Davis Sings!

[Girard]

I have both Stage Door Canteen (1943) and Hollywood Canteen (1944) and Bette Davis isn’t singing 'They’re Either Too Young or Too Old' in either of them! I was sure she did, in Hollywood Canteen, since she helped found this wartime solace for servicemen.



It was Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943), where she didn’t get a credit, but I recall her singing it. She had protested—she couldn’t sing! Thankfully, they didn’t listen and I thought it was a memorable performance—not that she should have given up her acting career to go into singing.



I just finished Stage Door Canteen and found it pretty good. A loose script, but I was more interested in the mainly Broadway stars of the time, such as the Lunts and Cornelia Otis Skinner (whom I must have missed). Surprisingly, the virtuoso violinist Yehudi Menuhin played two classical pieces.



All these entertainers appeared in person on both coasts (I’m sure they had their equivalents in the UK and probably in Germany as well). Some of the men were draft age (Lanny Bruce, Kenny Baker, and Menuhin, for instance). I seem to recall the violinist being pursued by the draft board, but they might have decided that artists of his type would be of better service playing his Stradivarius than shooting a rifle.



I’m wondering how the servicemen in the audience felt, however, knowing they were about to ship off and the male entertainers were returning to cozy Manhattan apartments.



Of course, many male stars at the time, although they appeared fit, were definitely not—take John Hodiak (Lifeboat) and John Garfield—both had serious heart conditions and died early deaths, but looked robust. Tom Drake (Meet Me in St. Louis) lived longer, but he was obviously frail.

[Kitty Whiskers]

I can imagine there was a bit of resentment for those that didn't join up. And it would have been made worse looking at the likes of Jimmy Stewart heading off to do his bit.



I have an LP of Bette Davis singing - and Joan Crawford et al. It's a great curiosity piece but it certainly doesn't grace the turntable that frequently.

[Girard]

name='Kitty Whiskers' timestamp='1285762073' post='478486']

I can imagine there was a bit of resentment for those that didn't join up. And it would have been made worse looking at the likes of Jimmy Stewart heading off to do his bit.



I have an LP of Bette Davis singing - and Joan Crawford et al. It's a great curiosity piece but it certainly doesn't grace the turntable that frequently.

Jimmy tried a couple of times to join up (he was one of the first at the recruiting office's doors after Pearl Harbor), but they turned him down because he didn't weigh enough for his height. Finally, after going on an eating binge and not evacuating himself for a couple of days, he just made the weight requirement.



His critics (now and then) claimed he achieved rapid promotion because of his celebrity status, but he always turned down any special consideration. Later, he stayed up all night planning the missions he headed over Germany--and he never lost a man under his command. For myself, he embodied everything I would want in a president, but Stewart never had any political aspirations.

[Kitty Whiskers]

name='Girard' timestamp='1285770890' post='478532']

Jimmy tried a couple of times to join up (he was one of the first at the recruiting office's doors after Pearl Harbor), but they turned him down because he didn't weigh enough for his height. Finally, after going on an eating binge and not evacuating himself for a couple of days, he just made the weight requirement.



His critics (now and then) claimed he achieved rapid promotion because of his celebrity status, but he always turned down any special consideration. Later, he stayed up all night planning the missions he headed over Germany--and he never lost a man under his command. For myself, he embodied everything I would want in a president, but Stewart never had any political aspirations.

Jimmy Stewart was always one of the more remarkable actors in Hollywood - and one of my person favourites. If an actor had to become President, I wish it had been him, he seemed to have great integrity.



I wouldn't have complained if Gregory Peck had wanted a try at political office either.

[will.15]

Unlike draft dodging John Wayne who had just emerged as a top star and fearful serving in the military would derail his career after being stuck for a decade making B Westerns, and successfully received a hardship different because he had five kids.

[Brief Encounter]

Didn't Bette Davis 'sing' in another film of the era, but with another voice dubbed in?



Of course, we all remember her musical performance in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane!

[Girard]

name='Brief Encounter' timestamp='1285807033' post='478632']

Didn't Bette Davis 'sing' in another film of the era, but with another voice dubbed in?



Of course, we all remember her musical performance in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane!

