Editing Bette Davis (section)

====Warner Bros' legal case against Bette Davis====

In the spring of 1936, Davis asked Warner Bros. to loan her out to RKO to make ''[[Mary of Scotland (film)|Mary of Scotland]]''. Warner Bros. refused and assigned Davis two films that were written specifically for her: ''[[God's Country and the Woman]]'', and [[Mountain Justice (1937 film)|''Mountain Justice'']]. However, as ''God's Country and the Woman'' was going into production, Davis refused to work, and demanded a salary increase on her contract with Warner Bros.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hopper |first1=Hedda |title=Battle Goes Marry On |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A1432DBB4AA9B7B12%40GB3NEWS-172740A14FBABF6F%402428354-1724A5736CAD2805%401-1724A5736CAD2805%40?h=183&fname=bette&lname=davis&fullname=&kwinc=warners%20england&kwexc=&sort=old&rgfromDate=1936&rgtoDate=1938&formDate=&formDateFlex=exact&dateType=range&processingtime=&addedFrom=&addedTo=&page=12&sid=vwvftkqfjllrfropqdzimraokrvpldfk_wma-gateway010_1685724923833 |access-date=June 2, 2023 |issue=July 4, 1936 |publisher=The San Antonio Light}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Graham |first1=Sheilah |title=Walkout By Bette Davis |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A13D5DA85AE05A305%40GB3NEWS-1489915A4742624B%402428351-148837AF000507E8%4045-148837AF000507E8%40?h=9&fname=bette&lname=davis&fullname=&kwinc=warners%20suspension&kwexc=&sort=old&rgfromDate=1935&rgtoDate=1939&formDate=&formDateFlex=exact&dateType=range&processingtime=&addedFrom=&addedTo=&sid=zlgistlbqlzrjxomqlshdwegyzjpxtjf_wma-gateway017_1685723535943 |access-date=June 2, 2023 |issue=July 1, 1936 |publisher=The Evening Star}}</ref> At the time, Davis was earning $1,250 per week. Jack Warner offered Davis an increased salary of $2,250 per week, which Davis refused. Davis's agent, Mike Levee, said: "She's a very stubborn young lady. I asked her how much she wanted, and she said $3,500 a week, plus all radio rights and permission to make outside pictures. I told her, 'Whoa, that's too much!'"<ref name="Movie Contract Wizard">{{cite news |title=Movie Contract Wizard |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A11A73E5827618330%40GB3NEWS-12ACF9CF5EEBFB99%402429125-12AC533EDF73CC9A%4034-12AC533EDF73CC9A%40?h=14&fname=bette&lname=davis&fullname=&kwinc=lawsuit%20warners&kwexc=&rgfromDate=1936&rgtoDate=1939&formDate=&formDateFlex=exact&dateType=range&processingtime=&addedFrom=&addedTo=&sid=oruyaxhpeocfcbuilcrkjqdarfbuzxwi_wma-gateway015_1685721751605 |access-date=June 2, 2023 |issue=August 14, 1938 |publisher=The Sunday Oregonian}}</ref>

Meanwhile, due to Davis's refusal to continue with ''God's County and the Woman'', Warner Bros. was incurring excessive production costs because the film was being made in [[Technicolor]], and the Technicolor cameras were rented.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hebert |first1=F |title=New Orleans States |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A1228C1EBC5FDC894%40GB3NEWS-156E89853881F407%402428361-156E3A079438864E%403-156E3A079438864E%40?h=192&fname=bette&lname=davis&fullname=&kwinc=warners%20england&kwexc=&sort=old&rgfromDate=1936&rgtoDate=1938&formDate=&formDateFlex=exact&dateType=range&processingtime=&addedFrom=&addedTo=&page=12&sid=vwvftkqfjllrfropqdzimraokrvpldfk_wma-gateway010_1685724923833 |access-date=June 2, 2023 |issue=July 11, 1936 |publisher=New Orleans States}}</ref>  In late June, the studio put Davis on suspension for refusal to work, and replaced her in the film with [[Beverly Roberts]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Greensboro Daily News |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A11EA68DA9EC1533C%40GB3NEWS-140FA504871D4A7F%402428369-140F95013041046A%4010-140F95013041046A%40?h=201&fname=bette&lname=davis&fullname=&kwinc=warners%20england&kwexc=&sort=old&rgfromDate=1936&rgtoDate=1938&formDate=&formDateFlex=exact&dateType=range&processingtime=&addedFrom=&addedTo=&page=13&sid=vwvftkqfjllrfropqdzimraokrvpldfk_wma-gateway010_1685724923833 |access-date=June 2, 2023 |issue=July 19, 1936}}</ref><ref name="Hollywood Chatter">{{cite news |title=Hollywood Chatter |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A13D09C142C972071%40GB3NEWS-14ADD1F21718EB06%402428475-14AA7352C1C7159D%405-14AA7352C1C7159D%40?h=12&fname=bette&lname=davis&fullname=&kwinc=lawsuit%20warners&kwexc=&rgfromDate=1936&rgtoDate=1939&formDate=&formDateFlex=exact&dateType=range&processingtime=&addedFrom=&addedTo=&sid=oruyaxhpeocfcbuilcrkjqdarfbuzxwi_wma-gateway015_1685721751605 |access-date=June 2, 2023 |issue=November 2, 1936 |publisher=Illinois State Journal}}</ref>

