Generous Woody Allen would still have deigned to direct "not very sexy" Bette Davis
By Kristin HuntDecember 20th, 2011, 5:30 pmComments (10)
Given his decades of moviemaking and auteur status, you would probably expect Woody Allen to give great answers to the prompt, "Which iconic actresses would you have loved to direct?" What you might not expect is a frat boy's game of "Hot or Not: Old Hollywood" courtesy of Mr. Allen. Unfortunately, that's what we got.
Though he praised Judy Holliday for her comedic abilities and Kim Stanley for her sheer talent, Allen's other three picks were evaluated in terms of sexiness. Vivien Leigh? "A great actress and sexy." Anna Magnani? "The most exciting actress I ever saw and, in her own way, very sexy." Bette Davis? "Not very sexy but a very exciting actress."
Whew! Glad you were able to overcome Bette's general repulsiveness and admit that you would've directed a woman whom basically everyone considers one of the greatest actresses of all time. I know that was probably embarrassing for you to pick a non-hottie (or "nottie," as that Paris Hilton movie taught us), but I'm glad you kept it real, man. If only more filmmakers in Hollywood had your courage and conviction.
Seriously though, Woody, I don't care who you are — and these days, you're mainly the man who keeps perpetuating that "Scarlett Johansson can act" myth — you do not slight Bette Davis. You just don't. And since Margo Channing is no longer around to kick your ass, I will gladly do it for her.
Commentarium (10 Comments)
Hey, this is a man who's been married to Louise Lasser and Soon-Yi Previn -- if there's one thing he knows when he sees it, it's "not very sexy."
Kristin, I can quote certain Allen films by heart, despite being repulsed by his personal life. And I'm right there w/ you: fuck w/ Bette Davis and you have fucked w/ me, too. Though, given said personal life, we shouldn't be too surprised that when it comes to women, he views perceived hotness over greatness.
Bette's Army: you fuck with her, we fuck you up. I think it's got staying power.
If Edith Head were still alive she could design our uniforms. Either way, count me in.
It is perfect!
Woody hit the creep zone a long time ago.
Why are we complaining that this main complimented Bette Davis's acting and but said she wasn't sexy? Who the hell thinks Better Davis's sex appeal was among the reasons for ever watching one of her films and loving her. Ridiculous.
The issue is that he was addressing her sex appeal at all. As you said, "Who the hell thinks Better Davis's sex appeal was among the reasons for ever watching one of her films and loving her?" Any director should know better
Kristin Hunt: if you don't have your own, at least borrow some one else's sense of humor when you talk to Woody Allen! And what's with the slam against Scarlett Johansson? Ever seen "Lost In Translation"? "Match Point"?? Is it just that time of the month, or what?!
Oh, sure: Everybody knows that "sex appeal" has nothing at all to do with movies! Nothing like a bunch of cranky old spinsters carping about those shallow types who use their EYES to judge a VISUAL MEDIUM...
Now you say something