We use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) during our scanning and processing workflow to make the content of each page searchable. You can view the automatically generated text below as well as copy and paste individual pieces of text to quote in your own work.
Text recognition is never 100% accurate. Many parts of the scanned page may not be reflected in the OCR text output, including: images, page layout, certain fonts or handwriting.
FILMINDIA
October 1940
Rette Davis and Henry Fonda in "Jezebel.''
Mother got a position at St. Mary's School and I went there to win a scholarship to the Anderson School.
"I entered the school late in the term and there was only one girl who hadn't chosen a room-mate by the time I arrived. We lived in an old, brownstone front house, did our own washing, cooked over the gas — when the landlady wasn't looking or smelling around — and entertained mother on week-ends. It was a new experience but it was good for me.
"Long before time for my graduation from the John Murray Anderson School I was itching to get some practical acting experience. I got the chance to go to Rochester to play a bit in the play "Broadway," with the George Cukor stock company. Mr. Cukor fired me eventually but not before I had acquired some more experience and much more self-confidence.
SHE HAD SLIMS SEX-APPEAL
"When we got back to New York there was nothing to do but look for another job. I tramped the street and for the first time learned the addresses of all the agents.
"I was asked to make a screen test in New York, for Samuel Goldwyn. The test wasn't a very
mam
Bette Davis in "It's Love I'm After."
Bette Davis and George Brent in "Dark Victory."
good one but it showed me that I could never hope to appear in pictures unless I had my teeth straightened.
"I made another screen test during the run of "The Solid South" —a test for Universal. It was a cold day and the studio was a long way out of town. When I faced the camera I collapsed before I could say a word.
"Someone revived me and a few weeks later I was "invited" to go to Hollywood with a three month contract at Universal. "I wasn't met at the station because, as I was told later, "no one got off the train who looked like an actress.
"I couldn't resist turning my back to the camera because I was terrified by it and before long all the
Bette Davis in "Marked Woman".
directors were shooting across my shoulders into some other player's face. How well I remember some of the comments reported to me by my hairdresser and others. My nickname was "Slim" after a studio executive had explained, apparently in public, that I had no more sex appeal than Slim Summerville.
THE RAINS CAME AND BROUGHT "OSCARS"
"At the end of the first year my Universal option was allowed to lapse. Mother and I were ready to go back to New York, but it was raining — always a lucky sign for
Bette Davis in "Kid Galahad".
46