During negotiations with Warner Bros. regarding her salary and signing Davis for the female lead in ''Danton'', Davis abruptly traveled to England with her husband, Harmon Nelson, on a "vacation". However, in England, Davis signed a contract with British film production company Toplitz, to make the film ''I'll Take the Low Road'' in England with [[Maurice Chevalier]] for a $50,000 salary.<ref>{{cite news |title=Times Union |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A15B07E3FB3E0B2AB%40GB3NEWS-16FB398FC9AFDC92%402428389-16F92D7CDA863BEC%403-16F92D7CDA863BEC%40?h=221&fname=bette&lname=davis&fullname=&kwinc=warners%20england&kwexc=&sort=old&rgfromDate=1936&rgtoDate=1938&formDate=&formDateFlex=exact&dateType=range&processingtime=&addedFrom=&addedTo=&page=14&sid=vwvftkqfjllrfropqdzimraokrvpldfk_wma-gateway010_1685724923833 |access-date=June 2, 2023 |issue=August 8, 1936}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Davis Has Warners Ready To Sign |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A14D0CCD0844E0A90%40GB3NEWS-189CC2AA1943BFFE%402428400-189A1007A7C536CB%4013-189A1007A7C536CB%40?h=235&fname=bette&lname=davis&fullname=&kwinc=warners%20england&kwexc=&sort=old&rgfromDate=1936&rgtoDate=1938&formDate=&formDateFlex=exact&dateType=range&processingtime=&addedFrom=&addedTo=&page=15&sid=vwvftkqfjllrfropqdzimraokrvpldfk_wma-gateway010_1685724923833 |access-date=June 2, 2023 |issue=August 19, 1936 |publisher=The Knickerbocker Press}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=I Cover Hollywood |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A15B07E3FB3E0B2AB%40GB3NEWS-16FB39DFF91F143A%402428403-16F92D8E5264CA33%405-16F92D8E5264CA33%40?h=238&fname=bette&lname=davis&fullname=&kwinc=warners%20england&kwexc=&sort=old&rgfromDate=1936&rgtoDate=1938&formDate=&formDateFlex=exact&dateType=range&processingtime=&addedFrom=&addedTo=&page=15&sid=vwvftkqfjllrfropqdzimraokrvpldfk_wma-gateway010_1685724923833 |access-date=June 2, 2023 |issue=August 22, 1936 |publisher=Times Union}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Seattle Daily Times |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A127D718D1E33F961%40GB3NEWS-1299D79292A0E172%402428406-1299D1B1B517081E%4011-1299D1B1B517081E%40?h=241&fname=bette&lname=davis&fullname=&kwinc=warners%20england&kwexc=&sort=old&rgfromDate=1936&rgtoDate=1938&formDate=&formDateFlex=exact&dateType=range&processingtime=&addedFrom=&addedTo=&page=16&sid=vwvftkqfjllrfropqdzimraokrvpldfk_wma-gateway010_1685724923833 |access-date=June 2, 2023 |issue=August 25, 1936}}</ref>

