Tag Archives: Divine Madness

Mister D: I remember the time Pauline Kael was on Tom Snyder’s old talk show. He asked her who should win the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1979. Without pause she said Bette Midler for the Rose. She said I haven’t heard lines read like that in decades and if she doesn’t win the Oscars mean nothing. This was when critics had considerable power over what was a hit or miss in movies She was considered one of the greatest critics. Check out some books on her. Bruce Vilanch said he sat next to her in Divine Madness. She was a big Bette Midler fan before the movies. She was upset with the end product of Divine Madness because of the editing and how they ended the movie. She said a real Bette Midler concert would not end like that. It would end up with a happy, upbeat song, like “Friends” After she saw Jinxed, she was sure Hollywood would ruin the Bette we knew growing up. That’s me hearsay and gossip. IF I’m wrong Bruce, let me know. It’s been a while and I might have succumbed to the Telephone Game.

Pauline on 1980's 'Divine Madness': "Bette Midler's audience is her instrument. She plays on us and we bring her to life, or at least she makes us feel that we do." pic.twitter.com/q6UzZWej4K

— What She Said (@WhatSheSaid_Doc) February 2, 2018