It’s back, readers!
Take a seat and get ready to see some sparring, ladies and gentlemen, because on December 22 for the third year in a row, Backlots will be hosting the Dueling Divas Blogathon! This blogathon has proven to be lots of fun in the past, and always elicits very interesting entries. I look forward to what’s to come this year!
On December 22, write about your favorite dueling divas. Your piece can be on one of those legendary offscreen duels (ex. Bette Davis and Joan Crawford) or an onscreen one (ex. Eve Harrington and Margo Channing). You can even write about an actress (or actor, we’re gender-neutral here at Backlots!) who played a dual role in a classic film if you would like–such as Olivia de Havilland in The Dark Mirror or Hayley Mills in The Parent Trap. We don’t often get many entries of this type, but it’s there if you want it!
Olivia de Havilland in THE DARK MIRROR.
You don’t have to just focus on two people. You can talk about the various duels a single actor had (good heavens, Bette Davis’ duels alone could fill a book!) or duels within a group. Last year I wrote about the divas in The Women, which was a lot of fun.
So to sum up, here are the guidelines on who to write about:
- Those who had a rivalry in real life, either over a particular film role or over a personality clash, ie Bette Davis and Joan Crawford
- Those who had a rivalry on the screen, ie Mildred and Veda from Mildred Pierce
- Any dual role played by an actor or actress in a classic film, ie Hayley Mills in The Parent Trap.
Please do try to stay on track with the theme! Since this is an open-ended blogathon with a lot of choices, it’s easy to get carried away. But if you just refer to the guidelines above, you’ll be good to go.
Comment on this post with your diva choices and I will add you to the list. So far we have:
MOVIES, SILENTLY: Mary Pickford’s dual role in Stella Maris
SILVER SCREENINGS: Edward G. Robinson’s dual role in The Whole Town’s Talking
CHRISTY PUTNAM: June Allyson vs. Joan Collins in The Opposite Sex
LOVE IS A FIRE: Bette Davis vs. Joan Crawford
OUTSPOKEN AND FRECKLED: Josephine vs. Daphne in Some Like It Hot
STARDUST: Joan Crawford vs. Norma Shearer in The Women
ONCE UPON A SCREEN: Greta Garbo vs. Marlene Dietrich
MOVIE STAR MAKEOVER: Rita Hayworth vs. Kim Novak in Pal Joey
CRITICA RETRO: Rita Hayworth vs. Linda Darnell in Blood and Sand
SEPIA STORIES: Olive Thomas vs. Mary and Charlotte Pickford
THE HOLLYWOOD REVUE: TBA
GIRLS DO FILM: Olivia de Havilland in The Dark Mirror
Liz Smith: Two Bette Davis duels
While you ponder over who to write about, feel free to take this banner and add it to your site to let everybody know you will be participating.
I can’t wait to read all your posts! This is going to be fun.
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Backlots 
Hi there! I would like to lay claim to Mary Pickford’s double role in STELLA MARIS.
You got it!
How about Joan Collins and June Allyson in The Opposite Sex?
Perfect!
Can you send me your blog address?
Two bette davis films- a stolen life playing 2 sisters and The great lie where she has a bitter-sweet rivalry with mary astor……
Sounds great!
Can you send me your blog address?
I just saw the link on facebook. Dont think i have a blog address? How do i set one up- sorry, thought it was a fb thing”
I’d like to do the dual role Edward G. Robinson had in “The Whole Town’s Talking”. My blog address is http://silverscreenings.org/
Oh yeah it’s not a facebook thing but if you have a Tumblr or something that works too. Let me know, we can try to work it out!
Hey Lara. I’ll blog about Joan Crawford & Bette Davis.
You’re on the list!
Got you!
I’d like to do Joan Crawford vs. Norma Shearer in ‘The Women’ if that’s alright! My blog address is http://bwallover.blogspot.com
Hey Lara –
How about the Garbo / Dietrich “feud”?
Aurora
Sounds great! You’re in!
I love this time of the year when the Dueling Divas Blogathon is announced!
I’ll write about Linda Darnell and Rita Hayworth fighting over Tyrone Power’s love in Blood and Sand (1941).
Kisses!
Where’s the Livy/Joan duel???
Want to take it?
I have an awesome excerpt from my novel on Olive Thomas that’s a feud between Ollie and her in-laws, Mary and Charlotte Pickford. Are three ways allowed? 🙂
Of course they are! I did the entire cast of The Women last year. You’re signed up!
I don’t think I could do it justice, but I hope someone will cover the Bette Davis vs. Anne Baxter (or Celeste Holm) per the intriguing banner 🙂 Has someone done this already in the past blogathons? Looking forward to reading them all!
I actually don’t think so! I’m really hoping someone takes it this time. It’s yours if you want it, let me know!
A bit late to the party, but as per your suggestion I’d love to write about Olivia de Havilland in The Dark Mirror. This sounds like it’s going to be so much fun!
Sounds great! You’re in!
Is it too late? Here’s an entry for Java’s Journey for Ella vs. Olga in “Bells are Ringing”
http://javabeanrush.blogspot.com/2013/12/dueling-divas-ella-vsolga-in-bells-are.html