This week’s mystery movie was the 1939 Warner Bros. film The Old Maid, with Bette Davis, Miriam Hopkins, George Brent, Donald Crisp, Jane Bryan, Louise Fazenda, James Stephenson, Jerome Cowan, William Lundigan and Cecilia Loftus.
Screenplay by Casey Robinson.
Based on the Pulitzer Prize play by Zoe Akins and the novel by Edith Wharton.
Photographed by Tony Gaudio.
Edited by George Amy.
Art direction by Robert Haas.
Sound by C.A. Riggs.
Costumes by Orry-Kelly.
Makeup by Perc Westmore.
Orchestral arrangements by Hugo Friedhofer.
Musical direction by Leo F. Forbstein.
Directed by Edmund Goulding.
Music by Max Steiner.
Executive producer Hal B. Wallis.
Associate producer Henry Blanke.
Further information on The Old Maid is available from the AFI Catalog.
The Old Maid is available on DVD from Critics’ Choice Video.
::
I picked The Old Maid by going through the trades, continuing my exploration of Showmen’s Trade Review, which gave the film an excellent write-up. I was also intrigued by the review’s suggestions for promotional tie-ins with bookstores and newspapers, especially the notion of showing the movie to “inmates of a home for the aged” and teaser ads asking “Do you want to be an old maid?”
Because the film was adapted from the stage, I’m going to assume Bosley gave it at least a middling review.
What’s this? Frank S. Nugent? And he can’t exactly make up his mind! (The New York Times, August 12, 1939):
Whether Zoe Akins’s The Old Maid was a good play, as the Pulitzer Prize committee said in 1935, or an indifferent one, as most of the drama critics insisted, is of less consequence today than the point upon which they all were agreed: That it was a tremendously popular show of predominantly feminine appeal. For the same divergence of opinion is apt to be produced by the film edition of the play presented by the Warners at the Strand yesterday. It probably is not a good motion picture, professing as it does such strict allegiance to its theatrical parent; unquestionably it is as dated as the Victorian morals code which scourges its heroine through eight or nine reels. In the rudest terminology, it is a tear-jerker. But there can be no doubt about its popularity. It should go one and on. For a bad play, it makes a surprisingly good drama….
For Monday, we have the mysterious Back of the Leading Lady’s Head.
Update: This is Bette Davis as Back of the Head Woman.
For Tuesday, we have a mysterious girl. And Back of the Curls Woman.
Update: This is Marlene Burnett with Miriam Hopkins as Back of the Curls Woman.
For “Hm Wednesday,” we have a mystery woman and a mysterious companion, plus Back of the Head Guy.
Update: This is Cecilia Loftus and Jerome Cowan, right, with Donald Crisp as Back of the Head Guy.
Brain Trust roll call: Anne Papineau (mystery movie, Monday’s and Tuesday’s mystery guests and Tuesday’s Back of the Head Woman) and Mary Mallory (Monday’s mysterious Back of the Head Woman).
For “Aha Thursday,” we have a mysterious fellow and a mystery woman.
Update: This is William Lundigan and Jane Bryan.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (mystery movie, Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s mysterious guests and Back of the Head Persons), Stacia (mystery movie and Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s mystery guests and Back of the Head Persons), Funky PhD (Monday’s Back of the Curls Woman and Wednesday’s mysterious fellow No. 2), SuznChaz (mystery movie, all mysterious guests and Back of the Head Persons), Incredible Inman (mystery movie, Monday’s Back of the Curls Woman and Wednesday’s mysterious fellows), Mike Hawks (mystery movie, Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s mystery guests), Anne Papineau (Wednesday’s mystery guests and Back of the Head Guy), Sylvia (mystery movie and all mystery guests and Back of the Head Persons), L.C. (mystery movie and mysterious cast), Greg (mystery movie, Wednesday’s mystery fellows and Back of the Head Women) and Megan and Thom (mystery movie, all mystery guests plus Back of the Head Persons).
For Friday, we have two mysterious women.
Update: This is Miriam Hopkins, left, and Bette Davis.
Also for Friday, a mysterious man and mystery woman.
