Bette at her best, (and most cruel) Mr. Skeffington is a movie I had at first avoided watching as it seemed like a comedy of manners or a "period film" frozen in time. Not the case at all. Not only is this a brilliant theme (especially for 1944) But it is also well worth watching for Claude Rains, as the be-trodden Skeffington, and Davis as his narcissistic wife.
It starts out with Davis marrying Skeffington to help her brother out with some debts. They were from an aristocratic, albeit now broke family. Skeffington is a wealthy stockbroker who marries Fanny. He also happens to be Jewish, and after the marriage fades, takes his daughter to Germany, although he still seems to love Fanny in some sense.
Fanny is impervious to any real affection turned her way. She is narcissistic and wants only more and more attention from younger and younger men. There are some amusing scenes as she flirts with handsome MGM extra Johnny Mitchell, who is surprised when he meets her 20 year old daughter (Davis coyly states; ..."she looks tall for her age"...) The expressions are priceless, and lines delivered with expertise as only Davis can. Finally Franny is struck with diphtheria. She returns from the hospital looking much older. The makeup used was somewhat of a surprise; the dramatic change makes Franny isolate herself, and she starts to hallucinate that Job (Rains) is watching her.
She finally visits a psychiatrist, well portrayed by George Coulouris. He is amusing as he looks at her with disdain, and tells her to pick up and get back to her husband. At any rate, this is an enjoyable and unusual film from 1944. 9/10.
It starts out with Davis marrying Skeffington to help her brother out with some debts. They were from an aristocratic, albeit now broke family. Skeffington is a wealthy stockbroker who marries Fanny. He also happens to be Jewish, and after the marriage fades, takes his daughter to Germany, although he still seems to love Fanny in some sense.
Fanny is impervious to any real affection turned her way. She is narcissistic and wants only more and more attention from younger and younger men. There are some amusing scenes as she flirts with handsome MGM extra Johnny Mitchell, who is surprised when he meets her 20 year old daughter (Davis coyly states; ..."she looks tall for her age"...) The expressions are priceless, and lines delivered with expertise as only Davis can. Finally Franny is struck with diphtheria. She returns from the hospital looking much older. The makeup used was somewhat of a surprise; the dramatic change makes Franny isolate herself, and she starts to hallucinate that Job (Rains) is watching her.
She finally visits a psychiatrist, well portrayed by George Coulouris. He is amusing as he looks at her with disdain, and tells her to pick up and get back to her husband. At any rate, this is an enjoyable and unusual film from 1944. 9/10.