The Old Maid (1939)

I love this movie so much

Wow! What a bizarre film! Unfortunately the few funny moments there were were quite overshadowed by it's completely weird and random vibe throughout.

Your blood may run cold, but you now find yourself pinioned to the story.

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

If there was a hit play on Broadway, you know that in the mid to late 1930's and 40's that Bette Davis was looking at as a potential vehicle for herself. There was "The Petrified Forest", "Jezebel", "Dark Victory", "The Little Foxes" and "The Man Who Came to Dinner", and one that received the Pulitzer prize, this play by Zoe Atkins, gloriously filmed in the greatest year that the movies have ever known. Not all spinsters start off as old maids, and in the case of Bette's Charlotte, she was a lovely young woman who made one "mistake" with the now deceased civil war hero George Brent. Only the audience is aware that she has had a baby by him, taking care of her as a foundling, but only to stand by as her cousin Delia (Miriam Hopkins) arranges to adopt the little girl. Forgetting who raised her growing up, the young Tina (Jane Bryan) grows to hate her "Aunt Charlotte", now sour looking and stern, while Delia hasn't seemed to age at all.It's obvious that the egotistical Hopkins cared more about image than reality, while Davis doesn't give a crap, only wanting to play the part as written. That's not to dismiss Hopkins, giving a sincere performance, only changing her hair style slightly to indicate the passage of time. Donald Crisp as an old family friend is superb, while Louise Fazenda's old nurse delightfully loyal.This is excellent on every level, and I mark Davis's performance as even better than the one she managed to be nominated for in a year of hits, "Dark Victory". Davis doesn't even mind a shadow covering half her face, as if during this scene (where she practices disciplining Bryan) to indicate the shadow of a life her existence has become. I could watch all of Davis's classics back to back with only a break for sleep, and never be tired of them.

It's interesting to read our reviews of this film here at IMDb. Interestingly, most of our reviewers give it pretty decent marks, which was not what most reviewers said at the time of the film's original release. And I must concur with those reviewers some 70 years ago. Stodgy is a good descriptor for this film, and it seemed like it went on forever. And I say that as a tremendous fan of Bette Davis. And I note that this film was made at the beginning of what one might call "the golden age of Bette Davis". By this film was not gold, rather bronze.Many viewers will be disappointed in the demise of legendary Bette Davis costar George Brent very early in the film. As stodgy as this film is, particularly during much of its early scenes, it was rather daring that Davis' character had an illegitimate child, which she then raises as a foundling.I recently read that with Mariam Hopkins, you either thought she was wonderful, or horrible, with very little room in between. I tend to dislike her as an actress, though she had some roles that were tremendous. This is not one of them, though she is passable here.To be honest, it's the last 20 or so minutes of the film where you will find the best scenes by all the actresses, particularly some strong scenes by Davis. Before that, there are occasional strong scenes, with lots of pap in between. But that last 20 minutes...mmmmmmmm.The only other actor worth mentioning here is the great Donald Crisp, who is superb as the doctor and family friend.This film is worth watching, but I doubt it'll find its way to many home DVD shelves. Some of Bette Davis' films I can watch over and over and over. But not this one. Once is fine. Perhaps if the writers had totally redone the plot it might have been a great film...as great as its initial premise.

A spinster named Charlotte giving up her life for a girl named Tina. Sounds like the great "Now, Voyager." It's not as good but is passable.Davis plays a woman settling down to a grim spinsterhood after having an illegitimate child. She stays with relative Miriam Hopkins and the two battle it out as the years pass.The film is hurt by the fact that the vast majority of scenes take place in the house where the two are residing.The child, Tina, refers to Davis as Aunt Charlotte and in her bitterness, Davis is highly critical of her. In response, Tina often says nasty things to her.The theme of women giving up their lives to keep a major secret of illegitimacy hidden has often been shown in films. This time it's adequately done to the fine acting of Davis and Hopkins.

A lie prevents Charlotte Lovell from getting married to a decent man, Joseph Ralston. Delia, her scheming cousin, can't forgive Charlotte how she was able to get her old flame, Clem, even though she had refused to have anything to do with him when he returns home on her wedding day to the rich Jim Ralston.Charlotte, who is seen years later running a place for orphans of the Civil War, dotes on little Clementina, or Tina, as she calls her. One realizes it's not just an interest she shows, it's a mother love she displays. Fate intervenes again in bringing Charlotte and Tina to live with Delia, who loses her husband. Tina loves her new palatial surroundings and starts resenting Charlotte's discipline.When Tina falls for the handsome Lanning Halsey, she overhears his parents remarking that the young lady is an orphan and below their expectations for their son. Delia intervenes one more time in suggesting she will adopt Tina to give her a Ralston name and position. Charlotte wants Delia to tell Tina the truth and who the real mother is, but at the last moment has a change of heart when she looks at the radiant Tina as she is preparing to marry the man of her dreams.Bette Davis made a valuable contribution to the film. Her Charlotte is at the start an eager young woman who changes into a bitter person as she gets to know her cousin's betrayal and her daughter's cold treatment. Miriam Hopkins plays Delia, a selfish woman, with conviction. George Brent is only seen at the beginning of the film. He plays Clem, who goes to war, never to come back. Jane Bryan is Tina, the young lady unaware who her real mother is. Jerome Cowan, Donald Crisp, William Lundigan and the rest of the supporting cast do an excellent job.Edmund Goulding directed with an eye to the details in this adaptation of Edith Wharton's novel, which had been turned into a play for the New York stage. Max Steiner's music plays well against the background of the Civil War. Tony Gaudio's elegant cinematography is notable as it captures the essence of the story in vivid images.Although not one of Bette Davis' best films, it's a must for all fans of the actress' work. The best achievement is how we see her age in front of our eyes into a convincing old woman.