book rage by mark hernandez
Bette Davis:
Larger than Life
I was leafing through Bette Davis: Larger than Life at a bookstore enjoy-
ing all the incredible lavish studio shots and making audible noises of
amazement when a 20-something came up beside me and asked “Who’s
that?” After my jaw-dropping reaction to his question I said, “Bette Davis!”
and he said, “Oh yeah... Madonna mentions her name in ‘Vogue.’” I pulled
him closer and then we both flipped through this fabulous book and I
showed him the gorgeous photos with the gowns and lighting and the
stills from her many unforgettable pictures. But I told him he’s got to
actually see one of her movies to really understand what a unique and
remarkable actress she was, with her irrepressible signature swagger as
she moved, her unique voice and accent and her facial expressions which
left no mistake as to whether she adored you or was about to destroy you.
This lush must-have coffee table book is big, luxurious and full of fascinat-
ing descriptions and stories befitting the Queen of Hollywood’s Golden
Age. Gee, what a great holiday gift this would make! <ahem> And, it’s
important to have it laying about to also help the younger generation
understand why Madonna sang, “Bette Davis, we love you!”
16 RAGE monthly | november 2009
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97