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Bette Davis was born Ruth Elizabeth Davis in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1908.
Answer: False
Explanation: Bette Davis was born Ruth Elizabeth Davis in Lowell, Massachusetts, not Boston.
Bette Davis changed the spelling of her first name after a character from a popular stage play.
Answer: False
Explanation: Bette Davis changed the spelling of her first name after a character from Honoré de Balzac's novel *La Cousine Bette*, not a stage play.
Bette Davis's father, Harlow Morrell Davis, became a patent attorney.
Answer: True
Explanation: Harlow Morrell Davis, Bette Davis's father, pursued a career as a patent attorney after completing law school.
Bette Davis was inspired to pursue a career in theater after seeing a 1926 production of William Shakespeare's *Hamlet*.
Answer: False
Explanation: Bette Davis was inspired to pursue theater after seeing a 1926 production of Henrik Ibsen's *The Wild Duck*, not Shakespeare's *Hamlet*.
Bette Davis's first paid acting assignment was a one-week stint as a chorus girl in the play *Broadway*.
Answer: True
Explanation: Her first paid acting role was indeed a one-week engagement as a chorus girl in the play *Broadway*.
Upon arriving in Hollywood in 1930, Bette Davis was immediately offered a multi-film contract by Universal Studios.
Answer: False
Explanation: Upon her arrival in Hollywood in 1930, Bette Davis was not met by Universal Studios personnel and failed her initial screen tests, indicating she was not immediately offered a contract.
Bette Davis's cinematic debut in *Bad Sister* (1931) was a major box office success.
Answer: False
Explanation: Bette Davis's cinematic debut in *Bad Sister* (1931) was not a success, and she even overheard disparaging comments about her screen presence.
After a year and six unsuccessful films, Bette Davis's contract with Universal Studios was renewed due to her promising talent.
Answer: False
Explanation: After a year and six unsuccessful films, Universal Studios did not renew Bette Davis's contract, and she was preparing to return to New York.
What was Bette Davis's birth name?
Answer: Ruth Elizabeth Davis
Explanation: Bette Davis was born Ruth Elizabeth Davis in Lowell, Massachusetts.
From what source did Ruth Elizabeth Davis change the spelling of her first name to 'Bette'?
Answer: A character from Honoré de Balzac's novel *La Cousine Bette*
Explanation: Ruth Elizabeth Davis adopted the name 'Bette' from a character in Honoré de Balzac's novel *La Cousine Bette*.
What was Bette Davis's father's profession after he completed law school?
Answer: A patent attorney
Explanation: Bette Davis's father, Harlow Morrell Davis, became a patent attorney after completing his legal education.
What inspired Bette Davis to pursue a career in theater?
Answer: A 1926 production of Henrik Ibsen's *The Wild Duck*
Explanation: Bette Davis's theatrical aspirations were ignited by a 1926 production of Henrik Ibsen's *The Wild Duck*, particularly the performance of Peg Entwistle.
What was Bette Davis's first paid acting assignment?
Answer: A one-week stint as a chorus girl in the play *Broadway*
Explanation: Bette Davis's initial paid acting engagement was a one-week role as a chorus girl in the play *Broadway*.
What was the initial reception Bette Davis received upon arriving in Hollywood in 1930?
Answer: She was not met by studio personnel and failed her first screen test.
Explanation: Upon her arrival in Hollywood in 1930, Bette Davis faced immediate rejection, failing her first screen test and being deemed not to 'look like an actress'.
Which film marked Bette Davis's cinematic debut?
Answer: *Bad Sister*
Explanation: Bette Davis's cinematic debut was in the 1931 film *Bad Sister*.
Who did Bette Davis credit with giving her a crucial 'break' in Hollywood after her initial struggles?
Answer: George Arliss
Explanation: Bette Davis credited actor George Arliss with providing her a crucial 'break' in Hollywood by casting her in *The Man Who Played God* after her initial struggles.
