Bette Davis...a hooker?

[vatonc1]

Just finished watching "The Letter" (1940) with Bette Davis, and was surprised to see Bette crocheting (thread no less) throughout a number of scenes! In the film she even keeps a small handbag on hand which contains her hook& WIP...on top of that...before she begins crocheting- she puts on these huge glasses (sound familiar?? LOL)

The movie ends with a close up of the piece of lace she was working on-


If you enjoy old movies- you should check this one out :)

[Julie]

Seems like I saw another movie with Bette crocheting in it (we love old movies). I don't recall which one in particular, but it's always a thrill to see anyone working in those films. I start watching closely to study the technique for tips. :lol

[Kathleen]

She crochets in "WHatever happened to Baby Jane" a movie called "Jezabelle" and a couple of others I don't recall at the moment. The only movie you get to see the work close up is "The Letter"

[Julie]

That's right! I believe it was Jezebel! That was a great movie. :D

[vatonc1]

I start watching closely to study the technique for tips. :lolme too LOL!!:hook

I especially loved watching her work because she used a pencil grip which i have always felt looks more "elegant" and dainty than the"aggressive" knife grip that I use LOL! ;)

[13bodies]

I love that movie but it never really struck me that she was crocheting. I feel stupid now. :blush

I need to watch The Letter again, soonest. :P

[Mel2nsluvsCrochet]

Just finished watching "The Letter" (1940) with Bette Davis, and was surprised to see Bette crocheting (thread no less) throughout a number of scenes! In the film she even keeps a small handbag on hand which contains her hook& WIP...on top of that...before she begins crocheting- she puts on these huge glasses (sound familiar?? LOL)

The movie ends with a close up of the piece of lace she was working on-


If you enjoy old movies- you should check this one out :)

I KNOW I just recently saw that movie on TCM! I was totally shocked because I had seen Now, Voyager and she was on the ship knitting! I am totally in awe of Bette's abilities to have been able to do it all! She was definitely amazing!

[vatonc1]

Bette's at it again...this time crocheting in Watch on the Rhine:) Anyone else catch it on TCM today?

[Hummywinger]

Aww I like Bette Davis..
I am going to have to check out these movies.. I have been crocheting for years and don't really notice when they show someone crocheting on a movie or just don't think about it that much. Well duhh here need to pay closer attention to these things..
Shame shame on me ....

:blush

[AidanM]

Interesting sidebar:
I read an article on knitty.com where a grad student had done a study on how knitting was used in movies. She expected it to be mostly in the hands of maternal figures, a symbol of kindness and nurturing. What she REALLY found was that it was most often during scenes where a woman was being deceptive that she could be found knitting! And that the characters that knit were often the villainesses of their respective films!

She said that it shows how people who can create ordinary things with their hands often inspire a kind of awe or fear in those who can't. In the time frame of many of these movies (The kind of movies you'd see on TCM) she implied that it showed a man's fear of women and what would happen if all women weren't kept busy all the time and allowed some time to think and be proactive about things. It was a really interesting article.