On September 9, 1936, Warner Brothers filed a legal injunction against Davis in England which forbade her from appearing in film productions without their consent.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bette Davis Is Enjoined |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A1432DBB4AA9B7B12%40GB3NEWS-1727A8FA2C5B4F25%402428421-1727A415D9B2B229%4010-1727A415D9B2B229%40?h=254&fname=bette&lname=davis&fullname=&kwinc=warners%20england&kwexc=&sort=old&rgfromDate=1936&rgtoDate=1938&formDate=&formDateFlex=exact&dateType=range&processingtime=&addedFrom=&addedTo=&page=16&sid=vwvftkqfjllrfropqdzimraokrvpldfk_wma-gateway010_1685724923833 |access-date=June 2, 2023 |issue=September 9, 1936 |publisher=The San Antonio Light}}</ref> While on a shopping spree in Paris, Davis publicly declared to the press that she intended to defy Warner Bros' legal injunction and make the film in England.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bette Davis Defies Injunction |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A14DB39C1C40322B4%40GB3NEWS-15E2423133224564%402428423-15E23EB5EF21D351%4030-15E23EB5EF21D351%40?h=256&fname=bette&lname=davis&fullname=&kwinc=warners%20england&kwexc=&sort=old&rgfromDate=1936&rgtoDate=1938&formDate=&formDateFlex=exact&dateType=range&processingtime=&addedFrom=&addedTo=&page=17&sid=vwvftkqfjllrfropqdzimraokrvpldfk_wma-gateway010_1685724923833 |access-date=June 2, 2023 |issue=September 11, 1936}}</ref> 

On October 14, 1936, the British court held a hearing regarding the studio's injunction against Davis. Mr Justice Branson issued his [[Warner Brothers Pictures Inc v Nelson|decision]] on October 19, ruling in favor of Warner Bros. Justice Branson dismissed Davis's representative's claims that she was an "underpaid slave" held under a "life sentence", and ruled that Davis was in breach of her contract to Warner "for no discoverable reason except that she wanted more money".<ref>{{cite news |title=Bette Davis Restrained By Court |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A1773BDF75FF7A17E%40GB3NEWS-17980CA76DFEA790%402428461-17980A6757F21C62%4020-17980A6757F21C62%40?h=307&fname=bette&lname=davis&fullname=&kwinc=warners%20england&kwexc=&sort=old&rgfromDate=1936&rgtoDate=1938&formDate=&formDateFlex=exact&dateType=range&processingtime=&addedFrom=&addedTo=&page=20&sid=vwvftkqfjllrfropqdzimraokrvpldfk_wma-gateway010_1685724923833 |access-date=June 2, 2023 |issue=October 19, 1936 |publisher=The Evening Gazette}}</ref>

Davis was ordered to pay Warner Bros. $80,000 in restitution,<ref name="Movie Contract Wizard" /> and was also ordered to pay the studio's legal fees for filing the injunction in England.<ref name="Hollywood Chatter" />  The British press offered little support to Davis, calling her overpaid and ungrateful.<ref>Spada (1993), pp. 124–125</ref>

In 1943, actress [[Olivia de Havilland]] won a lawsuit against Warner Bros. regarding the length of time a studio contract could be legally enforceable, which at the time was seven years.<ref>{{cite news |title=Seven Years Is Enough, Olivia Is Freed |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A1106B5BBD4B623A8%40GB3NEWS-137364C70F527C03%402431435-136B2F13D6BFD2A5%4010-136B2F13D6BFD2A5%40?h=23&fname=olivia&lname=de%20havilland&fullname=&kwinc=warner&kwexc=&rgfromDate=1944&rgtoDate=1944&formDate=&formDateFlex=exact&dateType=range&processingtime=&addedFrom=&addedTo=&sort=new&page=1&sid=orcxylcurexhsovghyzdklepoapuqvmi_wma-gateway014_1685732387726 |access-date=June 2, 2023 |publisher=Sunday World Herald |issue=December 10, 1944}}</ref>  In her later years, Davis would falsely claim in interviews that she set the path for de Havilland's legal victory; however, this is grossly inaccurate. Warners' 1936 injunction against Davis was due to her attempt to unlawfully breach her contract to work for another production company because she and Warners were having a salary disagreement and bears no resemblance to the de Havilland legal case.<ref>{{cite news |title=Seven Years Is Enough, Olivia Is Freed |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A1106B5BBD4B623A8%40GB3NEWS-137364C70F527C03%402431435-136B2F13D6BFD2A5%4010-136B2F13D6BFD2A5%40?h=23&fname=olivia&lname=de%20havilland&fullname=&kwinc=warner&kwexc=&rgfromDate=1944&rgtoDate=1944&formDate=&formDateFlex=exact&dateType=range&processingtime=&addedFrom=&addedTo=&sort=new&page=1&sid=orcxylcurexhsovghyzdklepoapuqvmi_wma-gateway014_1685732387726 |access-date=June 2, 2023 |issue=December 10, 1944 |publisher=Sunday World Herald}}</ref>