Bette Davis's first marriage to Harmon Oscar Nelson was free from public scrutiny and personal difficulties.
Answer: False
Explanation: Bette Davis's first marriage to Harmon Oscar Nelson was heavily scrutinized by the press due to income disparity and was marked by personal difficulties, including her having two abortions at his insistence.
The lifelong feud between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford began when Davis's film *Ex-Lady* was overshadowed by Crawford's divorce.
Answer: True
Explanation: The rivalry between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford originated in 1933 when the extensive press coverage of Crawford's divorce eclipsed Davis's film *Ex-Lady*.
Bette Davis won her first Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in *Of Human Bondage*.
Answer: False
Explanation: Bette Davis won her first Academy Award for Best Actress for *Dangerous*, though she considered it a 'consolation prize' for her work in *Of Human Bondage*.
Bette Davis claimed she named the Oscar statuette after her first husband, Harmon Oscar Nelson.
Answer: True
Explanation: Bette Davis famously claimed to have named the Academy Award statuette 'Oscar' due to its resemblance to her first husband, Harmon Oscar Nelson.
Bette Davis successfully broke her contract with Warner Bros. in 1936 after a favorable court ruling in Britain.
Answer: False
Explanation: Bette Davis's 1936 legal battle with Warner Bros. in Britain resulted in a ruling against her, and she was ordered to pay restitution.
Bette Davis won her second Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in *Jezebel*.
Answer: True
Explanation: Bette Davis received her second Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in *Jezebel* (1938).
David O. Selznick cast Bette Davis as Scarlett O'Hara in *Gone with the Wind* due to her public popularity.
Answer: False
Explanation: Despite public popularity, David O. Selznick did not consider Bette Davis suitable for the role of Scarlett O'Hara in *Gone with the Wind* and rejected Warner Bros.' offer to loan her out.
Bette Davis resigned as the first female president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences because she refused to be a 'figurehead only.'
Answer: True
Explanation: Bette Davis resigned from her position as the first female president of the Academy, stating her refusal to be merely a 'figurehead only' due to conflicts over her 'radical proposals'.
The Hollywood Canteen was founded by Bette Davis and Humphrey Bogart during World War II.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Hollywood Canteen was co-founded by Bette Davis and John Garfield, not Humphrey Bogart, during World War II.
Bette Davis cited her performance in *Dark Victory* (1939) as her personal favorite role.
Answer: True
Explanation: Bette Davis indeed identified her role as Judith Traherne in *Dark Victory* (1939) as her personal favorite performance.
During the filming of *Mr. Skeffington*, Bette Davis's mother passed away, causing her great distress.
Answer: False
Explanation: During the filming of *Mr. Skeffington*, Bette Davis's second husband, Arthur Farnsworth, died from a skull fracture, not her mother.
*A Stolen Life* (1946) was Bette Davis's only film where she played dual roles, and it was a critical and commercial failure.
Answer: False
Explanation: *A Stolen Life* (1946) was indeed her only film where she played dual roles, but it was a significant box office success despite poor reviews, not a failure.
In 1949, Bette Davis became the highest-paid woman in the United States.
Answer: True
Explanation: In 1949, Bette Davis's negotiated contract made her the highest-paid woman in the United States.
Bette Davis's first appearance in a Technicolor film was *Jezebel*.
Answer: False
Explanation: Bette Davis's first Technicolor film was *The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex* (1939), not *Jezebel*.
Bette Davis and director William Wyler maintained a close professional relationship throughout their careers after *Jezebel*.
Answer: False
Explanation: While Bette Davis described William Wyler as the 'love of my life,' they later clashed over her role in *The Little Foxes* and never collaborated again after *Jezebel*.
The iconic scene from *Now, Voyager* involves Bette Davis lighting a cigarette for Paul Henreid.
Answer: False
Explanation: The iconic scene from *Now, Voyager* features Paul Henreid lighting two cigarettes and passing one to Bette Davis, not the other way around.
