Bette Davis: Rage Against the Glamour Machine

She was never going to be Joan Crawford... ⭐💄 ───── 💜 ───── Swofford | Old Hollywood, Film & Fashion History Join the Swoffosphere! 📺 YouTube:    / @misterswofford   📷 Instagram:   / swoffordmusic   🎵 TikTok:   / misterswofford   ───── 💜 ───── What was the film that broke Bette Davis? You might think it would be one of her ugly roles... Like the vindictive, manipulative Mildred Rogers in Of Human Bondage (1934), or even when she painted her face chalk white as the deranged former child star in What Ever Happened To Baby Jane (1962). But really... She loved getting ugly. The film that broke her was the one where they tried making her too pretty. In "Fashions of 1934," the studio put her in a Platinum Faux Harlow Bob, lashes that scratched her forehead, and costumes so tight she could barely walk in them. This is the story of what happens when an unstoppable star meets an unmovable studio system. Perfect for: Bette Davis fans and researchers, Old Hollywood enthusiasts, film history buffs, 1930s and Pre-Code Hollywood lovers, Warner Bros. studio history, the star system and contract player era, classic Hollywood glamour and beauty history, anyone interested in the tension between artistic identity and commercial image-making, fans of the Silent Film Makeup or Gay Nineties deep dives, and anyone who ever wondered what it actually cost to become a Hollywood star. This one is also a great watch — or listen — while you cook, do laundry, fold clothes, or wind down before bed. I've seen it in your playlists! I'm frankly honored to accompany you on your daily routines :—) This is my NINTH Vintage Deep Dive. I became obsessed with this film as it scratched a particular Art Deco / Streamline Moderne itch in my brain... I can't believe how close we are to having 10 of these videos!! 😆 ───── 💜 ───── Want to Support Me? Oh, you're too kind! There are several ways you can support the continued creation of my deep dives, shorts, music and art. Patreon, for early access to videos, as well as my production blog:   / misterswofford   Merch, including my hand-painted BETTE DAVIS poster: https://misterswofford.com/merch Like Retro Synth Pop? Check out my music on Spotify. https://open.spotify.com/artist/23obf... Thank you endlessly. LOVE, -SWOFF 💜 ───── 🏷️ ───── #bettedavis #fashionsof1934 #oldhollywood #filmhistory #hollywoodhistory #classichollywood #studiosystem #starsystem #warnerbrothers #1930s #precode #precodeera #hollywoodglamour #goldenageofhollywood #vintagehollywood #hollywoodgoldenage #oldhollywoodedit #filmessay #cinematichistory #vintagedeepdives