Don’t f*ck with Bette Midler. Here’s just one reason why…
Welcome to Screen Gems, our weekend dive into queer and queer-adjacent titles of the past that deserve a watch or a re-watch.West Virginia Gov.
Jim Justice may think waving his dog’s butt in front of the state assembly will somehow get to Bette Midler. If Justice had any idea what woman he was messing with, he might think twice.(Side note: Justice and his English bulldog “Babydog” are living proof that pets often take on characteristics of their owners.
We can barely tell the two apart, especially where their asses are concerned. Moving on…)For Midler at her most formidable–and one of the most impressive screen debuts in recent memory–look no further than Midler’s first movie, 1979’s The Rose.The Rose borrows heavily from the life of Janis Joplin to tell the story of Rose Foster (Midler), a bisexual, full-throated 1960s rock diva with an explosive personality and a nasty attraction to booze and drugs.
Though an international superstar, men in the music biz (particularly her nasty manager, Rudge, played by Alan Bates), treat Rose like an animal, overworking her and dismissing her talent.After one particularly nasty fight, Rose flees a concert venue with Huston (Frederic Forrest), a limo for hire driver.
