Grande donna 😊immensa attrice, graziosa autoironica 😊come Bette Davis nessuno più.....mai!!!! Riposa in Pace ☮️ cara ❤ l' Italia saluta tutti cordialmente 🤚
I lived in Paris in the late 80s early 90s and would watch Frederic Mitterand’s ciné stars programs late at night and they were the most wonderful interviews and homages to great stars of cinema I have ever seen! He was a passionate, articulate, intelligent and charming interviewer and there was no one like him. His interview with Arletty from that period was also superb. He also adored Dietrich. You can see he is completely enthralled, amused and touched by Miss Davis. He had a deep respect for cinema and for the artists that worked in it. Apart from the unnecessary presence of Kathryn Sermack here from a technical and professional point of view (Sermack correcting her constantly and picking at her clothes on camera) - and the out of context clips from the Brando Julius Caesar and strange references to Wagner and “sexy” Reynolds, I adore this interview and the high production values. An interview of this class and calibre would never happen in the United States or the Anglosphere. It’s a very Gallic production in every way. Magnifique indeed!
I was a traveling companion to Miss Davis in 1988 for the book tour of “This N That”. , I sat in the green room and watched as Frederic Mitterrand interviewed Kathryn and Miss Davis! Kathryn’s command of the French language was perfect! We all went for a beautiful dinner after the show. The late couture designer, Patrick Kelly, also joined us. Bette Davis was the absolute consummate professional. She always showed up, never complained about a demanding schedule..even during serious health issues. It was truly a privilege being in her company.
How fabulous that they got a pianist to play "Now Voyager" theme live in the studio with Miss Davis there in person. The way the interview is interlaced with these soundtracks from Davis's films you'd never see that in an American chat show. It's so chivalrous and elegant. the whole Mitterand production has such a Gallic ambience to it all. I think it's so touching and so stunning. The look on Bette's face as he's playing is priceless. I'm waiting for her to stand up and shout: "Thiiiiissss is toooooooo much!!! E....nough!"
Kathryn Sermak was Bette's personal ANGEL, no question. She really respected and loved her (no small feat for she was a notoriously "difficult person". Kathy made her feel young and she was "there" for her
Kathryn Stermak is stunningly beautiful. Both in the inside as in the outside. I loved her memoirs about her years with Miss D. Those are really 2 great ladies.
I haven't read her memoirs but would love to. Many of these Hollywood backstage books are hard to get these days as they're out of print and the shipping charges (if you don't live in the United States) are horrendous. I can see Bette getting frustrated sometimes when Katherine interrupts or corrects her. It's quite unusual to have a handler or co-author on stage with a big star, and it almost feels a little awkward. I'm not sure of the point of her being there, since Frederic Mitterand is translating anyway and Davis clearly doesn't like sharing the limelight.
@@stmichl9433correct. Sernack shouldn’t have been there and was unnecessary. But then again she could only be there had Davis agreed so I’m not sure why Bette felt the need to have her there? So strange. Maybe her illness made her feel insecure. By that stage Seneca was doing everything for her, which is all recounted in Miss D and Me. The book she authored. There is a point early on where she picks something off Bette’s dress and Bette just looks at her with such daggers, which I would too. Clearly, she didn’t like being upstaged or Molly coddled and was THE BiG STAR till the end. Kathryn should’ve known better, really.
It's strange. This is shortly before she died. Maybe it's the rosy head-on lighting on her face, but she looks kind of robust and healthy relative to the way she appeared in her last few years.
Yes she really did look wonderful here. It’s the makeup, costuming and lighting which were all excellent. They did very well here to make her up so well, considering her age and what she had been through.
👍🥂 I didn’t quite understand why the Brando & Arletty clips were used. I would rather they had used more clips from Miss Davis’ movies, but there you go. In any case, it was wonderful to see & hear her again in this interview format. Thank you so much for posting them.