I'd forgotten about this 1962 film, but her 'I'm Sending a Letter to Daddy' wasn't 'singing,' as in 'They're Either Too Young or Too Old.' I don't know what you'd call it.

[Girard]

name='Kitty Whiskers' timestamp='1285797668' post='478618']

Jimmy Stewart was always one of the more remarkable actors in Hollywood - and one of my person favourites. If an actor had to become President, I wish it had been him, he seemed to have great integrity.



I wouldn't have complained if Gregory Peck had wanted a try at political office either.

I'm more in tune with Jimmy Stewart's political philosophy than Gregory Peck's, but I can't fault Peck's integrity. Peck had quite a fan in the girl who played his daughter in To Kill a Mocking Bird. I've seen a couple of pictures of him sitting in a chair, trying to read the script, while she sat on his lap. They stayed in touch until his death. I've always thought that Gregory Peck probably personified many young girls' idealized father.

[Kitty Whiskers]

name='Girard' timestamp='1285809470' post='478634']

I've always thought that Gregory Peck probably personified many young girls' idealized father.

He was always my ideal. He seemed like such a kind man.

[Girard]

name='will.15' timestamp='1285799679' post='478624']

Unlike draft dodging John Wayne who had just emerged as a top star and fearful serving in the military would derail his career after being stuck for a decade making B Westerns, and successfully received a hardship different because he had five kids.

I’m largely responsible for getting off the ‘Bette Davis track’ and going off into service deferments, but rather than starting a new subject:



I knew John Wayne didn’t serve in the war, and it was later thrown up to him, particularly in light of the many war movies he made. I must have assumed he had passed the age limit or had a medical problem.



Many times the studios were at fault—they had a valuable star, such as in Mickey Rooney, and didn’t want to give up his lucrative services. Mickey finally got in, after Girl Crazy, and he doubtless spent a lot of time entertaining the troops—but so what? Our troops needed some entertainment and Mickey was an A-plus entertainer.



Van Johnson had that horrible accident in his DeSoto convertible well into America’s entry into the war. Of course, after the stainless-steel plate, he was effectively out of the war and was MGM’s ‘golden boy’ until the other stars came home. But, yet, Van could have been called up anytime in 1942 until his accident. I suspect Louis B. Mayer pulled a lot of strings to keep Van out, as he did, for a time, with Mickey Rooney.



Even Dr. Goebbels’ Total War wasn’t necessarily all that total. He continued to defer the former heavyweight champion of the world Max Schmeling, who had initially defeated Joe Louis and, in turn, was defeated by the black fighter. Max and Louis later became friends and the German boxer aided Louis financially when the American was in trouble.



When Schmeling incurred Goebbels’ displeasure by helping hide Jewish children, his military deferment was torn up, and he found himself on the Russian Front. I think he, in effect, had told Goebbels, ‘Screw it!’



One time I looked up the age limit (theoretical anyway) and I think men could be called up all the way to sixty!!! Now what were they going to do?



My father was thirty-seven and had three children, and yet he had to report to the draft board. He failed the visual test.



The real cannon fodder were the 18-19 year-olds. When a high-school boy became eighteen, he was given his diploma and quickly sent into the service. In Ken Burns' excellent series on the Second World War, I remember the cold comment one officer made to these boys, some of whom probably didn't shave once a week, that don't expect to come back. This was, I think, during the fierce fighting of the Battle of the Bulge.

[Ray]

name='Brief Encounter' timestamp='1285807033' post='478632']

Didn't Bette Davis 'sing' in another film of the era, but with another voice dubbed in?



Of course, we all remember her musical performance in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane!

Theo, When Bette came over here for the London premiere of Baby Jane she sang "I've Written a Letter to Daddy" on the stage of the Warner cinema, accompanied by her infamous daughter, BD!



Back in 1945, Decca records wanted to sign Bette to a recording contract. Bette was to have narrated "The Star Spangled Banner, "and other selections" according to Decca's press release. Bette's deal with Decca would have paid her 10 percent of all retail sales, but Jack Warner objected, and so it never happened.



In 1952 she shocked, and delighted her fans by appearing in an all singing, all dancing musical stage show, Two's Company".



