Ever see the movie ALL THIS AND HEAVEN TOO?

[raccoon]

What do you think was wrong with the Duchesse de Praslin?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_This,_and_Heaven_Too

[Matilda]

1. I take it you mean in the film?

The most obvious explanation would be that she was deeply insecure - one of those people who can never really believe they are loved, and so create in their minds situations which don't really exist, often ending up driving away the very people they're trying to hold on to.

Real life may have been different - Bette Davis believed that the Duc and Henriette did have an affair, and it's implicit in the subtext of her performance, although never overt. If that was the case, there is then a rational explanation of the Duchesse's behaviour.

It's a terrific film, and I think both Charles Boyer and Bette Davis are superb. I never tire of seeing it.

[raccoon]

2. Yes, I meant the film.

I always thought they really didn't have an affair, but it's been mucho years since I've seen it.

Bette Davis was good. IMO, in THE LITTLE FOXES, she was a real b****. She was superb in that.

[Matilda]

3. We really don't know the truth,

but Davis did her research, and that was the conclusion she came to. It
would have been necessary for her performance for her to have an opinion
about it, so that's how she chose to play it.

She was a wonderful actress I think - difficult, no doubt, but I think that came from her perfectionism.

In later life, asked the best actor she ever worked with, she said Claude
Rains. I was pleased to hear that, because I've always liked his work.