Bette's Hats & Reviews: The Cabin in the Cotton (1932)

Bette's next film, The Cabin in the Cotton (1932), has one of her many memorable lines, and one of the stars personal favorites. The experience, however, was an unpleasant one - she did not get along with director Michael Curtiz, who made it well known he did not want her in the picture - but the part, an "excellent part, mine - that of a rich, vixenish belle" was her "best role to date." Davis wrote in her book The Lonely Life, "I refused to let him [Curtiz] get me down. The part was that good" (134-135). 

It looks like the critics agreed that the part was good, and that Bette was the reason:

Miss Davis shows a surprising vivacity as the seductive rich girl.

 ~ Richard Watts Jr., New York Herald Tribune

Windy film material, but it is [...] strengthened mightily by [...] that flashy, luminous newcomer Bette Davis, who romps off with first honors, for hers is the most dashing and colorful role. . . . The girl is superb.

 ~ Regina Crewe, New York American

Isn't this dress gorgeous? Here's a lovely promotional photo of it. It looks like she has a different hat though.  

I must have gotten my screenshots off of YouTube. As you can see, they are not the best quality. The photo on the right came from the Gene Ringgold gold listed below.

Sources:

Davis, Bette. The Lonely Life: An Autobiography. G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1962.

Ringgold, Gene. Bette Davis: Her Films and Career. Citadel Press. 1966, 1985.