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In the 1950s, Bette Davis was one of the world's largest stars. However, this demanding actress will be impressed by the talent of one of her sisters from Italy, making her the most beautiful compliments.
Sacred monster of classic Hollywood cinema, Bette Davis played in more than 120 cinematographic and television productions. A demanding and committed artist, she notably won 2 Oscars for the best actress for her performances in the Intruse in 1936 and the rebellious in 1939.
Disappeared in 1989 at the age of 81, she had received 3 years earlier a César of Honor for her entire career. According to Collider,, “Bette Davis was renowned for his greed (or his wickedness, according to sources) in compliments and had the reputation of being a perfectionist.”
For this great lady, the flattery, very little for her. This is why this anecdote about Anna Magnani is very interesting. According to an article from MumaBette Davis was fascinated by the Italian actress, muse of neo-realism and star of great classics like Rome, open city and the amore of Roberto Rossellini or the gold carriage of Jean Renoir.
A compliment that goes straight to the heart
In 1955, Anna Magnani, the Italian cinema wolf, made her first steps in Hollywood in the tattooed rose drama, alongside Burt Lancaster. His performance earned him the Oscar for best actress in 1956. Three years before, in 1953, Bette Davis invited her consumer to take tea upon her arrival in the United States.
This is where Hollywood legend has publicly proclaimed all her admiration for Anna Magnani: “It is the greatest actress that I have ever seen”she had chanted. For a perfectionist artist stinging with compliments, these words were worth his weight in gold, especially since Bette Davis was surely one of the biggest stars in the world at the time.
The future therefore agreed to him because Magnani gleaned the famous golden statuette for the tattooed rose, corroborating the benevolent lyrics of Bette Davis. However, the Italian artist had first refused the role, preferring to improve in English before accepting to play in the cinema adaptation of this play by Tennessee Williams.
An overwhelming story
Indeed, Anna Magnani had already interpreted on the boards the character of Serafina delle pink in the Italian version of the tattooed rose in the early 1950s. After improving her English, she accepted the offer of Tennessee Williams and director Daniel Mann to resume her role in the American version on the big screen.
The story therefore presents Serafina, a woman who becomes a recluse following the unexpected death of her husband. In the cinema adaptation, Anna Magnani far exceeds the expectations of the time in terms of interpretation, addressing the role with the authenticity that characterizes it.
“The way she portrays the tragedy of her character is really earth on earth, using all her body to express her despair, while keeping surprisingly subtle movements, as if she did not completely control her sorrow. Indeed, Magnani is simply extraordinary throughout the journey of her character, who goes from the status of a woman overwhelmed with sorrow to that of a woman capable of finding love”Collider analysis.
The tattooed rose is available in Blu-ray and DVD.