Update: This is George Brent and Bette Davis.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Thursday’s mystery guests), Mike Hawks (Thursday’s mystery guests), Dan Nather (Wednesday’s mysterious fellow No. 2), Benito (mystery movie, Wednesday’s and Thursday’s mystery guests), Sylvia (Thursday’s mystery guests) and Anne Papineau (Thursday’s mystery guests).
ladailymirror.com 
Monday – 1930s picture – Merle Oberon – just because her name popped into my head on seeing this image.
LikeLike
Right era, but another actress!
LikeLike
For no particular reason: Merle Oberon?
LikeLike
That’s two votes for Merle!
LikeLike
Bette Davis, and on Tuesday, Marlene Burnett and Miriam Hopkins in “The Old Maid.”
LikeLike
ALL THIS AND HEAVEN TOO, and the back of Bette Davis’ head.
LikeLike
SECRETS (1933). Mary Pickford BOTH and Ellen Johnson today.
LikeLike
THE OLD MAID. Marlene Burnett and Miriam Hopkins BOTH Tuesday, Donald Crisp BOTH, Cecilia Loftus and Jerome Cowan today.
LikeLike
The Old Maid (1939)! I kept staring at Tuesday’s mystery Back of the Curls Woman and thinking it was Miriam Hopkins but wasn’t sure until I saw Wednesday’s mystery Back of the Head guy, who is Donald Crisp. I think Miriam is also Monday’s mystery Back of the Leading Lady’s Head but I’m not sure, the exciting hats in this movie all kind of look the same to me. Tuesday’s mystery girl is Marlene Burnett. Wednesday’s mystery woman is Cecilia Loftus I believe, mysterious companion is Jerome Cowan.
LikeLike
Wednesday’s mysterious companion is Jerome Cowan. Mr. Skeffington? If so, that would make Monday’s leading lady Bette Davis.
LikeLike
THE OLD MAID (1939) with Bette Davis (Monday), Miriam Hopkins (back of the head), Marlene Burnet as the little girl, Donald Crisp, Jerome Cowan and Cecilia Loftus as the old lady.
LikeLike
Wednesday for sure — Jerome Cowan. Wednesday for maybe — Donald Crisp BOTHG. Movie, I think — “The Old Maid,” which makes Monday’s mystery woman Bette Davis.
LikeLike
Miriam Hopkins, Marlene Burnett, Donald Crisp, Cecilia Loftus and Jerome Cowan in THE OLD MAID.
LikeLike
On Wednesday, Donald Crisp, Cecilia Loftus and Jerome Cowan
LikeLike
The Old Maid 1939
Mon – Bette Davis BOTHW
Tues – Marlene Burnett and Marion Hopkins BOTHW
Wed – Jerome Cowan, Donald Crisp BOTHG and Cecilia Loftus
LikeLike
The Old Maid (1939) Bette Davis, Miriam Hopkins, George Brent, Jerome Cowan, Donald Crisp, Marlene Burnett, Cecilia Loftus…
LikeLike
The movie is The Old Maid, 1939.
Donald Crisp, Jerome Cowan, Miriam Hopkins, Bette Davis.
LikeLike
I should have gone with my first instinct; I should have looked at Bette Davis’s other costumes, not just her wedding outfit. Our movie is The Old Maid. Our stars are Jerome Cowan, Donald Crisp, Marlene Burnett, Miriam Hopkins, and Bette Davis.
LikeLike
William Lundigan and Jane Bryan.
LikeLike
William Lundigan and Jane Bryan.
LikeLike
I’m inclined to guess MR. SKEFFINGTON, if for no other reason than seeing Jerome Cowan in a period suit . . .
LikeLike
William Lundigan and Jane Bryan and Jerome Cowan in THE OLD MAID 1939. Back of the head guy may be Donald Crisp.
LikeLike
Thu – William Lundigan and Jane Bryan
LikeLike
William Lundigan and Jane Bryan
LikeLike
Miriam and Bette, George Brent and Bette Davis.
LikeLike
Miriam and Bette and George.
LikeLike
Fri – Bette Davis and Miriam Hopkins
George Brent and Bette Davis
LikeLike
Oh gosh, I see now that Monday was Bette! That’s her in the same hat with George Brent. Aha Thursday is William Lundigan I think, but definitely Jane Bryan with him. Friday is a rare photo of Bette *not* shaking the stuffing outta Miriam!
LikeLike