One number, "Roll Along Sadie", called for her to do a takeoff on Sadie Thompson. In another, she played a TV hillbilly singer who smoked a pipe and had her front teeth missing. Another, which must really have been worth watching, she imitated Tallulah Bankhead watching Bette Davis imitate Tallulah from a theatre box.

The best song in the show was "Just Like a Man", there was an album recorded from the show that I used to have many years ago.



It was not until 1976 that Bette recorded an album. "Miss Bette Davis" was produced in London by Norman Newell for EMI.

It was not released in the United States, however, until Celebrity Records issued it in 1983. Included on the album were:



They're Either Too Young or Too Old - I've Written a Letter to Daddy - Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte - I Wish You Love - Loneliness - Growing Older, Feeling Younger - It Can't Be Wrong (from Now Voyager) Until It's Time for You To Go - Life is a Lonely Thing - Mother of the Bride.



This was another album that I had, but once the novelty had worn off it was not an album that I played very often.



[attachment=860:Miss Bette Davis.jpg]



Bette had previously recorded a few 45rpm recors, including, "Single", and "I've Written a Letter to Daddy", with the flip side featuring a twist version of "Baby Jane" recorded with Debbie Burton.



If you get the special edition DVD of Baby Jane you can see Bette singing "I've Written a Letter to Daddy" on the Andy Williams show, it can also be seen on YouTube.

[CaptainWaggett]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvX5b9tfWQg

[Ray]

name='CaptainWaggett' timestamp='1285829031' post='478647']

That is almost as good a Bette Davis impression as Charles Pierce!



Take a look at Charles Pierce at The Chandler Pavillion on YouTube, and you will see what I mean!

[CaptainWaggett]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5hejyCrUwA

[theuofc]

name='Girard' timestamp='1285726439' post='478413']

I’m wondering how the servicemen in the audience felt, however, knowing they were about to ship off and the male entertainers were returning to cozy Manhattan apartments.

I've been reflecting back about this. I'm not sure that service men resented actors on screen all that much during WW2. There was a different feeling about that War. The public, inc. service men, were very aware that actors wanted to be part of the War and that actors were enlisting and serving in combat. And the actors who didn't and were making films were 4-F or deferred for good reason, or that was public perception.



Listening to my 7 uncles who served, most actors on screen in the war years were written off as 4-Fs and weren't resented the way draft dodgers and chickenhawks were during Vietnam. As the War continued, the inductee age of 18-45 (18-65 had to register) rigorously swept across all levels. Even studio head Hal Roach was called up. That's not to say that fixes weren't put in by actors or the studios.



It's true that some Hollywood actors did not serve based on legitimate physical disabilities, whatever: rather than my listing names, you can scan the top actors in films during the War and figure them out. I don't know how servicemen felt about that particular group of actors on screen, but people kept attending their films. Even if certain actors got off serving, it wasn't something they made a point of being proud of or considered a badge of honour, such as later going to Canada in protest rather than serving.



Some of the actors who didn't serve had legitimate reasons, and the public knew it:



1. They were deferred for legitimate physical reasons,e.g. Greg Peck, Van Johnson, Monty Cliff. Ray Milland tried to enlist, was rejected for an impaired left hand but served as a flight instructor during the War.



2. They were close to the draft inductee age of 45 or past it: Cary Grant at 43 tried to enlist in the Royal Navy but was reputedly rejected as' too old' in 1944, so he donated his salary to Brit war relief as did many other Brit actors. Clark Gable managed to join up despite being over 45 but served with the FMPU making war training/ propaganda films.



3. They had served in WW1: Ronald Colman, Randolph Scott, and others.



Ironically, some actors seemed to be in 'cosy' Hollywood/Manhattan during the War but were actually in service when their films were being shown. Studios often rushed films into production before the actors left for duty, e.g. Donald O'Connor had to make three quick, back-to-back films before reporting to duty.



During their service, e.g. Bill Holden, Clark Gable, Ronald Reagan, Lee J. Cobb, Van Heflin, Alan Ladd made training /morale /propaganda films for the USAAF-FMPU (First Motion Picture Unit), eventually based at Hal Roach's studios which were shut down when he was called up. The public and service men were very aware of these efforts by actors through newspaper articles and photos and Pathe newsreels.