I agree that the Brando clip was completely out of context and unnecessary and the look on her face shows that. They also played such a long clip it was unbearable and took away from the interview. The cut away to Jeanne Moreau was also unnecessary. I also didn’t quite understand the reference to Burt Reynolds who really isn’t of the calibre in terms of any beacon of acting to mention alongside Miss Davis. All she could say was he was “very sexy.” What could she say? He was hardly a Laurence Olivier! I also didn’t think they needed Kathryn Sermack there. I understand Kathryn was wonderful to her but still, she didn’t belong in the interview. It’s distracting. Appearing on TV with your assistant seems kind of démodé or déclassé to me. But then again, Davis was very old here and probably felt more secure having an assistant at hand to assist her in case of translation or other problems. Having said that, Mitterrand did all the translating anyway so she was superfluous. But I did like the book “Miss D and Me” about their friendship which Sermack wrote. In any event, a stunning production overall especially the musical score interspersed through the interview which was gorgeous. I love Frederic Mitterrand such a gallant and old school interviewer - a true cinephile in the French tradition.
I'm not so sure the comments about Burt Reynolds and Robert Wagner still hold up, but I get why Bette is saying what she's saying: By the 80s, many leading men weren't of the calibre as they had been in Davis's golden years of Hollywood. Burt Reynolds was never considered a great actor, and was just a sex symbol. He ended up very B-grade and Robert Wagner's reputation ended up tainted (for right or for wrong) by the death of Natalie Wood
*Kathryn Sermak latched on to Bette Davis, frail and needy, and rode that gravy train to the last station. Shameful. It should be illegal for caretakers and employees of the elderly to become beneficiaries of their wills or life insurance*
I knew Kathryn Sermak and she was devoted to Miss Davis. I could see if one was from afar that they might have the perception that you describe, but over countless glasses of wine and knowing Kathryn, she was genuine in her kindness, respect and reverence for Miss Davis, whom she clearly cared for. I truly believe they were a gift to each other -
@@collenekennedy I'm glad to hear that ... but still find it unethical for someone hired as a caregiver to find their way into a beneficiary position with regard to estate or life insurance. Personal feelings aside, they are an employee who is compensated for a specific job. *They are in fact hired to be devoted to someone* . It is an intimate role, by definition, which might lead to a false sense of obligation by an elderly, perhaps enfeebled and lonely person nearing the end of their life. Current law doesn't support my position in most places, I'm suggesting it should which would prevent a lot of elderly being preyed upon which we know happens frequently even if, as you suggest, that was not the case here. My own mother died recently at 97. You would be surprised how many caregivers quickly turned their daily chit chat to the topic of personal finance and assets. Fortunately my mother saw through them, but many her age would not have that capacity. It's more widespread than people imagine.
@@BernardProfitendieu Miss Davis was perfectly lucid until the end and I always find is sad when people look at people like her as somehow frail and unable to make adult decisions - it's beyond patronising; Miss Sermak worked closely with her for many years and from what we saw and very much what Miss Davis repeatedly made clear, was an enormous help and one of the primary reasons she recovered from a period of terrible health and personal challenge, even when she moved on to work elsewhere, their relationship became one of friendship and companionship. Miss Davis was perfectly entitled, after what she went through in the final decade of her life - and the ordeal she was put through by her cretinous 'daughter', to make both her son Michael, and Kathryn Sermak beneficiaries of her will and estate - the latter of which has been very well looked after by both of them in the many decades since Miss Davis passed away. It is very sad that you would use this as an opportunity to be so crude and cruel in your accusations towards Miss Sermak and I'm more intrigued as to what fuels your bitterness towards this woman. Having said that, I'd certainly expect B.D to make some sort of appearance on a YT posting by Kathryn, so perhaps we should say 'hello B.D'???
Grande donna 😊immensa attrice, graziosa autoironica 😊come Bette Davis nessuno più.....mai!!!! Riposa in Pace ☮️ cara ❤ l' Italia saluta tutti cordialmente 🤚
Great actress !
