I don't much care for this picture. Bette Davis is one of my favorite stars, however, and this was in her most fertile period. What strikes me most about the picture is that this appears to be the first film in which we see many of the Davis mannerisms for which she would be later caricatured, in particular the clipped speech, which she certainly didn't have in say, Jezebel. I'd go so far as to say that in this picture she is most definitely "acting" and feeling her oats; afterall at that time she was still only one of two actresses to have two Oscars -- it would be awhile before Hepburn, Bergman or Olivia DeHavilland would catch up and since Louise Rainer (back-to-back Oscars in '36 and '37) was retired, Bette was truly the queen. Also, if you think 20 years ahead to Whatever Happened to Baby Jane you will note that a lot of Jane's mannerisms, etc. mirror Fannie Trellis so I suppose Davis drew on that character for Baby Jane. I suppose this is what they used to call a "woman's picture." It's too soapy for me.
Review of Mr. Skeffington
