@SkyPowers said:

They saw a fragile kind old withered woman. But when she stepped on stage, for example in this interview, a supernatural power possessed her and she became ... Bette Davis. Sarandon channels her essence to perfection, showing both her professional genius as well as her tragic vulnerability. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dFFsbJWtU4

Thank you for that link. What a fascinating and wonderful interview with Bette Davis. Even though she looked so frail, she still had a great sense of humour, and of course that voice was still so recognizable. I must get her book.

Susan Sarandon has been nailing it. She's got many of Bette's mannerisms down in a subtle, nonflashy, very believable way. So far, I'm not buying JL as Joan Crawford, but I'm reserving judgment. Love Kathy Bates and Stanley Tucci as Joan Blondell, Jack Warner. Mark Valley, an actor I recognize but didn't know his name, reminded me a LOT of Gary Merrill. Happy to see Kiernan Shipka as B.D.

I can tell this is something that I'll be watching twice just to catch things that I missed the first time around, like wondering, "Uh, Catherine Zeta-Jones is in this? Really?"

@Milo_Jeeder said:

@Drayvin said:

Is Susan one of those likeable actresses on screen but awful in real life? I was hoping not, but I am curious as to why you don't like her. Maybe something I haven't heard about her. I love the real Bette's voice and in some teasers it did sound like Susan was trying to nail her voice, but it didn't work out. As much as I love Jessica, I think she is absolutely phenomenal, she looks nothing like Joan on this show. It feels like Ryan used her because she's been on almost all of his FX shows. Despite that, I am excited for this show portraying the rivalry between two of my favorite classic actresses.

Susan Sarandon has always been very outspoken about her political views, which makes a lot of people hate her. It's not my case, but I do know that she gets a lot of hate for expressing her opinions, which could be considered "liberal" by some.

Hmm? I never heard her speak on her political views all that much but, then again, I'm kinda the type that doesn't really pay much attention to celebrities'. That's not exactly how I wanted to put that but I took an Advil PM and it's kicking in, lol! I'm pretty Independent/liberal-esque hybrid in that I like to make up my own mind about politics that align with what I agree with and believe in but I'm also open to differing opinions so long as we can discuss them like intelligent coherent adults; I'm not exclusive to any party. I don't try to force-feed anyone my beliefs and views because I'm more interested in knowing the WHY in taking their perspective rather than the "YOU'RE WRONG BECAUSE YOU DON'T AGREE AND YOU'RE STUPID" type of approach. i didn't even know she "bad-mouthed" Hilary. There's a way of being out-spoken without being flat-out bitter and hateful.

@Milo_Jeeder said:

This has been mentioned on the other thread, but I wanted to bring attention to this topic in particular, because I want to read other people's opinions and because... hell, there was only one thread! We need more threads, as long as they're not OT. Anyway, I consider Susan Sarandon a great actress, perhaps one of my all time favorites. I was super excited when I found out that both her and Jessica were doing this show. A couple of days ago, I saw the teasers and the trailers and I can't wait to see the first episode. However, I felt a little bit disappointed (for the lack of a better word) with what I could see on Susan's side. Bette Davis had a very distinctive voice and I noticed that Susan sounded nothing like her, and it's not just the voice. Judging from what I have seen so far, it doesn't really look like she's playing Bette Davis in general. My guess is that she actually tried to sound like her, but it probably sounded too weird/tacky, so she simply decided to use her regular voice. I mean, I'm not saying that this is a bad thing and perhaps I'll appreciate the character, but I really wanted to hear something closer to Bette's voice. Also, I don't think they did a very good job with the make up, because, well... she looks too much like Susan Sarandon and nothing like Bette. I think they did a better job with Jessica, who still looks like herself, but they also managed to capture Joan's features, without making it look like a caricature.

In one of the teasers, it seems like Susan is actually trying to make an effort to sound like Bette and, even though it sounds a little bit campy, I actually like it. Here's the link to the teaser:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynjQ94ZODis

By the way, for some reason, I am obsessed with this teaser and the one where we see Bette and Joan walking down a staircase.

