The Films of Bette Davis' Prime, Part I: 1937-1939

In the late 1930s, Bette Davis sued Warner Bros. for not offering her better roles after making a critical smash (Of Human Bondage) and winning an Oscar (for Dangerous). Bette lost the lawsuit, but was suprised to find that Warner Bros. wanted her back. And this time they were more than willing to give her exceptional roles. And indeed, Bette Davis appeared in one magnificent film after another. This golden age started with Marked Woman in 1937. This film was a mix between a gangster film and a courtroom drama, and was a very fine film. It's Love I'm After was a sparkling comedy with wonderful performances, and is an overlooked gem. But for Bette, bigger things were in store. In 1938 , she appeared first in The Sisters and then in Jezebel. The Sisters is a very absorbing melodrama that is top-notch in every respect, but it is overshadowed by Jezebel. Jezebel gave Bette an exceptional role (maybe as reconciliation for not receiving the role of Scarlet O'Hara that she so desperately wanted.) as a spoiled Southern belle. The film won Bette her second Oscar. The banner year of 1939 came next. In Juarez, she played the Empress Carlotta, who eventually goes insane. Juarez was a troubled production with Bette's role being cut drastically to make more room for Paul Muni's titular character. What remains of her performance is, as always, astonishing, but kind of leaves the viewer wanting more. Bette then played Queen Elizabeth I for the first time (she played the role again in 1955's The Virgin Queen) in the film The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex. The film also happened to be her first film in Technicolor. Her performance remains the best portrayal of Queen Elizabeth that the screen has ever seen. It is a true Tour de Force. But the same could also be said of Dark Victory. Bette recived another Oscar nomination for the quintessential tearjerker. While the film is not perfect (Humphery Bogart gave one of his rare weak performances in the film), Bette makes the film into a landmark of film history. Bette's last film of the 1930's was The Old Maid. It contains one of her most subtle performances, features another great performance from Miriam Hopkins (one underrated actress) and is an exceptional film that is not to be missed. By the end of 1939, there was no denying that Bette Davis was the queen of Warner Bros. and one of Hollywood's Finest Actresses of all time.