Die alte Jungfer (1939)

Die alte Jungfer: Directed by Edmund Goulding. With Bette Davis, Miriam Hopkins, George Brent, Donald Crisp. 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.

“Old Maid, The (1939)u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003e*** (out of 4)u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eExceptional version of the Pultzer Prize winning play has Bette Davis and Miriam Hopkins making for more high-class Warner drama. In the film, Davis gets pregnant by her cousinu0026#39;s (Hopkins) old flame (George Brent) so instead of facing public scorn, she opens a home for children where she raises the daughter as a stranger. A few years later after the death of Hopkinsu0026#39; husband, she tells the girl that sheu0026#39;s her mother while her real mother takes a place in the background and grows to be an old maid while watching her child grow up not knowing who she is. I really wasnu0026#39;t sure what to expect out of this film, which seems to have been partially forgotten but perhaps this is due to it being released in 1939, a year with countless great films and not to mention Davis being in three other highly popular films in DARK VICTORY, JUAREZ and THE PRIVATE LIVES OF ELIZABETH AND ESSEX. This film perfectly blends the drama and makes for a very entertaining film even though some of the subject matter might hit new viewers as being old-fashioned but one much remember when this film takes place. What I enjoyed most about the movie is that many scripts would have fallen into a good guy/bad guy range. It would have been very easy to make Davis the sad, good girl while painting the Hopkins character as evil but the film isnu0026#39;t that easy. While you canu0026#39;t help but feel sorry for Davis you also can understand why Hopkins wants to protect the kid in her own way. The level of dirtiness that Hopkins sinks to will certainly make people hate her but you can also put some of that to the side when you really think about whatu0026#39;s best for the kid. Both Davis and Hopkins turn in excellent performances as both really sink their teeth into the roles. The aging make up effects really donu0026#39;t work but Iu0026#39;m curious if this was because neither actress wanted to be buried under all the make up. George Brent is impressive in his small role as is Donald Crisp as the caring doctor. Considering what all 1939 had going for it, itu0026#39;s easy to see why this film has been overlooked but itu0026#39;s certainly worth checking out and deserve a new group of fans.”