The Old Maid backdrop
The Old Maid logo
1939·Drama·1h 35m
7.1
The lives of two cousins are complicated by the return of an ex-boyfriend and an illegitimate child.
Directed by Edmund Goulding
philadelphia, pennsylvania
based on novel or book
brother
orphanage
romantic rivalry
american civil war
illegitimate child
19th century
old maid

Cast

Bette Davis
Bette Davis
Charlotte Lovell
Miriam Hopkins
Miriam Hopkins
Delia Lovell Ralston
George Brent
George Brent
Clem Spender
Donald Crisp
Donald Crisp
Doctor Lanskell
Jane Bryan
Jane Bryan
Clementina
Louise Fazenda
Louise Fazenda
Dora
James Stephenson
James Stephenson
Jim Ralston
Jerome Cowan
Jerome Cowan
Joe Ralston
William Lundigan
William Lundigan
Lanning Halsey
Cecilia Loftus
Cecilia Loftus
Grandmother Lovell
Rand Brooks
Rand Brooks
Jim
Janet Shaw
Janet Shaw
Dee

Crew

Edmund Goulding
Edmund Goulding
Director
Casey Robinson
Casey Robinson
Screenplay
Max Steiner
Max Steiner
Original Music Composer
Tony Gaudio
Tony Gaudio
Director of Photography
Hal B. Wallis
Hal B. Wallis
Executive Producer
Edith Wharton
Edith Wharton
Novel
Zoë Akins
Zoë Akins
Theatre Play
Orry-Kelly
Orry-Kelly
Costume Design
Hugo Friedhofer
Hugo Friedhofer
Orchestrator

Popular Reviews

13 reviews
Sean
Sean
The Old Maid
So beautiful! I knew when I saw ‘screenplay by Casey Robinson’ this had the potential to be a new golden age and Bette Davis favorite of mine and I’m so glad that’s exactly what I got from it. With this being Bette watch #13 I feel like a broken record saying this but she’s once again amazing here and this movie in particular is maybe the best I’ve seen in displaying her range, She plays a blissful, young, love-stricken girl in the first act, in the second she’s burdened by grief but still has hope in her life, and in the third she evolves into a cold person completely unrecognizable from the first two, it really feels like the ultimate Bette Davis experience which simply couldn’t appeal more to my taste. I’d say this is also my favorite work from Miriam Hopkins I’ve seen so far, just through three movies I can already tell she kinda did the same thing with every character she had but her vibe fit like a glove here and she was a delightful screen-mate to Bette. Yet even with those two the most of my enjoyment here came from Casey Robinson’s screenplay, he was already quickly becoming one of my favorite writers of all time with movies like Now, Voyager and It’s Love I’m After and this one I’m really starting to believe that he might be one of the best screenwriters ever for my taste. If I had one little nitpick in regards to the story I’d say the time-skips could’ve felt a little more seamless but that’s truly a nitpick and didn’t impact my experience at all. I also thought the technical work was more than deserving of my four, it’s shot and edited nicely throughout and the costumes, especially at the weddings, looked beautiful, I have no complaints with the way this was made and sometimes that’s all you really need when you have a story as good as this. It may be simple in its the way it tells its story but the concept of this family drama is truly one of the most complex and unique I’ve seen in a while, and with the beautiful writing and great performances throughout I’m happy to say this really worked for me and if you love movies like this as much as I do it’s definitely worth a try.
So beautiful! I knew when I saw ‘screenplay by Casey Robinson’ this had the potential to be a new golden age and Bette Davis favorite of mine and I’m so glad that’s exactly what I got from it. With this being Bette watch #13 I feel like a broken record saying this but she’s once again amazing here and this movie in particular is maybe the best I’ve seen in displaying her range, She plays a blissful, young, love-stricken girl in the first act, in the second she’s burdened by grief but still has hope in her life, and in the third she evolves into a cold person completely unrecognizable from the first two, it really feels like the ultimate Bette Davis experience which simply couldn’t appeal more to my taste. I’d say this is also my favorite work from Miriam Hopkins I’ve seen so far, just through three movies I can already tell she kinda did the same thing with every character she had but her vibe fit like a glove here and she was a delightful screen-mate to Bette. Yet even with those two the most of my enjoyment here came from Casey Robinson’s screenplay, he was already quickly becoming one of my favorite writers of all time with movies like Now, Voyager and It’s Love I’m After and this one I’m really starting to believe that he might be one of the best screenwriters ever for my taste. If I had one little nitpick in regards to the story I’d say the time-skips could’ve felt a little more seamless but that’s truly a nitpick and didn’t impact my experience at all. I also thought the technical work was more than deserving of my four, it’s shot and edited nicely throughout and the costumes, especially at the weddings, looked beautiful, I have no complaints with the way this was made and sometimes that’s all you really need when you have a story as good as this. It may be simple in its the way it tells its story but the concept of this family drama is truly one of the most complex and unique I’ve seen in a while, and with the beautiful writing and great performances throughout I’m happy to say this really worked for me and if you love movies like this as much as I do it’s definitely worth a try.
Favorite
Comment
Aisyouu
Aisyouu
The Old Maid
WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK, AND SHE NEVER TELL HER, WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH THIS MOVIE, WHY IS IT SO HARD TO TELL HER OMG, I HATE DELIA I HATE DELIA I HATE DELIA, FUCKING ASS
WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK, AND SHE NEVER TELL HER, WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH THIS MOVIE, WHY IS IT SO HARD TO TELL HER OMG, I HATE DELIA I HATE DELIA I HATE DELIA, FUCKING ASS
Favorite
Comment
lian
lian
The Old Maid
I saw someone said that clems was supposed to be played by bogie. IT SICKENS ME! I would’ve perfectly understood why they're  so in love with Clems, if it was him
I saw someone said that clems was supposed to be played by bogie. IT SICKENS ME! I would’ve perfectly understood why they're  so in love with Clems, if it was him
Favorite
Comment
lian
lian
The Old Maid
I saw someone said that clems was supposed to be played by bogie. IT SICKENS ME! I would’ve perfectly understood why they're  so in love with Clems, if it was him
I saw someone said that clems was supposed to be played by bogie. IT SICKENS ME! I would’ve perfectly understood why they're  so in love with Clems, if it was him
Favorite
Comment
ChaiclassicsPRO
The Old Maid
Great
Great
Favorite
Comment