What was a significant personal impact of Bette Davis's first marriage to Harmon Oscar Nelson?
Answer: Davis had two abortions at Nelson's insistence.
Explanation: A significant personal impact of Bette Davis's first marriage was her undergoing two abortions at Harmon Oscar Nelson's insistence, amidst public scrutiny over their income disparity.
What event sparked the lifelong feud between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford?
Answer: Crawford's divorce from Douglas Fairbanks Jr. overshadowed Davis's film *Ex-Lady*
Explanation: The lifelong feud between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford was ignited when the extensive press coverage of Crawford's divorce overshadowed Davis's film *Ex-Lady*.
Which film is considered Bette Davis's critical breakthrough, leading to a controversial Academy Award nomination process?
Answer: *Of Human Bondage*
Explanation: *Of Human Bondage* (1934) is widely regarded as Bette Davis's critical breakthrough, marked by a controversial Academy Award nomination process.
For which film did Bette Davis win her first Academy Award for Best Actress?
Answer: *Dangerous*
Explanation: Bette Davis secured her first Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in *Dangerous* (1935).
According to Bette Davis, what inspired her to name the Academy Award statuette 'Oscar'?
Answer: Its resemblance to her first husband, Harmon Oscar Nelson.
Explanation: Bette Davis claimed she named the Academy Award statuette 'Oscar' because its posterior resembled that of her first husband, Harmon Oscar Nelson.
What was the outcome of Bette Davis's 1936 legal battle with Warner Bros.?
Answer: Warner Bros. won the injunction, and Davis was ordered to pay restitution.
Explanation: Bette Davis lost her 1936 legal battle against Warner Bros., with the court ruling in favor of the studio and ordering her to pay restitution and legal fees.
For which film did Bette Davis win her second Academy Award for Best Actress?
Answer: *Jezebel*
Explanation: Bette Davis earned her second Academy Award for Best Actress for her compelling performance in *Jezebel* (1938).
Why was Bette Davis not cast as Scarlett O'Hara in *Gone with the Wind* despite public popularity?
Answer: David O. Selznick did not consider her suitable for the part.
Explanation: Despite public favor, David O. Selznick ultimately decided that Bette Davis was not suitable for the role of Scarlett O'Hara in *Gone with the Wind*.
What was the outcome of Bette Davis's tenure as the first female president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences?
Answer: She resigned after antagonizing committee members with her 'brash manner and radical proposals'.
Explanation: Bette Davis's presidency of the Academy was brief, as she resigned after alienating committee members with her 'brash manner and radical proposals,' refusing to be a mere 'figurehead'.
Who co-founded the Hollywood Canteen with Bette Davis during World War II?
Answer: John Garfield
Explanation: Bette Davis co-founded the Hollywood Canteen with actor John Garfield during World War II, providing entertainment and hospitality for servicemen.
Which of her performances did Bette Davis cite as her personal favorite role?
Answer: Judith Traherne in *Dark Victory*
Explanation: Bette Davis personally regarded her portrayal of Judith Traherne in *Dark Victory* (1939) as her favorite role.
What tragic event occurred during the production of *Mr. Skeffington* (1944) that affected Bette Davis?
Answer: Her second husband, Arthur Farnsworth, died from a skull fracture.
Explanation: During the filming of *Mr. Skeffington*, Bette Davis experienced the tragic death of her second husband, Arthur Farnsworth, due to a skull fracture.
What significant financial milestone did Bette Davis achieve in 1949?
Answer: She became the highest-paid woman in the United States with a salary of $10,285 per week.
Explanation: In 1949, Bette Davis achieved the financial milestone of becoming the highest-paid woman in the United States, earning $10,285 per week under a new contract.
Which film marked Bette Davis's first appearance in a Technicolor production?
Answer: *The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex*
Explanation: Bette Davis's first Technicolor film was *The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex* (1939).
