Feud: Capote vs The Swans is the latest installment in Ryan Murphy’s acclaimed anthology series that examines the rivalries and conflicts between famous figures in history and pop culture.
The first season, Feud: Bette and Joan, focused on the legendary feud between Hollywood icons Bette Davis and Joan Crawford during the filming of What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? The second season, which premiered on January 31st, 2024, shifts the setting from the silver screen to the literary world. It tells the story of Truman Capote and his “Swans”, a group of wealthy and elegant women who were his closest friends and inspirations, until he betrayed them in a scandalous way.
Truman Capote was one of the most celebrated writers of the 20th century, known for his novels ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ and ‘In Cold Blood’, as well as his flamboyant personality and openness about his homosexuality.
He was also a fixture in the New York high society, where he befriended a coterie of socialites whom he nicknamed his “Swans”. These included Babe Paley, the wife of CBS chief Bill Paley and a former Vogue editor; Slim Keith, a fashion icon and the ex-wife of Howard Hawks and Leland Hayward; C.Z.
Guest, a gardening expert and the wife of Winston Guest; Lee Radziwill, the sister of Jackie Kennedy Onassis and the wife of Prince Stanislaw Radziwill; and Ann Woodward, a former showgirl and the wife of banking heir William Woodward Jr.
Capote was fascinated by the lives of these women, who seemed to have everything: beauty, money, power, and glamor. He became their confidant, their companion, and their muse.
He dedicated his masterpiece ‘In Cold Blood’ to Babe Paley, and based the character of Holly Golightly in ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ on several of his Swans. He also threw lavish parties for them, such as the famous Black and White Ball in 1966, which was attended by the crème de la crème of the society.
However, Capote’s relationship with his Swans took a dark turn in 1975, when he published an excerpt from his unfinished novel ‘Answered Prayers’ in Esquire magazine. The excerpt, titled La Côte Basque, 1965, was a thinly veiled fictionalization of the Swans’ lives, revealing their most intimate secrets, affairs, scandals, and insecurities.
Capote did not spare anyone, not even his beloved Babe Paley, whom he portrayed as a bored and unhappy wife who was cheated on by her husband. The Swans were outraged and humiliated by his betrayal, and they quickly cut him off from their circle.
He was shunned by the society that he adored, and he spiraled into a depression, fueled by drugs and alcohol. He never finished ‘Answered Prayers’, and he died in 1984, a month before his 60th birthday.
Feud: Capote vs The Swans is a captivating and tragic tale of friendship, fame, and betrayal, brought to life by a stellar cast and crew. Tom Hollander plays Truman Capote, and Naomi Watts, who also serves as an executive producer, plays Babe Paley. The other Swans are played by Diane Lane, Chloë Sevigny, Calista Flockhart, and Demi Moore.
It also features Molly Ringwald, Treat Williams, Joe Mantello, and Russell Tovey in supporting roles. The series is written by Jon Robin Baitz and mostly directed by Gus Van Sant, with Ryan Murphy as the creator and executive producer.
Feud: Capote vs the Swans is an eight-episode series that airs on FX on Wednesdays, and streams on Hulu the next day. It is a must-watch for fans of Ryan Murphy’s work, as well as for anyone who is interested in the history and culture of the 20th century.
You can watch the trailer below:
