Other than Dolley Madison and her wastrel son Payne Todd the names in this
teleplay are fictional. But the portrait of the genteel poverty that Dolley Madison
went through because of Payne is quite real.
It's 1837 and Dolley in her widowhood has moved back to Washington, DC where she hopes to sell the papers of her husband to the Library of Congress. She needs the money because of the debts run up by her son. Payne Todd was her son by a first marriage and his extravagances kept the Madisons almost eternally in debt.
Bette Davis who was 49 and about two decades younger than Dolley Madison was at this point in time. Davis is absolutely brilliant in the part and she's matched by John Hudson as Payne
Another key component in this drama is Natalie Schaefer a fish wife of a DC society leader with a tongue like an adder. She seeks to ruin Dolley, but Dolley rises above it.
This is a fine historical drama, don't miss it on Yotube where you can find it. Bette Davis gives a classy performance of a classy lady.
It's 1837 and Dolley in her widowhood has moved back to Washington, DC where she hopes to sell the papers of her husband to the Library of Congress. She needs the money because of the debts run up by her son. Payne Todd was her son by a first marriage and his extravagances kept the Madisons almost eternally in debt.
Bette Davis who was 49 and about two decades younger than Dolley Madison was at this point in time. Davis is absolutely brilliant in the part and she's matched by John Hudson as Payne
Another key component in this drama is Natalie Schaefer a fish wife of a DC society leader with a tongue like an adder. She seeks to ruin Dolley, but Dolley rises above it.
This is a fine historical drama, don't miss it on Yotube where you can find it. Bette Davis gives a classy performance of a classy lady.