What was Bette Davis's initial reaction to the role of Charlotte Vale in *Now, Voyager* (1942)?
Answer: She showed little interest until convinced by producer Hal Wallis.
Explanation: Bette Davis initially displayed minimal interest in the role of Charlotte Vale in *Now, Voyager* until persuaded by producer Hal Wallis, who emphasized the film's potential appeal to wartime audiences.
Bette Davis won an Academy Award for her performance as a fading Broadway star in *All About Eve* (1950).
Answer: False
Explanation: Bette Davis received an Academy Award *nomination* for her performance in *All About Eve* (1950), but she did not win the award for that specific role.
Bette Davis's adopted daughter, Margot Mosher Merrill, was diagnosed with a severe heart condition shortly after birth.
Answer: False
Explanation: Bette Davis's adopted daughter, Margot Mosher Merrill, was diagnosed as severely brain-damaged due to an injury sustained during or shortly after her birth, not a severe heart condition.
Bette Davis's role in *What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?* earned her her last Academy Award nomination and revitalized her career.
Answer: True
Explanation: Her role in *What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?* indeed earned Bette Davis her final Academy Award nomination and was instrumental in revitalizing her career.
Which film is often cited as Bette Davis's best performance, earning her multiple awards and nominations?
Answer: *All About Eve*
Explanation: *All About Eve* (1950) is frequently cited as Bette Davis's best performance, for which she received numerous awards and nominations.
What famous line is associated with Bette Davis's character Margo Channing in *All About Eve*?
Answer: "Fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy night."
Explanation: The iconic line, "Fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy night," is famously delivered by Bette Davis's character Margo Channing in *All About Eve*.
What health issue did Bette Davis face during her Broadway appearance in *Two's Company*?
Answer: Osteomyelitis of the jaw.
Explanation: During her Broadway run in *Two's Company*, Bette Davis suffered from osteomyelitis of the jaw, requiring surgery.
What tragic diagnosis did Bette Davis's adopted daughter Margot Mosher Merrill receive?
Answer: Severely brain-damaged due to an injury.
Explanation: Bette Davis's adopted daughter, Margot Mosher Merrill, was tragically diagnosed as severely brain-damaged due to an injury sustained around her birth.
What was the significance of Bette Davis's role as Jane Hudson in *What Ever Happened to Baby Jane*?
Answer: It earned her her last Academy Award nomination and revitalized her career.
Explanation: Bette Davis's role as Jane Hudson in *What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?* was pivotal, earning her a final Academy Award nomination and significantly revitalizing her career.
How did Joan Crawford reportedly slight Bette Davis at the 35th Academy Awards?
Answer: She arranged to accept the Best Actress Oscar on behalf of the absent winner, Anne Bancroft.
Explanation: At the 35th Academy Awards, Joan Crawford reportedly slighted Bette Davis by arranging to accept the Best Actress Oscar for the absent winner, Anne Bancroft.
What was the purpose of Bette Davis's famous advertisement in *Variety* in 1962?
Answer: To seek steady employment in Hollywood, intended as a joke.
Explanation: Bette Davis's 1962 *Variety* advertisement, humorously seeking steady employment, was intended as a joke to highlight her desire for new roles.
Bette Davis was the first woman to receive the AFI Lifetime Achievement Award.
Answer: True
Explanation: Bette Davis was indeed the first woman to be honored with the AFI Lifetime Achievement Award, among her many accolades.
In 1999, Bette Davis was ranked first on the American Film Institute's list of the greatest female stars of classic Hollywood cinema.
Answer: False
Explanation: In 1999, Bette Davis was ranked second on the American Film Institute's list of the greatest female stars, behind Katharine Hepburn.
Bette Davis publicly supported Christina Crawford's memoir *Mommie Dearest*, praising its honesty.
Answer: False
Explanation: Bette Davis publicly defended Joan Crawford against *Mommie Dearest*, calling the book 'detestable' and respecting Crawford's talent despite their rivalry.
