No... but the haunting vocals of Kim Carnes means her singing is often mistaken for Rod on this song. Kim appeared with Rod on his tour Tonight I'm Yours along with Tina Turner where they all sang together.
The song was released in 1981. Song Lyrics: "Bette Davis Eyes"
Recorded by: "Kim Carnes"
Written by: (Donna Weiss, Jackie DeShannon)
Published by: "Plain and Simple Music"
(ASCAP)/Donna Weiss Music (BMI)
Album: "Mistaken Identity" - 1981
Actually, she had four (4) films released in 1939. In addition to The Old Maid and Dark Victory, both mentioned below, she also appeared in The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex as Queen Elizabeth I, with Errol Flynn as the younger, impetuous Essex. Her fourth film of 1939 was Juarez, in which she played the mad Empress Carlotta to Brian Aherne's Emperor Maximillian in this historical drama set in mid-19th century Mexico. It was an amazing year for her, with all four performances receiving very good notices. She received her 3rd Academy Award nomination that year for her performance in Dark Victory as Judith Traherne, a reckless socialite suddenly diagnosed with a brain tumor. Since this was a theater question, it might be worth noting that 3 of these 1939 movies were all adapted from stage dramas. Zoe Akins' adaptation of Edith Wharton's The Old Maid had won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1935 and Dark Victory had been a Tallulah Bankhead stage vehicle in the same 34-35 Broadway season. Elizabeth and Essex was inspired by Maxwell Anderson's 1930 verse play, Elizabeth the Queen, but Hollywood rumour relays that Flynn wasn't quite up to the verse, so the screenplay became decidely prosaic, to Miss Davis' chagrin. The Old Maid
Laura Madison. 'course I just googled this. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0021636/
Bette Davis was born on April 5, 1908 and died on October 6, 1989. Bette Davis would have been 81 years old at the time of death or 107 years old today.
Yes, of course. Bette Davis was one of the few Democrats among the great stars of Hollywood's golden age, and one of the most active. An ardent supporter of FDR, she spoke at the 1940 and 1944 Democratic conventions. She also performed at the inauguration party for JFK and was friendly with the Carters, who were, in turn, lifelong fans of hers. Other Democrats included Henry Fonda, Katharine Hepburn, Myrna Loy, Melvin Douglas, Danny Kaye, Gene Kelly, Orson Welles, Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, Gregory Peck, Jack Lemmon, Judy Holliday, Kirk Douglas, and Edward G. Robinson. A few stars like James Cagney, Frank Sinatra, and Charlton Heston were Democrats who later jumped ship. Most of the rest of the movie establishment were Republicans until a new wave swept over Hollywood in the sixties.
10. She won 2, for Dangerous and for Jezebel.
Bette Davis has been nominated ten times, plus one unofficial write-in nomination in 1934 for Of Human Bondage (she did not win). She has two wins (film titles in bold type). Her nominations were for Dangerous (1935), Jezebel (1936), Dark Victory (1939), The Letter (1940), The Little Foxes (1941), Now, Voyager (1942), Mr. Skeffington (1944), All About Eve (1950), The Star (1952) and What Ever Happened to Baby Jane (1962). All nominations and wins were for Best Actress.
Her hair is Harlowe gold
Her lips sweet surprise
Her hands are never cold
She's got Bette Davis eyes
She'll turn her music on you
You won't have to think twice
She's pure as New York snow
She got Bette Davis eyes
And she'll tease you
She'll unease you
All the better just to please you
She's precocious and she knows just
What it takes to make a pro blush
She got Greta Garbo stand off sighs
She's got Bette Davis eyes
She'll let you take her home
It whets her appetite
She'll lay you on her throne
She got Bette Davis eyes
She'll take a tumble on you
Roll you like you were dice
Until you come out blue
She's got Bette Davis eyes
She'll expose you, when she snows you
Off your feet with the crumbs she throws you
She's ferocious and she knows just
What it takes to make a pro blush
All the boys think she's a spy
She's got Bette Davis eyes
And she'll tease you
She'll unease you
All the better just to please ya
She's precocious, and she knows just
What it takes to make a pro blush
All the boys think she's a spy
She's got Bette Davis eyes
She'll tease you
She'll unease you
Just to please ya
She's got Bette Davis eyes
She'll expose you, when she snows you
She knows ya
She's got Bette Davis eyes
It is likely that the lyrics of the song were intended to have a double meaning. The most obvious is about a seductive woman, and this was probably intended to disguise the deeper meaning, which was probably the use of methamphetamine. In at least some of Kim Carnes vocals of that song it sounds like she is saying "Bette Davis ice." A common nickname for crystal meth is "ice." The drug has been in use since before WWII, but presumably it began to be referred to by this nickname sometime in the 1970s. Betty Davis Eyes was recorded in 1981. Some of the song lyrics imply characteristics of methamphetamine or symptoms related to its use:
Her hair is Harlow gold -- some varieties of meth are yellow
Her hands are never cold -- hyperthermia, an elevated body temperature
You won't have to think twice -- alertness and increased concentration
She's pure as New York snow -- a comparison to cocaine
She'll unease you -- a strong psychoactive stimulant.
She's precocious -- premature aging, increased libido.
She knows just what it takes to make a pro blush -- flushing, red in the face
She got Greta Garbo's stand-off sighs -- hubris, extreme haughtiness or arrogance
It whets her appetite -- decreased appetite
Until you come up blue -- overdose can cause blue lips
She's ferocious -- aggressive behavior
All the boys think she's a spy -- can cause paranoia
Any relation is fairly distant. Although both have the birth name of Davis and were born in Massachussetts, Geena's Davis' ancestors were William (1913-2009), Isaac Danforth (1883-), William (1861-), and Isaac Danforth (1810-). Those for Bette were Harlow (1885-1938), Edward (1854-), and Calvin (1827). So we know they could not be closer than 3rd cousins, once removed.
This quote came from the film All About Eve.
The quote was said by the character Margo Channing.
who has the oil painting of bette davis in mr skeffington
Bette Davis
Born: 05-04-1908
Birth place: Lowell, Massachusetts
Died: 06-10-1989
Bette (note spelling) died in l989. an interesting anecdote follows. i was aware of the death having heard of it on the radio news. I was at the Hoboken railroad festival having a good time and they announced a free ride to end of the Meadowlands yards on one of the tracks- naturally I took it, being a railroad buff. nice ride through the Bergen Tunnel and all- ex Erie-lackawanna equipment and trackage the only odd thing, when I got off, I could not help notice the serial number of the car-l603- the year Queen Elizabeth I died- portrayed twice by Bette Davis! a coincidence
No. She was some sort of Protestant denomination. Also, by extension she was not of the Jewish faith. True, many Jewish people have the Davis surname.