Why Bette Davis considered her first Oscar-winning performance a mere consolation prize
In short: Bette Davis won her first Academy Award for the 1935 drama Dangerous, yet she famously felt the accolade was a consolation for a snub the previous year. While the film cemented her status as a powerhouse, Davis believed the honor belonged to another actress for a different 1935 performance.
Directed by Alfred E. Green, Dangerous follows the story of Joyce Heath, a once-promising Broadway actress now down on her luck, and Don Bellows, an architect who feels indebted to her for inspiring his career. As Bellows attempts to rehabilitate Heath, he falls in love, despite her warnings that she is a jinx who destroys everyone she touches. The narrative, adapted from Laird Doyle’s story Hard Luck Dame, culminates in a series of personal and professional crises that force Heath to confront her own selfishness.
The production was marked by significant creative input from Davis. Initially reluctant to take the role, she was persuaded by studio chief Hal B. Wallis, who noted the character was inspired by Davis' idol, Jeanne Eagels. Davis was meticulous about the portrayal, insisting on costumes designed by Orry-Kelly that reflected a woman on the skids and adopting the signature bob haircut styled by Perc Westmore. The film, which cost $194,000 to produce, cycled through six working titles, including Evil Star and The Jinx Woman, before settling on Dangerous.
Critical reception was mixed. While The New York Times felt the film failed to match the standard Davis set in Of Human Bondage, others like Graham Greene praised her performance as the sole reason to watch. Film historian John Baxter later highlighted a specific scene in a barn as a masterclass in acting, noting that Davis’ ability to convey complex human behavior was unparalleled. Despite the acclaim, Davis remained conflicted about the Oscar, even suggesting Katharine Hepburn should have won for Alice Adams. The statuette itself had a storied journey, eventually being auctioned at Sotheby's and purchased anonymously by Steven Spielberg in 2002, who returned it to the Academy.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Dangerous (1935 film)
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