Bette Davis disinherited her daughter B.D. Hyman after the publication of *My Mother's Keeper*.
Answer: True
Explanation: Deeply hurt by her daughter B.D. Hyman's memoir *My Mother's Keeper*, Bette Davis subsequently disinherited her.
Bette Davis considered Kim Carnes's song 'Bette Davis Eyes' to be an insult to her legacy.
Answer: False
Explanation: Bette Davis considered Kim Carnes's song 'Bette Davis Eyes' a compliment and proudly displayed the gold and platinum records she received for it.
Bette Davis's final complete cinematic role was in *The Whales of August* (1987).
Answer: True
Explanation: Bette Davis's final complete cinematic role was indeed in *The Whales of August* (1987), where she received positive reviews despite her declining health.
Bette Davis died of a heart attack in Los Angeles, California.
Answer: False
Explanation: Bette Davis died of metastasized breast cancer in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, and was buried in Los Angeles.
Bette Davis's tombstone bears the epitaph 'The Queen of Hollywood'.
Answer: False
Explanation: Bette Davis's tombstone is inscribed with the epitaph 'She did it the hard way'.
The Bette Davis Foundation was established by her daughter B.D. Hyman to manage her film archives.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Bette Davis Foundation was established by her son Michael Merrill and former assistant Kathryn Sermak to award college scholarships, not by B.D. Hyman to manage film archives.
Bette Davis was the first person to accrue 10 Academy Award nominations for acting.
Answer: True
Explanation: Bette Davis was indeed the first individual to accumulate 10 Academy Award nominations for acting.
Steven Spielberg purchased Bette Davis's Academy Awards to keep them in his private collection.
Answer: False
Explanation: Steven Spielberg purchased Bette Davis's Academy Awards at auction but subsequently returned them to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, rather than keeping them in his private collection.
Bette Davis's final film performance was in *Wicked Stepmother*, where she completed all her scenes despite health issues.
Answer: False
Explanation: Bette Davis's final film performance was in *Wicked Stepmother*, but she walked off the set due to disagreements and declining health, not completing all her scenes.
Which significant award did Bette Davis receive, making her the first woman to do so?
Answer: The AFI Lifetime Achievement Award
Explanation: Bette Davis was the first woman to receive the AFI Lifetime Achievement Award, a testament to her enduring impact on cinema.
What was Bette Davis's ranking on the American Film Institute's list of the greatest female stars of classic Hollywood cinema in 1999?
Answer: Second
Explanation: In 1999, Bette Davis was ranked second on the American Film Institute's list of the greatest female stars of classic Hollywood cinema, behind Katharine Hepburn.
What was Bette Davis's reaction to Christina Crawford's memoir *Mommie Dearest*?
Answer: She defended Joan Crawford and called the book 'detestable.'
Explanation: Bette Davis publicly defended Joan Crawford against Christina Crawford's memoir *Mommie Dearest*, calling the book 'detestable' and expressing respect for Crawford's talent.
What caused the deterioration of Bette Davis's relationship with her daughter B.D. Hyman?
Answer: B.D. became a born-again Christian and later published a negative memoir about Davis.
Explanation: The deterioration of Bette Davis's relationship with her daughter B.D. Hyman was primarily caused by Hyman's conversion to born-again Christianity and the subsequent publication of a negative memoir about Davis.
How did Bette Davis respond to Kim Carnes's hit song 'Bette Davis Eyes'?
Answer: She considered it a compliment and proudly displayed the gold and platinum records she received.
Explanation: Bette Davis viewed Kim Carnes's hit song 'Bette Davis Eyes' as a compliment, proudly displaying the gold and platinum records she received.
What was Bette Davis's final complete cinematic role?
Answer: *The Whales of August*
Explanation: Bette Davis's final complete cinematic role was in the 1987 drama *The Whales of August*.
What was Bette Davis's cause of death?
