The Great Lie

Released Apr 12, 1941

1h 47m

Romance

List

60%

5 Reviews

Tomatometer

71%

500+ Ratings

Audience Score

After her long-time boyfriend, pilot Pete Van Allen (George Brent), marries fiery concert pianist Sandra Kovak (Mary Astor) while drunk, Maggie Patterson (Bette Davis) is heartbroken. Pete learns the marriage is illegal, yet dutifully offers to remarry Sandra. But when she refuses to alter a performance date to do so, Pete returns to Maggie and marries her. Soon after, Pete goes missing on a flight -- and when Maggie learns Sandra is carrying Pete's baby, she makes the pianist a shocking offer.

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John Kinloch

California Eagle

This is another in the series of intelligent, talkative pictures of which La Davis has become the patron saint.

Oct 31, 2019

Full Review

Elena de la Torre

Cine-Mundial

For Mary Astor this movie has been a real resurrection, as an artist, an elegant woman, as well as a notable pianist. [Full review in Spanish]

Sep 17, 2019

Full Review

Wesley Lovell

Cinema Sight

Predictable to a fault, even Bette Davis can't save this film.

Rated: 2.5/4

Aug 16, 2011

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

This Edmund Goulding-Bette Davis soap opera has achieved notoriety for several reasons, a presposterous plot, Mary Astor's one and only Oscar, and catfights on the set between the two ladies!

Rated: B-

Dec 17, 2009

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

I'd be lying if I said I enjoyed this absurd sudser.

Rated: C+

Feb 15, 2008

Full Review

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StephenPaul C

The greatest 01 hour: and 47 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/07/23

Full Review

Mark A

Superior soap opera starring Bette Davis.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/20/22

Full Review

david l

The Great Lie is a 40s melodrama with such a preposterous plot that is unbelievable and just plain ridiculous. However, its leading ladies at least managed to elevate this trashy material to a degree, leading to a serviceable movie overall. Bette Davis was excellent as always, but it is Mary Astor who entirely stole the show from her in one powerhouse Oscar-winning turn.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Great fun! A campy melodrama with Bette Davis and Mary Astor have a field day.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/08/21

Full Review

steve d

Mary Astor makes this a must see with her best proformance (in a long line of great performances)

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

jona i

Not as dangerous as the title suggests, but it holds some dramatic intrigue

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Edmund Goulding

Director

Bette Davis

Maggie Patterson Van Allen

George Brent

Peter "Pete" Van Allen

Mary Astor

Sandra Kovak

Lucile Watson

Aunt Ada Greenfield

Hattie McDaniel

Violet

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Intermezzo

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Synopsis

After her long-time boyfriend, pilot Pete Van Allen (George Brent), marries fiery concert pianist Sandra Kovak (Mary Astor) while drunk, Maggie Patterson (Bette Davis) is heartbroken. Pete learns the marriage is illegal, yet dutifully offers to remarry Sandra. But when she refuses to alter a performance date to do so, Pete returns to Maggie and marries her. Soon after, Pete goes missing on a flight -- and when Maggie learns Sandra is carrying Pete's baby, she makes the pianist a shocking offer.

Director: Edmund Goulding
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Warner Brothers/Seven Arts
Genre: Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 12, 1941, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 21, 2016
Runtime: 1h 47m

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