"The Little Foxes" Review

 

by Daniel White

For the peace of mind of all concerned, it's a good thing Bette Davis was deceased for a decade when AFI made public its list of the 25 greatest film actresses in 1999. Coming in second behind Katharine Hepburn would seem like a notable achievement from anyone else. But for La Davis, second place was the other guy's dominion, definitely not where she belonged. The truth is, Davis was always running slightly behind Hepburn. Two stubborn, flinty New Englanders, they arrived in Hollywood within two years of each other.

Kate was summoned in 1932, after being heralded an "overnight sensation" on Broadway; she managed to star in her debut movie, A Bill of Divorcement. Bette was relatively unknown when she arrived in 1930. Struggling for four years, she finally earned the recognition she deserved in 1934's Of Human Bondage. Kate nabbed her Oscar first, and while Bette quickly scored a couple of her own, Hepburn would go on to win an unprecedented three more. Katharine Hepburn alternated successfully between film and the stage most of her career. Poor Bette's theatrical ventures were sporadic and often doomed to failure. Finally, while Davis's movie outings descended into schlock and "Granny's Gone Mad" roles, Hepburn managed to attach herself to some fairly respectable projects.

Replacing a resentful Tallulah Bankhead, who created the role on Broadway, Bette Davis gives one of her greatest performances in 1941's The Little Foxes. As the ambitious, ruthless Regina Giddens, Davis is marvelous and SHOULD have one her third Oscar (Joan Fontaine snagged it for her decidedly routine romp in Suspicion). A glossy Samuel Goldwyn production, Davis strained the nerves of director William Wyler by insisting on playing her Regina hard and calculating, void of any sympathy. While some felt her decision to interpret the Southern schemer in this way misguided, I believe she was correct. It is a captivating portrayal.

Aided by a talented cast of support players (many from the original Broadway production), Bette goes from ambitious matron to cold-blooded murderess. Her Regina is hard because she has to be. Married to a man she believes is nothing but a frail milksop (Herbert Marshall), she is on her own. If she makes one wrong move, she's finished. Fortunately, for the cunning Regina, that rarely happens.

Lillian Hellman adapted her own play, and with the help of some talented fine-tuners, did a terrific job. The cinematography (Gregg Toland), as well as all other technical aspects, are first-rate. Goldwyn spared no expense, and though the flick lost money, the admirable results are worth it. Every one of its gifted actors is memorable, but special shout outs to Dan Duryea as the slimy Leo, Patricia Collinge as the fragile Birdie, and Teresa Wright as Regina's feisty daughter, Alexandra. However, in the end this is Bette's spectacle and she is spectacular. The Little Foxes is currently available on YouTube.