I lived in Paris in the late 80s early 90s and would watch Frederic Mitterand’s ciné stars programs late at night and they were the most wonderful interviews and homages to great stars of cinema I have ever seen! He was a passionate, articulate, intelligent and charming interviewer and there was no one like him. His interview with Arletty from that period was also superb. He also adored Dietrich. You can see he is completely enthralled, amused and touched by Miss Davis. He had a deep respect for cinema and for the artists that worked in it. Apart from the unnecessary presence of Kathryn Sermack here from a technical and professional point of view (Sermack correcting her constantly and picking at her clothes on camera) - and the out of context clips from the Brando Julius Caesar and strange references to Wagner and “sexy” Reynolds, I adore this interview and the high production values. An interview of this class and calibre would never happen in the United States or the Anglosphere. It’s a very Gallic production in every way. Magnifique indeed!
I was a traveling companion to Miss Davis in 1988 for the book tour of “This N That”. , I sat in the green room and watched as Frederic Mitterrand interviewed Kathryn and Miss Davis! Kathryn’s command of the French language was perfect!
We all went for a beautiful dinner after the show. The late couture designer, Patrick Kelly, also joined us.
Bette Davis was the absolute consummate professional. She always showed up, never complained about a demanding schedule..even during serious health issues. It was truly a privilege being in her company.
How fabulous that they got a pianist to play "Now Voyager" theme live in the studio with Miss Davis there in person. The way the interview is interlaced with these soundtracks from Davis's films you'd never see that in an American chat show. It's so chivalrous and elegant. the whole Mitterand production has such a Gallic ambience to it all. I think it's so touching and so stunning. The look on Bette's face as he's playing is priceless. I'm waiting for her to stand up and shout: "Thiiiiissss is toooooooo much!!! E....nough!"
Love how cute she looks with her glasses ☺️😍
Just wonderful. Three great people together Bette, Kathryn and Patrick. What a wonderful programme. Thank you for this.
Kathryn Sermak was Bette's personal ANGEL, no question. She really respected and loved her (no small feat for she was a notoriously "difficult person". Kathy made her feel young and she was "there" for her
Kathryn Stermak is stunningly beautiful. Both in the inside as in the outside. I loved her memoirs about her years with Miss D. Those are really 2 great ladies.
I haven't read her memoirs but would love to. Many of these Hollywood backstage books are hard to get these days as they're out of print and the shipping charges (if you don't live in the United States) are horrendous. I can see Bette getting frustrated sometimes when Katherine interrupts or corrects her. It's quite unusual to have a handler or co-author on stage with a big star, and it almost feels a little awkward. I'm not sure of the point of her being there, since Frederic Mitterand is translating anyway and Davis clearly doesn't like sharing the limelight.
@@stmichl9433correct. Sernack shouldn’t have been there and was unnecessary. But then again she could only be there had Davis agreed so I’m not sure why Bette felt the need to have her there? So strange. Maybe her illness made her feel insecure. By that stage Seneca was doing everything for her, which is all recounted in Miss D and Me. The book she authored. There is a point early on where she picks something off Bette’s dress and Bette just looks at her with such daggers, which I would too. Clearly, she didn’t like being upstaged or Molly coddled and was THE BiG STAR till the end. Kathryn should’ve known better, really.
It's strange. This is shortly before she died. Maybe it's the rosy head-on lighting on her face, but she looks kind of robust and healthy relative to the way she appeared in her last few years.
Yes she really did look wonderful here. It’s the makeup, costuming and lighting which were all excellent. They did very well here to make her up so well, considering her age and what she had been through.
👍🥂 I didn’t quite understand why the Brando & Arletty clips were used. I would rather they had used more clips from Miss Davis’ movies, but there you go. In any case, it was wonderful to see & hear her again in this interview format. Thank you so much for posting them.
