Look what the Tonner doll company made for 2009: not just another Hollywood-related doll, not just a Bette Davis doll, but a circa 1930s Bette Davis doll! I came across it back in January while searching for costumes for my own doll collection...I'll share some photos of it soon, for those of you who are girlish, giggly, and/or like dolls as much as I do. ;)
There's also a Bette with light-brown hair, and one with dark hair, and several dresses.
All delightful, but pricey. I won't be buying any of it; I think hobbies shouldn't cost much money, so I get my occasional doll-related trifles secondhand.
But if I did have the blonde Bette Davis doll, I'd want Tonner's Joan Crawford doll to go with it: that way, I could make 'em cat fight!
(Crawford growling...)
Joan debuted last year, but they've already put out four other variations, plus outfits.
I wonder who they'll do next year?
I bet you a million bucks it's either Jean Harlow or Norma Shearer! Oh wait, Greta Garbo...people love their Garbo. Though Madame Alexander's already made a Garbo doll...
Kinda scary, huh? Like a fairy godmother with a bad perm!
Now, I'm not as fond of the Madame Alexander Hollywood dolls as the Tonner ones -- they don't look as close to the actual stars (though that Bette Davis isn't a perfect match, there's no denying the likeness of Crawford!) -- but they do have some interesting releases in their archives; in addition to Garbo, Madame Alexander has also doll-ified the likes of Gigi (Leslie Caron), Ilsa (CASABLANCA), Scarlett O'Hara (GWTW), and Sabrina (Audrey Hepburn).
For this year, they've got Grace Kelly, and Jo Stockton (Audrey from FUNNY FACE)...
Now this one might actually be kinda fun, considering I got a Fred Astaire doll for Christmas. I could make the Audrey doll come rushing down my kitchen steps in that red dress, and Fred, with a tiny camera in his hand, could yell, STOP, STOP!, and she'll say, "No, I like it! I don't want to stop!"
And Joan and Bette will just roll their eyes and go right on back to cat-fighting...
Gosh, I hope they release costumes for all the different ages of those two gals...of course then if a parody of WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE? starring 16" vinyl fashion dolls should surface on the internet, you'll know who to blame. ;)
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Links:
For more on the Bette Davis doll collection, Click Here.
For more on the Joan Crawford doll collection, Click Here.
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15 comments:
Blonde Bette Davis doll?!!! I'm surprised anyone has acknowledged her as a blonde, other than myself (countless times).
Where's my wallet?
Thank you for enlightening us!
Tho neither my wife nor I are doll collectors, I always get a kick out of your doll posts. So droll!
That kitchen scenario sounds way too funny. And the Audrey doll looks like it actually moves in human ways, instead of a robot Barbie!
It is so neat that you actually play with the dolls you collect :)
I still have my barbie collection (albeit a lot of them are missing body parts and large amounts of hair, but I still have them) and I have two Mattel Sinatra dolls. I'd love the Joan Crawford, one-- I wish I could shrink myself to doll size just to try on her dress!
Wow...that Garbo doll is freaky! She looks like she is being eaten by a giant pile of sparkly fabric.
I really like the dark haired Bette. Her dress is gorgeous! I think she could totally kick Joan's butt.
Raquelle: You're welcome! :)
I thought of you when I first came across her...and if they do make a Norma Shearer one, you'll be the first one I gush about it to! :)
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John: Then get ready, because I've got a lot of 'em coming! :)
I've been wanting to talk more about 'em since January, but felt kinda silly about it...for the sake of lightening up a bit, it's fixing to be doll city around here!
