Product Description

Bette Davis Collection Volume 1 includes 2 new-to-DVD classics, featuring Davis in her ninth Academy Award nominated role as movie queen Margaret Elliot whose popularity and fortune has ended. In MR. SKEFFINGTON, Davis portrays Fanny, a beauty who has used her looks to manipulate her way through life. But now diphtheria has robbed her of her only attribute. And without her looks, she’s lost. NOW, VOYAGER stars Davis' magical portrayal of Charlotte Vale, a spinster who defies her domineering mother (fellow Oscar nominee Gladys Cooper) to discover love, heartbreak and eventual contentment. In DARK VICTORY, Bette Davis delivers a bravura, moving-but-never-morbid performance as Judith Traherne, a dying heiress determined to find happiness in her few remaining months. THE LETTER, a peerless example of melodrama as movie art, stars Davis as an adulterer using her sexual wiles to escape a murder conviction.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2034 in DVD
• Brand: Warner Brothers
• Released on: 2008-04-01
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Box set, Black & White, Closed-captioned, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 5
• Running time: 553 minutes

Customer Reviews

dazzling Davis!
This is actually a re-packaged version of the first Warners' Bette Davis set (previously available as The Bette Davis Collection (The Star / Mr. Skeffington / Dark Victory / Now, Voyager / The Letter)). 2008 will mark Bette Davis's 100th birthday, and Warner Bros. is celebrating by re-releasing their first two Davis DVD box sets in brand-new packaging, to accompany the new third volume.

The set includes:

NOW, VOYAGER - Based on the novel by Olive Higgins Prouty. Charlotte Vale (Davis) flees her mother's suffocating grip and finds romance with a handsome divorcee (Paul Henreid). Co-starring Claude Rains and Gladys Cooper. Extra features: music scoring sessions.

MR. SKEFFINGTON - Based on a story by "Elizabeth". Davis shines as Fanny Trellis, a vain and self-centered beauty who only learns the lesson of true love after suffering the ravages of diphtheria. Extra features: "Mr. Skeffington - A Picture of Strength" documentary, and audio commentary by director Vincent Sherman.

THE STAR - Alcoholic washed-up diva Margaret Elliot (Davis) is saved by a former co-star (Sterling Hayden) and discovers a life beyond the false facade of Hollywood. Davis plays a thinly-veiled caricature of Joan Crawford! Extra features: "How Real is The Star?" documentary.

THE LETTER - Based on the novel by Somerset Maugham. Davis is Leslie Crosbie, a woman guilty of murdering her lover in cold blood. Although she later gets acquitted of the crime, vengeance is only a heartbeat away. Extra features: alternate ending, plus two Lux Theater radio presentations.

DARK VICTORY - Davis plays afflicted Judith Traherne, in a stirring portrait of courage under fire. A millionairess faced with a bleak prognosis, Judith decides to spend her final days with no regrets. Extra features: "1939 - Tough Competition for Dark Victory" documentary, plus audio commentary with James Ursini and Paul Clinton.

If you already own the previous release, there's no need to upgrade; it's the exact same content we had for the previous edition. Happy Birthday, Miss Davis!

Fabulous set!
Another great set with great features. What else can we hope for but a new Davis set?

If your a fan of Bette Davis you need this collection of 4 of her movies.
Mrs. Skeffington is a women who is more concerned about her looks than about anyone else in her family..husband or child. Bette Davis's portrail of Mrs. Skeffinton, will make you hate her and thank goodness in the end she wakes up in time to realize what a wonderful husband Joe is . Claude Rains, is so wonderful as Joe Skeffington..I enjoyed this film very much.

Now Voyager, is just wonderful and Bette Davis is great as Charlotte Vale. An old maid who is really homely & fat...turns into a beautiful woman. On a cruise she meets and falls in love with a handsome man played by Paul Hendried..I've seen this films many times and each time I like it more and more.. as they say it's a 3 handkerchief picture and women can understand it better than a man. Guess its because we are more sentimental than men.