Season 1 of Feud takes an in-depth look into the famous hatred between Hollywood legends Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, what really happened on set of Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? But the pair were a lot similar than you may think!
With all the action taking place over eight episodes that is plenty of time to really look into this famous feud and battle between two actresses. Both of which had the same goal really of continuing to get work in advancing years. It all did feel like such a shame that they didn’t actually work together as it really did feel like they could have been very good for each other. They could have been a force together but instead battling against one another.
We get to see how the studios and directors used to treat women and it was tough as they got older. Which I guess is something that is still difficult now actually getting good roles as they get older and not just being the mother in a film! That does make it rather sad to think about really that not much has actually changed since the 1960s!
I guess it does highlight how the studios work differently now though as this mentions when they were signed to studios and had to make so many films. Whereas now that doesn’t really seem to happen, I guess the closest to that is when actors sign up for a series of films.
This series is filled with so many outstanding performances. Susan Sarandon and Jessica Lange due incredible jobs in the leading roles and they are so engaging from start to finish. Each of them really taking on the legend and becoming them, I actually got to the point where I forgot I was actually watching a TV series and not just behind the scenes footage, that is the biggest compliment I can give it all really. Add in my personal favourite Catherine Zeta Jones who pops up every now and then as Olivia de Havilland who is often with Kathy Bates as Joan Blondell who are telling the story and things that happened between the pair.
The series is very female heavy but we do get two outstanding male performances from Alfred Molina and Stanley Tucci. I guess that is no surprise really as they are both fantastic actors. They really did add a little more to different scenes and I thought they had brilliant characters to portray as well which made it all even better.
I remember wanting to see this when first hearing about it and it took quite a while for it to come across to the UK. It was then screened on BBC Two over the Christmas period, I waited for all of the episodes to become available as I think it is better to be able to continue onto the next one now, I totally blame Netflix and binge watching for that! But it really is well worth a watch for the fantastic performances around a time that has long gone in Hollywood and the legends feuding with one another!
I really enjoyed the series. As you say, the acting and script were very good. And those costumes were amazing. I stayed up until 3.30am to watch the whole thing. And I hardly ever do that.
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That’s brilliant! I so could have done that as well!
I am not too impressed with season two being about Princess Diana and Prince Charles mind.
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I agree with you. I probably won’t watch that. Although I might peek at the first episode and see if anything draws me in.
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Yeah, it just seems as though it will be very bad taste that so many people involved in that are still alive. I kinda felt that way about season 2 of The Crown in all honesty, the way it really laid into Prince Phillip (even more than season 1).
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I was so impressed when I watched this show 🙂
Here’s my review: https://wp.me/p2DYTl-RT
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Thanks, I’ll check it out!
I am not impressed what they are having as season 2!
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It’s a terrific show…did you see the story I posted about Olivia de Havilland’s lawsuit? She says the stuff with her- played beautifully by Catherine Zeta-Jones – isn’t true and she sued them! – https://johnrieber.com/2017/06/30/olivia-de-havillands-big-feud-with-the-makers-of-the-hit-show/
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Oh wow, I guess that’s what happens when someone is still alive when making something like this.
I am really not looking forward to season 2 and find it very bad taste.
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The Princess Diana story? Agree. Also, they just did a “crime story” about Versace which also seems in poor taste…these tragedies are being dredged up as “entertainment”
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Yeah Princess Diana with Prince Charles, I mean come on how are the Prince’s going to feel about all of that!
I even felt the latest season of The Crown was too much really the way it lays into Prince Phillip.
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That’s a good point….I love the show but they did focus on him quite a bit – it seemed not to really give us a real sense of what The Queen does all day…I was lucky enough to work with Prince Edward on a TV project in 2000 and I got to go into Buckingham Palace several times…the Queen’s little dogs would run down the hall right by the office I was meeting in!
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That’s amazing!!!
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Yes, it was a memorable experience to be sure! Prince Edward was a charming, polite co-worker!
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I loved this one, too! Sarandon and Lange were amazing.
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I’ve got What ever happened to Baby Jane ready to watch!
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