I agree that the Brando clip was completely out of context and unnecessary and the look on her face shows that. They also played such a long clip it was unbearable and took away from the interview. The cut away to Jeanne Moreau was also unnecessary. I also didn’t quite understand the reference to Burt Reynolds who really isn’t of the calibre in terms of any beacon of acting to mention alongside Miss Davis. All she could say was he was “very sexy.” What could she say? He was hardly a Laurence Olivier! I also didn’t think they needed Kathryn Sermack there. I understand Kathryn was wonderful to her but still, she didn’t belong in the interview. It’s distracting. Appearing on TV with your assistant seems kind of démodé or déclassé to me. But then again, Davis was very old here and probably felt more secure having an assistant at hand to assist her in case of translation or other problems. Having said that, Mitterrand did all the translating anyway so she was superfluous. But I did like the book “Miss D and Me” about their friendship which Sermack wrote.
In any event, a stunning production overall especially the musical score interspersed through the interview which was gorgeous. I love Frederic Mitterrand such a gallant and old school interviewer - a true cinephile in the French tradition.
I'm not so sure the comments about Burt Reynolds and Robert Wagner still hold up, but I get why Bette is saying what she's saying: By the 80s, many leading men weren't of the calibre as they had been in Davis's golden years of Hollywood. Burt Reynolds was never considered a great actor, and was just a sex symbol. He ended up very B-grade and Robert Wagner's reputation ended up tainted (for right or for wrong) by the death of Natalie Wood
*Kathryn Sermak latched on to Bette Davis, frail and needy, and rode that gravy train to the last station. Shameful. It should be illegal for caretakers and employees of the elderly to become beneficiaries of their wills or life insurance*
I knew Kathryn Sermak and she was devoted to Miss Davis. I could see if one was from afar that they might have the perception that you describe, but over countless glasses of wine and knowing Kathryn, she was genuine in her kindness, respect and reverence for Miss Davis, whom she clearly cared for. I truly believe they were a gift to each other -
@@collenekennedy I'm glad to hear that ... but still find it unethical for someone hired as a caregiver to find their way into a beneficiary position with regard to estate or life insurance. Personal feelings aside, they are an employee who is compensated for a specific job. *They are in fact hired to be devoted to someone* . It is an intimate role, by definition, which might lead to a false sense of obligation by an elderly, perhaps enfeebled and lonely person nearing the end of their life. Current law doesn't support my position in most places, I'm suggesting it should which would prevent a lot of elderly being preyed upon which we know happens frequently even if, as you suggest, that was not the case here.
My own mother died recently at 97. You would be surprised how many caregivers quickly turned their daily chit chat to the topic of personal finance and assets. Fortunately my mother saw through them, but many her age would not have that capacity. It's more widespread than people imagine.
That is Well and BEAUTIFULLY Stated!! Victoria Winters ❄️.🐞🍼🧃🥤🥙🥗🍕🍖🥫
@@BernardProfitendieu Miss Davis was perfectly lucid until the end and I always find is sad when people look at people like her as somehow frail and unable to make adult decisions - it's beyond patronising; Miss Sermak worked closely with her for many years and from what we saw and very much what Miss Davis repeatedly made clear, was an enormous help and one of the primary reasons she recovered from a period of terrible health and personal challenge, even when she moved on to work elsewhere, their relationship became one of friendship and companionship. Miss Davis was perfectly entitled, after what she went through in the final decade of her life - and the ordeal she was put through by her cretinous 'daughter', to make both her son Michael, and Kathryn Sermak beneficiaries of her will and estate - the latter of which has been very well looked after by both of them in the many decades since Miss Davis passed away. It is very sad that you would use this as an opportunity to be so crude and cruel in your accusations towards Miss Sermak and I'm more intrigued as to what fuels your bitterness towards this woman. Having said that, I'd certainly expect B.D to make some sort of appearance on a YT posting by Kathryn, so perhaps we should say 'hello B.D'???
@@MarthaMansbridge are you an imbecile or merely a moron? are you comfortable sharing the specific diagnosis?