GRGR(28): Bette Davis and Margaret Dumont

[Paul Mackin]

On Mon, 5 Jun 2000, Jeremy Osner wrote:

> Paul Mackin wrote:
> 
> > Margaret Dumont like Bette displayed
> > perfect upper class American speech and deportment, which made her the
> > perfect foil the Brothers.
> 
> Right... but the fact that she was playing with the Brothers always made me
> think she was hip, that her upper class speech and deportment were a little
> ironic. (I don't know whether I'm talking about my reaction to her character
> here or to her as an actress -- I don't think I really even made that
> disctinction at the time.)
> 

But as far as the irony goes wasn't Margaret the memeber of the
double audience hearing but not understanding. Possible to read it at a
deeper level I suppose and she was actually putting the brothers on.

		p.