Title: Stardust: The Bette Davis Story

Narrated By: Susan Sarandon

Writer: Peter Jones

Directors: Peter Jones and Mark Catalena

Editor: Mark Catalena

Supervising Producer: Brian Tessier

Producer: Peter Jones

Executive Producer For Turner Classic Movies: Tom Brown

Executive Producer For Turner Entertainment Company: George Feltenstein

Running Time: 87 minutes without commercials

Media: TCM Original Documentary (NTSC DVD Screener)

Premiere: Wednesday, May 3, 2006, 8pm (ET)

Network: Turner Classic Movies (Check your local cable/satellite listings for channel)

TV Rating: Not Available At The Time Of Review

Reviewer: Mark A. Rivera

Susan Sarandon narrates the upcoming TCM documentary “Stardust: The Bette Davis Story,” which was written and directed by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Peter Jones. “Stardust” explores the career of Bette Davis from a psychological point of view with photos and various interview clips taken at different stages of her career that form a profile for what I guess one could call her character. The documentary also features comments by Jane Fonda, James Woods, Ellen Burstyn and Gene Rowlands who critique scenes from some of her films and reflect on her off-screen persona. In addition, Davis’ son Michael Merrill speaks for the first time about his parents’ violent marriage and his sister’s blistering memoir, “My Mother’s Keeper.”

Collectively the documentary is a treat for fans and admirers of Bette Davis and her career, but there is a certain melancholy to the entire film that might put casual viewers off. Turner Classic Movies is going to support “Stardust: The Bette Davis Story” with a month long celebration of her films each Wednesday in May. “Stardust: The Bette Davis Story” will premiere on Turner Classic Movies on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 at 8pm (ET) with an encore on that same day at 11:30pm (ET) and another encore on Wednesday, May 17, 2006, at 6:30pm (ET). For additional information on the film festival schedule and documentary, please check www.turnerclassicmovies.com.

© Copyright 2006 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.

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