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Bette Davis, Miriam Hopkins, George Brent, Donald Crisp, Jane Bryan ... see more see more... , Louise Fazenda , James Stephenson , Jerome Cowan , William Lundigan , Cecilia Loftus , Rand Brooks , Janet Shaw , Marlene Burnett , Frederick Burton , Rod Cameron , William Hopper , Doris Lloyd

When Zoë Akins' play The Old Maid (based on a novel by Edith Wharton) won the 1934-1935 Pulitzer Prize, the selection was roundly condemned by critics, who felt that Lillian Hellman's The Children's H... read more read more...our was more deserving, but had lost because of its lesbian theme. Certainly, Akins' story of the relationship between two Southern cousins in the years between 1833 and 1854 is nothing spectacular. Delia Lovell marries James Ralston, leaving her old beau Clem Spender out in the cold. Delia's cousin Charlotte comforts Clem by spending the night with him. Charlotte becomes pregnant, secretly farming out her daughter, Tina, to another family. The years pass; Charlotte sets up a day nursery so that she may remain close to her daughter (still in the dark as to the true identity of her mother). Meanwhile, Charlotte has become engaged to Ralston's brother Joseph. The troublesome Delia, who discovers her cousin's secret, contrives to prevent Charlotte from marrying Joseph, then arranges to have Charlotte raise Tina as her niece rather than her daughter. More years pass; Tina regards Delia as her mama and Charlotte as just an "old maid." At Tina's wedding, Charlotte almost reveals the truth to her daughter, but.....It's all slick romance-magazine stuff, and hardly worthy of the Pulitzer. On the other hand, the film version of The Old Maid, starring Bette Davis as Charlotte and Miriam Hopkins as Delia, is a classic of its kind, and one of Davis' best vehicles. The story is given additional substance by moving the early scenes up to the time of the Civil War, making Clem Spender (George Brent) less of a cad by killing him off at Vicksburg, thus rendering it impossible for Clem to make an honest woman of Charlotte. From the vantage point of the 1990s, when film stars find it difficult to turn out more than one picture a year, it is incredible that The Old Maid was but one of four first-rate Bette Davis films to be released in 1939; the others were Dark Victory, Juarez, and The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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77% liked it

485 ratings

Unrated, 1 hr. 36 min.

Directed by: Edmund Goulding

Release Date: August 16, 1939

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DVD Release Date: April 1, 2008

Stats: 48 reviews

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Bette Davis and Miriam Hopkins The Old Maid
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Flixster Reviews (48)

  • groaningbitch
    May 20, 2008
    groaningbitch
    "the old maid" is a tear-jerking melodrama about unrequited love and maternal sacrifice, another soap opera-alike flick to showcase bette davis' craftmanship.

    davis plays a woman who loves her best friend's former beau(george brent) whom she elopes with after he confirms her c... read moreancellation of their engagement. so davis takes over her best friend's former finacee and concieves of his child. later on davis constructs a orphanage to conceal the real identity of her own daughter. then her best friend adopts her child (seemingly just an orphan) so these two women together raise the child of the man they both love for years while davis remains disgracefully "the old maid" at the cost of another chance of potential marriage. but indignantly when her own child grows up, she resents davis' severe upbringing, deeming her real mother just her auntie charlotte, mocking davis as "the old maid"....at last, the child follows her adopted mom's advice to kiss her aunt on the cheek before she departs on the carriage with her groom after the wedding.

    undeniably, miss davis is a talented actress who is willing to uglify herself with elder-woman cosmetics to fit into the needs of the script. but the whole story is utterly over-sentimental with overlonged plot developments, dragged and delayed, just like accompanying your elder parents to watch a soap opera which you cannot wait for it to end!

    davis usually selects movies with hidden preachy messages to encourage female audience to be strong and courageous, and she shall be the representative of the new brave woman, a role model there to cheer women on their own stance to serve the puritanical feminine virtues. "the old maid" is too healthy to disgest into the stomach of every cynist or skeptist. you cannot help but exclaim "another chic flick!" personally i don't consider it defying to comply to a man's whimsical wills and devote your life to an obscured belief of love. maybe it's more fun to see a brittle joan crawford pose a gun and remark "the world ain't made for nice guys!" ha.
  • neffielee
    July 27, 2009
    neffielee
    A well-done meloncholy drama of a lively young debutante turned bitter old-maid.
  • inhonoredglory
    February 10, 2012
    inhonoredglory
    The plot didn't move much, although the Civil War beginning got my attention. An interesting theme worth gaining in the end, but just a little slow for me.
  • PinkMinkPrincess
    August 3, 2011
    PinkMinkPrincess
    In the 1800's Unwed Mothers were Shunned & the Moral Ritual forbade Marriage.Charlotte's(Bette Davis) unrequited Love lead her to an indiscretion with the Man(George Brent) she Loved, who was once her Cousin's (Miriam Hopkins)Betrothed.Charlotte goes away to hide her pregnancy, t... read morehe Father Dies in the Civil War.She opens an orphanage for "Foundlings" of War to hide her child amongst the other Children, never revealing she is her Mother.Charolette confides in her Cousin on her Wedding Night, & her Cousin Stops her Wedding, forcing her into a Lonely Spinsterhood.When her Cousins Husband dies, Charlotte is talked into Moving with her Secret Child into her Cousins more affluent Home.The Cousin assumes(in every way) Motherhood of her Daughter(Jane Bryon).Charlotte becomes the Embittered Spinster Aunt that watches her own Daughter grow up Loving the Cousin she thinks as her Adopted Mother,but resenting her(Charlotte).It is Heartbreaking to watch this beautiful sacrifice unfold.
  • jam233
    January 4, 2010
    jam233
    What a great film this is. Bette Davis is magnificent, I love her films from the 1930's and 1940's. You can sense the real life animosity between Davis and co-star Miriam Hopkins. I think it helps the film work as well as it does. Great story, excellent production, particularly t... read morehe costumes and art direction. A great classic.
  • sepio41
    October 23, 2008
    sepio41
    bette davis and miriam hopkins are brilliant in this tale of love denied and jealousy. it is beautifully produced and all the elements from the score of max steiner, the camera work, the stunning costumes by orry-kelly and many others is top-notch.

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Critic Reviews

Fernando F. Croce
November 11, 2009
Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion

A well-oiled assembly of betrayals, vendettas, and maternal passion plays Full Review

Steve Crum
November 1, 2008
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com

Bette Davis at the peak of her acting chops, a brilliant, melodramatic role.

March 26, 2009
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Frank S. Nugent
March 25, 2006
Frank S. Nugent, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Emanuel Levy
July 19, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

May 24, 2003
Film4

Click to read the article Full Review

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The Old Maid Trivia

  • what movie is base on old t.v. show with 6 children & 1 maid; the children were joined when their parents got married?  Answer »
  • Today, I got married, discovered my two old maid aunts are murderers, was reunited with one brother, committed the other, and found out I'm not a Brewster. What movie?  Answer »
  • What 1951 film had this quote :" Well I aint sorry for you no more ya crazy psalm -singing skinny old maid "?  Answer »
  • "The African Queen" took a treacherous journey down the Congo when it debuted in movie theatres in 1951. He was the rough and rugged captain and she the prissy old maid, but the chemistry was amazing. Who were the two admired Hollywood actors who starred in this unforgettable film?  Answer »
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