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The Old Maid

Play trailer Poster for The Old Maid Released Aug 16, 1939 1h 35m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 4 Reviews 76% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
After disappearing for two years, Clem Spender (George Brent) returns on the day his former fiancée, Delia (Miriam Hopkins), is marrying another man. Her cousin Charlotte (Bette Davis) sneaks away with Clem, who enlists in the Union Army the next day and dies soon after. Charlotte and Clem's child, Clementina, grows up not knowing critical Charlotte is her mother. Jealous of Charlotte's affair, Delia pretends to be Clementina's mother, sabotaging mother and child's relationship.
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The Old Maid

Critics Reviews

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Russell Maloney The New Yorker The characters are well conceived, they react credibly, and they actually develop as the action progresses. The story is adult, insofar as it is concerned with something beyond getting a certain girl into the arms of a certain man. But how dull it is! Sep 6, 2018 Full Review Fernando F. Croce CinePassion A well-oiled assembly of betrayals, vendettas, and maternal passion plays Nov 11, 2009 Full Review Steve Crum Video-Reviewmaster.com Bette Davis at the peak of her acting chops, a brilliant, melodramatic role. Rated: 5/5 Nov 1, 2008 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 4/5 Jul 19, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Steve D It has been done better but the acting is great. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/11/24 Full Review william d Overwrought, and frankly a bit boring, melodrama. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member I liked the movie very much! It kept me guessing throughout. I love the old movies as you just never know whats going to happen next. Plus the actors are so much more talented than some actors of today and the plots more interesting! This film was made in 1939 and was beautifully written, directed and the talent was superb! You just don't see that much today. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/12/23 Full Review Audience Member Excessive melodramatic histrionic film with a plot that would be impossible to realize in real life. But in the movies, anything goes... Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/16/23 Full Review ashley h The Old Maid is an amazing film. It is about the arrival of an ex-lover on a young woman's wedding day sets in motion a chain of events which will alter her and her cousin's lives forever. Bette Davis and Miriam Hopkins give incredible performances. The screenplay is well written. Edmund Goulding did a great job directing this movie. I enjoyed watching this motion picture because of the drama. The Old Maid is a must see. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review joe m A two handkerchief film even given the preposterous chain of events. Starts in 1860 at the outbreak of the Civil War. Davis and Hopkins are in top form as cousins who have affection for the same man (Brent) whom Hopkins jilts and Davis then gets on the re-bound just before he goes off to get killed at Vicksburg. It then fast forwards to the early 1880's where the various secrets, contrivances, sacrifices and love mixed with bitterness all come to a head. The film is superbly enhanced by posh sets and spectacular gowns and costumes. Unadulterated melodrama done at its very best. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Old Maid

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Cast & Crew

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Edmund Goulding

Director

Bette Davis

Charlotte Lovell

Miriam Hopkins

Delia Lovell Ralston

George Brent

Lt. Clem Spender

Donald Crisp

Dr. Lanskell

Jane Bryan

Clementina
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The Old Maid

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Movie Info

Synopsis After disappearing for two years, Clem Spender (George Brent) returns on the day his former fiancée, Delia (Miriam Hopkins), is marrying another man. Her cousin Charlotte (Bette Davis) sneaks away with Clem, who enlists in the Union Army the next day and dies soon after. Charlotte and Clem's child, Clementina, grows up not knowing critical Charlotte is her mother. Jealous of Charlotte's affair, Delia pretends to be Clementina's mother, sabotaging mother and child's relationship.
Director
Edmund Goulding
Production Co
Warner Bros.
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 16, 1939, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 1, 2009
Runtime
1h 35m
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