Bette Davis and Mary Astor movies make up one of Old Hollywood’s smallest but most satisfying star pairings. Though the two actresses only appeared together in two feature films — and separated by more than two decades, nonetheless — the few times they appeared on screen together made their films something to remember.
It’s always fun to watch two intelligent actresses spar opposite one another. To see Davis and Astor, two of the greatest stars of the Golden Age of Hollywood, do it is a treat indeed.
Below, you’ll find the duo’s two film collaborations ranked from worst to best. However, it should be noted that there is no “bad” movie. Both movies are must-watches, especially for those who are already fans of Astor and Davis individually!
2. Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964)
Genre: Mystery
Starring: Bette Davis, Olivia de Havilland, Joseph Cotten, Mary Astor, Agnes Moorehead
Directed by: Robert Aldrich
There should be more Bette Davis and Mary Astor movies. At least we have these two excellent films.
Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte is a Southern Gothic psychological thriller that is built around a decaying mansion, an unsolved long-ago murder, and a woman who has become trapped by decades of suspicion.
Davis plays Charlotte Hollis, a woman who has lived in isolation since the brutal death of John Mayhew, her married lover. Many townspeople still believe, even after all this time, that she committed the crime.
When authorities decide to demolish her old family estate in order to build a new highway, Charlotte refuses to leave. She calls on her polished cousin Miriam Deering (de Havilland) to come down and help her. Dr. Drew Bayliss (Cotten) and Charlotte’s fiercely protective housekeeper Velma Cruther (Moorehead) are also drawn into the conflict.
Astor has a small supporting role in Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte as Jewel Mayhew, John’s widow, a now-old woman who remains connected to the crime — and the ongoing scandal that has influenced Charlotte’s life.
This 1964 film seamlessly blends family melodrama with mystery and horror. Davis is, of course, phenomenal as she plays Charlotte to an operatic degree. Astor, meanwhile, has a much smaller guest role. Yet, even in her final significant screen role, Astor plays Jewel Mayhew with a brilliant degree of weariness.
For fans of Davis and Astor, Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte should be watched at the next available opportunity.
Best for those who love Southern Gothic stories, haunted house atmospheres, and grand Hollywood horror performances with hints of camp.
1. The Great Lie (1941)
Genre: Drama
Starring: Bette Davis, George Brent, Mary Astor
Directed by: Edmund Goulding
The Great Lie is the very best movie collaboration between Bette Davis and Mary Astor. It also happened to be their first time sharing the screen. It’s a shame that the two only starred in one other film together, as they were absolute dynamite on the screen in this 1941 drama.
The Great Lie is a romantic melodrama, yes, but it’s also so much more than that. The film follows steady, compassionate Maggie Patterson (Davis) when she loses pilot Pete Van Allen (Grent) to brilliant concert pianist Sandra Kovak (Astor). Sandra is a glamorous, very temperamental artist who is always accustomed to getting her way… no matter who she hurts in the process.
However, when an unexpected legal complication makes Sandra and Pete’s sudden, impromptu marriage void, Pete returns to his longtime love, Maggie. He settles the romantic rivalry. He has realized he only wants Maggie — and he wants to be a better man for her. Sandra isn’t too happy about this, but when Pete marries Maggie, what can she do?
When Pete leaves on a dangerous flight and goes missing, officials quickly declare him dead. Sandra, meanwhile, reveals that she is pregnant with Pete’s child. Suddenly, Maggie and Sandra are forced into circumstances that neither anticipated — and the two women decide to tie their futures together through a secret bargain.
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The Great Lie is less about the romance between Brent and Davis, and more about the relationship that forms between Davis and Astor. Davis’s controlled warmth is amazing when seen opposite Astor’s sharp edges. This is the film that makes one wish there were more Bette Davis and Mary Astor movies.
Astor is brilliant here, and it shouldn’t be a surprise to learn that she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance. Instead of playing Sandra as a simple romantic villain, Astor makes her musical genius volatile, witty, selfish, and incredibly entertaining.
The Great Lie remains a fantastic example of a glossy 1940s melodrama. It’s unapologetically dramatic; for those who enjoy this type of drama, it’s a great watch.
Best for viewers who enjoy classic Hollywood’s women’s pictures and romantic melodramas.
Watch the Best Bette Davis and Mary Astor Movies Today
For those looking to jump into Astor and Davis’s small filmography together, start with The Great Lie (1941). It’s not just the superior film in this pairing; it’s also quite a good film!
While Astor and Davis might not have been able to make more than one film together, their few film collaborations just so happen to be some of the greatest classic movies of all time. For that, we’re rather thankful.
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