I'm glad you and your wife enjoy them. :)
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Sarah: You're right! The Audrey doll is what you call a 'fully articulated' doll...with 18 points of articulation, it can move at the neck, shoulders, forearms, elbows, wrists, waist, hips, knees, ankles, and even at the toes! :)
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Kate: Oh, I wouldn't have 'em around if I couldn't play with 'em! :)
My mom and sister think I'm nuts for not keeping Fred in his box, in the closet...but what's the joy in that? I like looking at him, and making him dance around my office. :)
I may even kiss him on the cheek occasionally, but I don't suppose I should admit that... ;)
I'd love to see your Sinatra dolls! :)
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Genevieve: The Garbo doll is a bit freaky...the other day, I saw a chance to buy one for dirt cheap, but didn't...if I did, I at least would have done her the courtesy of dressing her in something better than that cotton candy nightmare. ;)
Yeah, that dark haired Bette is nice too...love that red hat and matching gloves: two things I wish women could still wear without getting strange looks. :)
Are there other Ginger and Fred dolls besides the World Dolls' version of "The Barkleys of Broadway"? I have those made in vinyl and porcelain, but I've never seen dolls from any of their 1930s movies.
This looks nothing like Bette Davis. Couldn't someone have made a doll with a better likeness?
oh my, i must have the audrey doll!
"Take the picture, take the picture!"
Loved your post about this subject because I am a 33 year old who is into classic movies, stars and Tonner dolls!
You are right - Tonner dolls are much better than Madame Alexander dolls. The Greta Garbo dolls by Madame Alexander, like most of the Madame Alexander dolls, have bigger heads than their bodies which I don't find very proportional. Tonner dolls are much more proportional and have much better sculpts - although as you pointed out, not perfect.
I have the Joan Crawford doll with the Jungle Red outfit as pictured and I find the Joan Crawford doll to be absolutely beautiful. The likeness is the best among all Tonner's celeb dolls! (certainly better than the Nicole Kidman doll from the Golden Compass which I really didn't like)
However I didn't quite like GWTW's Scarlett dolls. I find that they don't do Vivien Leigh justice. Franklin Mint's Scarlett is by far the best one.
The Bette Davis doll is actually pretty good, Tonner captured Bette's youth and obviously not in her later years. If you look at Bette Davis when she was really really young (not a big star then) then Tonner did a pretty good job.
The Camille doll of Greta Garbo was the worst in the series. The other ones - Grand Hotel - are much better although the heads are still too big for their bodies! ;-)
I so so wish they would make a Hedy Lamarr doll.
Gingerspal: Yeah, the vinyl World Doll Fred and Ginger, and the Avon porcelain Fred and Ginger are the only Fred and Ginger dolls out there. :)
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Anonymous: I agree...but at least she has some nice costumes! :)
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Starla: I know! She's so cute. :)
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Isaspacey: Love that scene. :)
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(not sure how to read your name, so I'm just gonna call you 'friend')
Friend: I'm so glad you love old movies and dolls! And I agree, the Madame Alexander dolls do seem out of proportion...mine's always tipping over.
Love the Joan Crawford doll. You're right: she is beautiful. And the Jungle Red costume is my absolute favorite!
Definitely agree about Franklin Mint's Scarlett: that's my holy grail doll, I'm hoping to get for Christmas this year. The Tonner Scarlett's all right: perhaps for people who loved GWTW, but didn't care much for Vivien Leigh? Since it doesn't look as much like Leigh as the Franklin Mint's.
I'd want one I could also dress up -- in Gene costumes, etc. -- to look like Scarlett O'Hara AND like Vivien Leigh.
As for the Bette Davis doll: I agree it's not completely off base, considering it's supposed to be 'circa 1930s' Bette Davis...but still, it just doesn't knock my socks off the way the Joan Crawford doll did. :)
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Joseibi: Yeah, that Camille doll is awful. Plain awful.
And Hedy Lamarr would make a perfect doll! She's gorgeous. :)
How great.
Ha! I can totally see myself dancing Fred Astaire and Audrey around too.
Please do Norma Shearer next as Marie Antoinette. She was absolutely beautiful in that movie and the wardrobe was breath taking. How will we know whe it comes out? Can we reserve one now?? I just love the old movie stars. They were stars and there is no getting around it. They dressed like stars, acted like stars and kept their private life secret (as much as they could). Thank you for some wonderful dollsl.
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