I'll go solely with some of her movies (listed chronologically) that happen to be included in my personal collection. Where Bette is concerned, I've always felt especially drawn to, and collected only, some of her early to mid 1930s films (Now, Voyager being the sole subsequent exception):

• The Rich Are Always with Us (1932)
• Parachute Jumper (1933)
• Of Human Bondage (1934)
• The Petrified Forest (1936)
• Now, Voyager (1942)

I'm also definitely a fan of numerous others of her '30s, '40s, and onward movies - various which are among my favourite Davis films.

Good answers to a tough question - because sometimes you like her in a good film - and sometimes you like B Davis in a film so bad that you cannot watch it twice - and sometimes you like the film but not her character very much - and sometimes you cannot take her or the film a second time around.

That's the opinion which I'll take to approach the answer.

Old Acquaintance - Miss Davis delivers a spectacular performance in a great film - mostly because she humanizes her character toward a likable, considerate, caring nature, unlike many of her over-the-top roles.

Whales of August - great film, great cast - very downbeat - but well worth the watch especially for L Gish and A Sothern. B Davis and V Price also finally play likable characters after far too many horror pictures.

Three on a Match - and - The Man Who Came to Dinner - B Davis great in both of these, along with her co-stars - but the films drive you so crazy that you cannot force yourself to watch them for a long time.

Hush.... B Davis good in this - but the film will give you plenty of nightmares - and this establishes the B Davis movie as something to give you and everybody else plenty of nightmares in the future.

Little Foxes - good film with an outstanding cast - but B Davis way too mean and nasty here. Can re-watch because of the rest of the cast - but try to skip over her character to make it through.

Most other B Davis movies - hard to take because they can be sooooo downbeat thatttt - well, just think What Ever....

mwahhh hahh hahhh! Eekers even!

I love The Whales of August - and it's wonderful that such a "twilight of life" film happened.

Regarding Bette's on-screen persona, I've always preferred (and am probably in the minority) her "sweet" era - her first few or so years in movies. Back then she was (IMO) much more naturalistic, like an actual real-life seeming person, not having yet picked up her unique "Bette" way and imposing sort of presence that we're all familiar with. During those first years she was still delicate, cheery, and quite pretty.

However it's easy to love all versions of Bette, including "tough old broad" Bette. I mean, who else was anything like the great Bette Davis? She was a true one-of-a-kind star.

Having said all of the above, I've always, generally speaking, slightly favoured Joan Crawford, though am a fan of both women to a very similar extent. Bette was definitely the more commanding and impressive presence, though I think Joan seemed like the more vulnerable, soulful, relatable one - which I've always found appealing; something about her more so "speaks" to me. They're both amazing actresses and tremendous stars though. https://www.themoviedb.org/person/31550-joan-crawford/discuss/58aea73dc3a36835b80049e2?language=en-US

Agree that Miss Davis captivates her audience, and that she's much more entertaining in many of her lighter fare roles than in heavy dismal dooming films.

Guess that's why we enjoy films - for their entertainment value - and Bette entertains at her best when she plays good girl rather than bad and pathetic.