

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

Trailer

IMDB
N/A
Where to Watch



Cast

Bette Davis
Charlotte Lovell

Miriam Hopkins
Delia Lovell Ralston

George Brent
Clem Spender

Donald Crisp
Doctor Lanskell

Jane Bryan
Clementina

Louise Fazenda
Dora

James Stephenson
Jim Ralston

Jerome Cowan
Joe Ralston

William Lundigan
Lanning Halsey

Cecilia Loftus
Grandmother Lovell

Rand Brooks
Jim

Janet Shaw
Dee
Crew

Edmund Goulding
Director

Casey Robinson
Screenplay

Max Steiner
Original Music Composer

Tony Gaudio
Director of Photography

Hal B. Wallis
Executive Producer
Edith Wharton
Novel

Zoë Akins
Theatre Play

Orry-Kelly
Costume Design

Hugo Friedhofer
Orchestrator
Popular Reviews
13 reviews
Sean
8.0★ · 04/22/26

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.
Aisyouu
10.0★ · 12/31/25

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
lian
4.0★ · 08/08/25

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
lian
4.0★ · 08/08/25

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
ChaiclassicsPRO
9.0★ · 03/28/22

Great
Great