Monday, July 28, 2008

Fasten Your Seatbelts



On this day, in 1950, Bette Davis married her All About Eve co-star, Gary Merrill. They appeared in two other films together, considerably less distinguished: Phone Call from a Stranger (1952), an episodic, ensemble piece in which Davis essentially has a glorified cameo; and Another Man's Poison (also 1952), an absolutely hysterical exercise in overwrought camp, with Davis chewing up the scenery, the props, and her supporting cast.





Somehow, the volatile union of Davis and Merrill lasted for almost a decade. Following their divorce in 1960, Bette went on to another fabulous comeback via What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962), while Merrill soldiered on in supporting roles in films ranging from the excellent Jules Verne fantasy Mysterious Island (1961) to...well, Clambake (1967) with Elvis.



Bette Davis passed away on October 6, 1989 at age 81; Merrill died the following March at age 74.

Also on this date, in 1941, Judy Garland wed conductor/composer David Rose.



It was the first marriage for Garland...but that's another story.

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