Available on Disney + Star, Ryan Murphy's "Feud" series looks back on the ego war between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, two figures from the golden age of Hollywood. Do not miss.
" Dispute is a Hollywood word", wrote Bette Davis in This' n That, his memoirs published in 1987. A quote that could, in just a few words, summarize Feud, a series released 30 years later. Before rewriting the history of cinema in Hollywood, Ryan Murphy was interested in the rivalry between two icons: Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. Known for their strong character and their many demands, the two actresses meet on the set of Robert Aldrich's film, What Happened to Baby Jane ?. It was in 1962. Behind the scenes as on the set, they engage in a merciless confrontation where all the blows are allowed.
In 8 episodes, Feud returns to this legendary disagreement - which greatly contributed to the cult status of the film -, but also to a whole system that encourages competition between women, often shelved after a certain age. To interpret this duo, who other than two Oscar-winning and equally talented actresses? Ryan Murphy entrusts this mission to Jessica Lange and Susan Sarandon. On screen, they reproduce the same vocal intonations and the same gestures as their models. The precision of their interpretations is such that several videos on the Web compare the scenes of the series to the archive images. The result is stunning.
Discover the video which compares the sequences of Feud to real events:Ideal for enthusiasts, the series becomes really relevant when it goes beyond the framework of cinema and tackles heavier subjects, the first being misogyny. Rich, famous, untouchable, and yet. Feud demonstrates that, despite their power, actresses are subject to the dictates of the big studios and those who run them. An oppression reserved for women. If the rivalry between the two stars is treated as a comic spring At first glance, the ambient sexism, common thread of the series, takes precedence over the intrigue, to the point of creating a stifling atmosphere.
Alongside Jessica Lange and Susan Sarandon, Ryan Murphy has assembled a golden cast. Thus, Stanley Tucci plays the boss of Warner, Jack Warner, Kathy Bates plays Joan Blondell and Alfred Molina, him, the director Robert Aldrich. Sarah Paulson, a regular at the showrunner's productions, appears for a few seconds, in Geraldine Page. For her part, Catherine Zeta-Jones lends her features to the great Olivia de Havilland. The latter, unhappy with the image she returns in the series, sues the American channel FX and Ryan Murphy for " attack on dignity The Hollywood actress finally loses her trial. When one quarrel spawns another.