I don't like Susan Sarandon's performance at all, all I see is Susan Sarandon there is nothing Betty Davis about her at all

First of all, it is spelled Bette, not Betty. Second of all, you have a right to your opinion. Third of all, I wish you could have spent 5 minutes with Bette in person. And got her opinion on Ms. .Sarandon's performance. Of course I am sure your opinion is based on experience as an accomplished actor, well qualified to make such a judgement. . Here is the real Bette Davis. A virtual skeleton with months left to live recounting her life. Her terrible tragic life. Her indomitable will and resilience. Of course you know better how to judge a performance. Cursor up 30 second to start. 16:10 when she talks about Baby Jane and Crawford. https://search.aol.com/aol/video?q=bette+davis+interview+phil+donahue+youtube&s_it=video-ans&sfVid=true&videoId=17D41C28016251B47B0C17D41C28016251B47B0C&v_t=webmail-searchbox

FYI: Turner Classic Movies will be airing What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? at 1:45p.m. U.S. Eastern time today, if anyone here wanting to watch or record that airing.

Here's the link to the TMDb page for that film: https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/10242-what-ever-happened-to-baby-jane

Please consider posting your thoughts, observations, opinion, etc. about it there, as that movie's board has had no use prior to today, so definitely would tremendously benefit from some range of posting.

Thanks for letting us know about TCM! 😊

@izzybee3 said:

@Milo_Jeeder said:

However, I felt a little bit disappointed (for the lack of a better word) with what I could see on Susan's side. Bette Davis had a very distinctive voice and I noticed that Susan sounded nothing like her, and it's not just the voice. Judging from what I have seen so far, it doesn't really look like she's playing Bette Davis in general. My guess is that she actually tried to sound like her, but it probably sounded too weird/tacky, so she simply decided to use her regular voice. I mean, I'm not saying that this is a bad thing and perhaps I'll appreciate the character, but I really wanted to hear something closer to Bette's voice. Also, I don't think they did a very good job with the make up, because, well... she looks too much like Susan Sarandon and nothing like Bette. I think they did a better job with Jessica, who still looks like herself, but they also managed to capture Joan's features, without making it look like a caricature.

In one of the teasers, it seems like Susan is actually trying to make an effort to sound like Bette and, even though it sounds a little bit campy, I actually like it.

It's funny because I felt just the opposite. I kept trying to picture Jessica as Joan, but could never see it. I would never know she was supposed to be Joan Crawford if, well, if I hadn't already know. They didn't even try to make her look like Joan. I wonder if Jessica wouldn't shave her eyebrows so she could have Joan's eyebrows. That would have made a big difference.

As far as Susan, I thought she looked and sounded more like her character, Bette. Her voice did go in and out as far as sounding like her, but she seemed more like Bette than Jessica did Joan.

I love both actresses, but was just a little disappointed in their depictions.

I completely agree about Jessica as Joan and I think I made a post about that. Not that I don't like Jessica, I loooove her, but had I not known she was supposed to be playing Joan, I wouldn't have known. She doesn't really act like Joan Crawford and it did feel like they made a lazy attempt in making her look like her. I don't think she really captured Joan as I expected her to. That walk just bothers me, too. These women were head-strong, (overly) ambitious (especially Joan), stubborn, and independent. The "bitches" of that era and both played it well. The feud here seems low-key and lacks the intensity that their real-life feud had.

Susan, however, I really like as Bette although she had to grow on me. I've been enjoying her. Although she does go in and out with the voice, I've enjoyed her portrayal so far, and I think she's doing a better job at capturing her character than Jessica did. Whatever Happened to Baby Jane is easily one of my absolute favorite movies of all time, though.

It's funny because I felt just the opposite. I kept trying to picture Jessica as Joan, but could never see it. I would never know she was supposed to be Joan Crawford if, well, if I hadn't already know. They didn't even try to make her look like Joan. I wonder if Jessica wouldn't shave her eyebrows so she could have Joan's eyebrows. That would have made a big difference.

As far as Susan, I thought she looked and sounded more like her character, Bette. Her voice did go in and out as far as sounding like her, but she seemed more like Bette than Jessica did Joan.

I love both actresses, but was just a little disappointed in their depictions.

I completely agree about Jessica as Joan and I think I made a post about that. Not that I don't like Jessica, I loooove her, but had I not known she was supposed to be playing Joan, I wouldn't have known. She doesn't really act like Joan Crawford and it did feel like they made a lazy attempt in making her look like her. I don't think she really captured Joan as I expected her to. That walk just bothers me, too. These women were head-strong, (overly) ambitious (especially Joan), stubborn, and independent. The "bitches" of that era and both played it well. The feud here seems low-key and lacks the intensity that their real-life feud had.