As I say, I don't remember any serviceman in my family moaning about the easy life of actors not serving. Praise was going to the actors who were serving and in combat. Serving one's country was a big deal then and to not serve was pitied, rather than envied.



Or that's my take on this.



Barbara

[Girard]

name='theuofc' timestamp='1285889228' post='478896']



2. They were close to the draft inductee age of 45 or past it: Cary Grant at 43 tried to enlist in the Royal Navy but was reputedly rejected as' too old' in 1944, so he donated his salary to Brit war relief as did many other Brit actors. Clark Gable managed to join up despite being over 45 but served with the FMPU making war training/ propaganda films.

Clark Gable wasn't too keen on putting his lucrative career on hold to go into the service. As you know, Carole Lombard was one of the first entertainers to go on a bond-selling tour and could be considered to be an early casualty of the war on the American side when her airplane hit the mountain outside Las Vegas. Before that, she had nagged Gable to join up.



Following her tragic death, Clark Gable felt he owed it to Carole to follow her wishes, and went in, and served commendably.

[will.15]

The only leading actor, a minor one, to die while serving in the military during WW II was Lee Powell, star of some popular serials. I read decades ago he died in action. but it turns out it was actually alcohol poisoning, drinking a concoction that blinded another soldier. He volunteered and joined the Marines and was serving in the South Pacific.



Was this the reason he signed up with the Marines?



http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1v...ogs_shortfilms

[theuofc]

name='Girard' timestamp='1285896944' post='478905']

Clark Gable wasn't too keen on putting his lucrative career on hold to go into the service. As you know, Carole Lombard was one of the first entertainers to go on a bond-selling tour and could be considered to be an early casualty of the war on the American side when her airplane hit the mountain outside Las Vegas. Before that, she had nagged Gable to join up.



Following her tragic death, Clark Gable felt he owed it to Carole to follow her wishes, and went in, and served commendably.

I'd forgotten that Gable had been nagged about joining and then joined to honour her. From reports, he probably had a guilt-issue going also re: the night she died, so that probably spurred him as well.



Best,



Barbara

[Girard]

name='theuofc' timestamp='1285907976' post='478912']

I'd forgotten that Gable had been nagged about joining and then joined to honour her. From reports, he probably had a guilt-issue going also re: the night she died, so that probably spurred him as well.



Best,



Barbara

It’s been a while since I’ve read Gable and Lombard, but I particularly recall one incident, when, after Gable received his commission, he was escorted around the wards, cheering up the patients, when the officer-doctor stopped at a patient’s bed, glanced cursorily at the chart, and casually commented that the young man's case was hopeless and he had only a few hours to live.



When a tear trickled down the boy’s face, who obviously had heard and understood everything the unfeeling doctor had pronounced, Gable’s face reddened and he furiously jabbed his index finger into the dman's chest, bawling him out—warning him never, ever to say something like again before a patient. The doctor might have been Gable’s superior officer, but he took it. Hopefully, the doctor learned some compassion.

[theuofc]

name='Girard' timestamp='1285942715' post='479066']

It’s been a while since I’ve read Gable and Lombard, but I particularly recall one incident, when, after Gable received his commission, he was escorted around the wards, cheering up the patients, when the officer-doctor stopped at a patient’s bed, glanced cursorily at the chart, and casually commented that the young man's case was hopeless and he had only a few hours to live.



When a tear trickled down the boy’s face, who obviously had heard and understood everything the unfeeling doctor had pronounced, Gable’s face reddened and he furiously jabbed his index finger into the dman's chest, bawling him out—warning him never, ever to say something like again before a patient. The doctor might have been Gable’s superior officer, but he took it. Hopefully, the doctor learned some compassion.

Great Gable story, Girard. I've always liked Gable's presence on screen (cringed to his dancing in Idiot's Delight but mesmerized by his Rhett Butler ). The private lives of many actors are disillusioning for me (e.g.The "King" on the night Lombard was killed), but I remind myself I'm there for the performance.



Best,



Barbara