6 Infamous Feuds That Almost Derailed Classic Movies

6. What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? €“ Bette Davis Vs. Joan Crawford

Baby Jane Poster

When two Golden Age divas share a set together, things are bound to get a little tense. When those divas are Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, you'd probably feel safer sitting in a powder keg in a room full of matches. Davis and Crawford's feud extended all the way back to at least 1935, when the latter allegedly stole the former's boyfriend, Franchot Tone. She did so in the most subtle way possible: inviting him over for dinner, and then greeting him naked. Almost 30 years later, Davis and Crawford ended up with the two lead roles in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?. Davis played a demented former child star that has to take care of her crippled sister (Crawford) after a "mysterious accident". The film features much psychological and physical torment, which Davis and Crawford no doubt loved dishing at each other. In one scene, Davis "accidentally" kicked Crawford square in the head. In retaliation, while filming a scene in which Davis had to drag Crawford across the floor, Crawford weighted her body down. The aged Davis could hardly lift her, nearly throwing out her back in the process. "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?" ended up benefiting from the pair's intense hatred, as the film was a box office smash and earned multiple Oscar nominations (including one for Davis).
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Contributor

Nick DeNitto developed a passion for film in high school and has been writing about it ever since. Aside from WhatCulture, he writes for StageBuddy.com and FestivalOfFilms.com/blog. He is affiliated with the National Board of Review.