Answer: Metastasized breast cancer
Explanation: Bette Davis died from metastasized breast cancer at the age of 81.
What epitaph is inscribed on Bette Davis's tombstone?
Answer: "She did it the hard way"
Explanation: Bette Davis's tombstone bears the epitaph: 'She did it the hard way,' a phrase she attributed to Joseph L. Mankiewicz.
Who were the primary beneficiaries of Bette Davis's estate after her death?
Answer: Her adopted son, Michael Merrill, and her personal assistant, Kathryn Sermak.
Explanation: Bette Davis's estate was primarily bequeathed to her adopted son, Michael Merrill, and her personal assistant, Kathryn Sermak, with her daughters excluded from the will.
Which of the following performers has NOT surpassed Bette Davis's record of 10 acting nominations?
Answer: Laurence Olivier
Explanation: While Meryl Streep, Katharine Hepburn, and Jack Nicholson have surpassed Bette Davis's record of 10 acting nominations, Laurence Olivier matched it but did not surpass it.
What did Steven Spielberg do with Bette Davis's Academy Award statuettes that he purchased at auction?
Answer: He returned them to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Explanation: Steven Spielberg, after purchasing Bette Davis's Academy Awards at auction, commendably returned them to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
What was Bette Davis's reported comment upon hearing of Joan Crawford's death?
Answer: "You should never say bad things about the dead... Joan Crawford is dead. Good."
Explanation: Upon learning of Joan Crawford's death, Bette Davis famously remarked, "You should never say bad things about the dead... Joan Crawford is dead. Good.", reflecting their enduring rivalry.
Bette Davis was primarily known for her willingness to portray unsympathetic and sardonic characters.
Answer: True
Explanation: Bette Davis was recognized for her distinctive acting style, often choosing to portray unsympathetic and sardonic characters across various film genres.
Bette Davis's public persona was characterized by a shy and reserved demeanor, which she maintained throughout her career.
Answer: False
Explanation: Bette Davis's public persona was characterized by a forceful and combative nature, a stark contrast to a shy and reserved demeanor.
Charles Laughton advised Bette Davis to avoid challenging roles to maintain her established star image.
Answer: False
Explanation: Charles Laughton advised Bette Davis to continually attempt roles that she thought were beyond her, encouraging her to take on challenging parts to grow in her profession.
Graham Greene praised Bette Davis's acting in 1936, stating he would 'rather watch Miss Davis than any number of competent pictures.'
Answer: True
Explanation: In 1936, Graham Greene indeed expressed a preference for watching Bette Davis over numerous competent films, highlighting her unique appeal.
Bette Davis believed that to become a star in her profession, one had to be known as a 'monster' who fought for the good of the film.
Answer: True
Explanation: Bette Davis articulated a philosophy that achieving stardom in her profession often required being perceived as a 'monster,' but she clarified this was always in service of the film's quality.
By the mid-1940s, Bette Davis's acting style was universally acclaimed without any critical reservations.
Answer: False
Explanation: By the mid-1940s, Bette Davis's acting style, while compelling, was sometimes criticized as mannered and histrionic, leading to caricatures.
For what type of characters was Bette Davis primarily known as an actress?
Answer: Unsympathetic and sardonic characters
Explanation: Bette Davis was primarily known for her willingness to portray unsympathetic and sardonic characters, a distinctive aspect of her acting style.
What advice did Charles Laughton give Bette Davis that influenced her career?
Answer: To continually attempt things that she thought were beyond her.
Explanation: Charles Laughton's influential advice to Bette Davis was to continually challenge herself with roles she perceived as beyond her capabilities, fostering professional growth.
What distinguished Bette Davis's film choices from many of her contemporaries?
Answer: She actively sought roles as manipulators and killers, prioritizing authenticity over glamour.
Explanation: Bette Davis distinguished herself by actively seeking unconventional roles, often portraying manipulators and killers, and prioritizing authenticity over conventional glamour.