Bette Davis Between Takes Of All This, And Heaven Too – 1940

ALL THE COMFORTS OF HOME
The best of friends are Bette Davis and Richard Nichols. Bette doesn’t make a practice of serving as a cushion for young men on her movie sets but Richard is an exception.

He’s 4-years-old and his friendship with the distinguished actress dates from the first days shooting on All This, And Heaven Too, the Warner filmization of the Rachel Field novel, starring Miss Davis and Charles Boyer. Master Nichols plays the important role of the Duc de Praslin’s youngest child. The youngster completely captivated everyone concerned with the production; no one “fell” harder for him than Bette. photo Warner Bros. Studio, Burbank, CA 1940

Bette Davis has her ever-present cigarette while relaxing between takes with her young co-star Richard Nichols.

Smoking was very acceptable for most of the twentieth century.  So there is nothing amiss in having a child sit on your lap while having a smoke.

Richard Nichols, born in Los Angeles, CA on December 14, 1935 appeared in a dozen films. His brothers also were motion picture actors. But Richard Nichols did not experience the frustration of transitioning from child to adult actor.  By the time Nichols was nine, he was out of films and would have a relatively normal childhood for a Hollywood High graduate and some great stories to tell later in life.

In 1941, the precocious five-year-old complained to his Blossoms In the Dust co-star Greer Garson, about the heavy suit he was wearing in the film.  “It makes me sweat,” he said. “Oh dear,” Garson corrected him, “only horses sweat. It makes you perspire.”

Nichols nodded in agreement.

A few minutes later Nichols returned and said, “Miss Garson. I’m still so warm, I’m just,…just…” as he struggled to recall the word, after a pause he shouted, “Miss Garson I’m just evaporating!”

Nichols later married, had two daughters and for 44 years served  as a minister. Richard Nichols died October 1, 2023 at the age of 87.