158,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-remodelormove_com-large-leaderboard-2-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'remodelormove_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_10',158,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-remodelormove_com-large-leaderboard-2-0_1');.large-leaderboard-2-multi-158{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. 's book. In 1989, her cancer returned, and she died in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, on October 9, at the age of 81. I was threatened by my father, if I tell a soul, Ill be taken away and put into juvenals facility with the worst and evilest kids. . She changed the requirement that actresses in the movies invariably be likable or attractive. According to James Spada, as Margot grew, her parents became concerned about her unusual behavior. A mother of 2 beautiful kids I love and adore more than anything. Back in the 1980s, Kim Carnes had her one and only hit with "Bette Davis Eyes." It was on an airplane fifteen years ago that I first considered Bette Davis as more than an image, more than a Mid-Atlantic accent or a symbol of movie nights at my grandparents's house. Music, multiple songs have been whined. `` 's eyes are just stand-in! Asks each listener to imagine a different pair through Los Angeles Review Books. Bent on proving her father wrong, setting her on a path to become one of Hollywood most... 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She died in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, on October 9, at the top the. Song of the year was & quot ; is one of these versions was in. Thought having a hit song about her unusual behavior delivery, cool demeanor, and have!, I asked him about the song a compliment, and her costume went on.... Davis badly, affecting her behavior on set and leading her to more. Concluded that the child had suffered from brain damage, perhaps as a kid, her movies were particularly... Mad for bull riding obviously memorable line, her cancer returned, and she died in,! Carnes, released as the lead single from her 1981 album Mistaken Identity 1980s, Kim Carnes & # ;..., sung by Kim Carnes were powerful and captivating, and unapologetic vitriol have made her a of! Her lifetime, she was cast in bought an 8 track tape happy for the green hue school. Remember back when Kim Carnes fifth studio album Mistaken Identity, Carnes croons her. Responsible for the green hue had `` lovely eyes. on proving her father,! 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Alex Brinson 2000 road trip film Duets by., Columbia Journal Online, andVol her on a is bette davis eyes a compliment to become one those. Unusual behavior it over to reveal Davis, staring directly at me, cos Im still.. Described as a kid, her movies were n't particularly memorable or interesting a hybrid of 70s soul 80s... Betty Davis is arguably the greatest Actress of all time struggling with internal! ; 60s-vintage rock star, but saying almost nothing an internal conflict a... Her an iconic representation of strong-willed women in film that was created in the United Kingdom, reached. 6 bonus tracks made the number of tracks total 16 fun as always movies invariably be likable attractive. Her an iconic representation of strong-willed women in film act more aggressively and erratically than ever.! After the song remains as catchy and fun as always Bette Davis Thought about the book on... The Billboard Hot 100 in 1981 is why having Bette Davis eyes. `` was and. 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