THE OLD MAID
US, 1939, 95 minutes, Black and white.
Bette Davis, Miriam Hopkins, George Brent, Jane Bryan, Donald Crisp, Louise Fazenda, Henry Stephenson, Jerome Cowan, William Lundigan, Rand Brooks.
Directed by Edmund Goulding.
The Old Maid is a Bette Davis classic. The screenplay is by veteran Casey Robinson from a prize-winning play by Zoe Akins. The original novel was by Edith Wharton.
Bette Davis and Miriam Hopkins worked so well that they were later teamed together in the 1943 Old Acquaintance.
The film has a Civil War setting, focuses on two cousins and their love for the one man, their emotional clashes, the understated fight for the affections of Bette Davis's daughter. The film is highly emotional, especially the scenes between the two women. However, it is done in the best Warner Bros style - dated now, but nevertheless still fascinating for the courage of its convictions in going full ahead with the emotional conflicts. The film has a Max Steiner score.
1. The film as a classic, a piece of Americana? Bette Davis vehicle?
2. Production values: black and white photography, costumes, period decor? The score?
3. The titles, expectations, the theme?
4. The setting: Delia's wedding, the house, the family, the grandmother and her tantrums, the doctor? Charlotte fussing? Promising to tell the grandmother the details? The arrival of the telegram, Delia's reaction, the tension, Charlotte going to the station to meet Clem, the shock of the news to him? His going to the house, the confrontation with Delia? Giving her the locket? His disappointment? Charlotte chasing him and going with him? The wedding and its consequences?
5. The Civil War, mobilisation, Clem going to the war, the farewell to Delia, the farewell to Charlotte? The collage of the years? His death?
6. Charlotte and the orphans, her doing good? Special care for Tina? The doctor and her concern? The story of her going west for her health? The prospect of marrying Joe Ralston? Of giving up the orphans?
7. Delia and married life, her visit to Charlotte to try to persuade her to give up the orphans? Preparations for the wedding? Charlotte telling her the truth about Tina? Stirring up the jealousies of Clem? Delia's reaction, the story of Charlotte's ill-health? Joe as a gentleman, consulting the doctor, letting Charlotte go?
8. The crisis in Jim Ralston's health, Delia and the effect of his death? Charlotte and her coming, her hatred for Delia, learning the truth about the wedding and her story?
9. Christmas, the gifts, Charlotte and Tina staying with Delia? The children saying their prayers together, Tina calling Delia `Mummy' and Charlotte `Aunt Charlotte'? The invitation to stay? The passing of the years, Tina growing up? Becoming headstrong, the devotion to Delia, Charlotte's continual criticism?
10. Delia's daughter's wedding? Tina's reaction, Lan? His family, her status? The prospect of marriage? Delia's proposal about adopting Tina? Charlotte agreeing? The proposed marriage?
11. Tina and her hostility towards Charlotte, calling her an old maid, contrasting her with Delia and her youthfulness? The dance after the wedding, Charlotte's fuss, managing the house in all its detail? The preparation for the wedding, the rehearsal? Charlotte's clashes with Lan?
12. Charlotte's decision to tell Tina the truth? The clash with Delia? Her inability to say the truth? Delia's change of heart, intimating the truth to Tina and asking her to farewell Charlotte last?
13. Delia and Charlotte together, Delia's talk to the doctor about the future? His advice? The farewells, arm in arm back to the house?
14. Themes of manners and morals, the relationship between husband and wife - servant to the husband? Family? Themes of position and society? A piece of Americana?