Susan, however, I really like as Bette although she had to grow on me. I've been enjoying her. Although she does go in and out with the voice, I've enjoyed her portrayal so far, and I think she's doing a better job at capturing her character than Jessica did. Whatever Happened to Baby Jane is easily one of my absolute favorite movies of all time, though.

What do you think about Jessica in this last episode. They have arched her eyebrows more and she looks much more like Joan. I think this last episode has been the best so far. I don't know why they took so long to get her appearance more like Joan or why a wonderful actress like Jessica hasn't done a better job. I am wondering if maybe I/we are thinking about the Joan in the movies and/or Faye Dunaway's take on her. Maybe Joan wasn't like that in real life. I find it hard to believe she wasn't, but we didn't actually know her personally - so maybe.

" What do you think about Jessica in this last episode. They have arched her eyebrows more and she looks much more like Joan. I think this last episode has been the best so far. I don't know why they took so long to get her appearance more like Joan or why a wonderful actress like Jessica hasn't done a better job. I am wondering if maybe I/we are thinking about the Joan in the movies and/or Faye Dunaway's take on her. Maybe Joan wasn't like that in real life. I find it hard to believe she wasn't, but we didn't actually know her personally - so maybe."

The last episode was the most revealing by far as to what made Joan Crawford tick, perhaps like a half broken clock. She was raped at 11 years old by her stepfather and liked it! Because she got attention. She was born in squalor. She mistreats her children by over disciplining them reflecting her own upbringing. Then throw in the psychological wackiness of superstardom what warps, with few exception, even the sanest people. And now she is an aging has-been. A pathetic creature who tapes her face in back to look younger. "When people see a Joan Crawford picture they expect to see Joan Crawford." She is cuckoo for Coco Puffs, Gloria Swanson as Norma Desmond in Sunset Blvd. Instead of watching herself in old movies with a film projector, she watches herself on TV. Bette Davis, a far better trained actress had no such neuroses, caring only about the character and the intention of the story, not only unafraid to look ugly but embracing her evil grotesqueness.

Knowing Crawford's back story does lend a note of sympathy for her. She pulled herself up by the bootstraps, the American dream so to speak. Now I do think the apparent bias toward Lang's performance is because viewers are more familiar with her work (American Horror Story) and have grown personally attached to her. And she is doing a very good job. But that should not discount Sarandon's portrayal of Bette simply because Bette Davis had a much more distinctive personality and speech pattern. As I've posted before, when portraying real-life icons, the actor's task is not too impersonate but to capture the essence. Sarandon is sort of doing both and to great effect. I am impatiently waiting for each new episode. Would have loved to have binge watched the entire miniseries so I wouldn't have to wait, even though the true story is on record and already out there, patched together by autobiographies, newspaper clippings and first-hand accounts.

I posted earlier in this thread that I wasn't buying JL's portrayal of Joan, but when Joan faced the board of Pepsi Cola in this last episode it finally clicked for me. That's Joan. We'll see what I think this coming Sunday.

I was not impressed with SS's Bette at first but she grew on me too. I agree that there are some pure-Susan moments that lack authenticity but overall, she is great; often brilliant.

JL's Crawford is lovely to me but I cannot expertly compare it to the original because I have maybe seen only 1 or 2 of JC's films ever. From my underexposed perspective, she is phenomenal. (also still rocking some of the best legs in the business)

Bottom line is the show is very good and I love everyone in it. My favorite is probably Molina, though.

If you have Amazon Prime @Horus Mazinga there is a good bio of Joan on their that is worth a look. She did have a really interesting life and even though I have seen a lot of her movies, there was so much I didn't know. I really doubt the whole Mommie Dearest thing after seeing this as well.

Just watched it. It was called Joan Crawford: Always the Star. Wow, what a career, the star system really was another animal from how it works today. She really did last as a huge star much longer than a lot of others. And I have my doubts too now about Christina and Christopher and their tales of her as a mom. Her twins loved her and appreciated her. That story about C & C resenting having to do the dishes when they knew there were servants for that was a real eye-opener.

Just found it on Youtube