Evening star., 1939-08-19

Miriam Hopkins and young Jane.
Bryan opportunities to turn in three
of the most moving studies of the
so-called weaker sex that one picture
has offered in a long time. One must
have faith that such confusion as
theirs existed because people could
not think as freely in those days,
but the performances of the major
characters makes faith comparative
ly simple.
The screen version of The Old
Maid" which adheres very closely to
Zoe Atkins dramatization of Edith
Wharton's novel of the same name,
is almost a photograph of stage
play That is one of the things
which movie is supposed not to be,
but this one manages to be highly
dramatic in spite of that circum-
stance. That's acting for you-and
you and you. One is held fascinated
by it even when the mind is con-
fused as to just why the various
characters should be acting that
way.
Mrs Wharton, who wrote always
of genteel people, was concerned
with a nice Philadelphia family in
THE Old Maid They were the
kind of people on whose necks the
breath of scandal should never blow,
a thing which created no end of
difficult situation when impetuous,
human Charlotte Lowell became the
mother of nameless child.
Because the part is played by
Miss Davis, Charlotte pays for her
sin in fashion that should be
exquisitely satisfying to the mex
orable movie CODE The father,
played by George Brent, happens
to have been the mad suitor of
Charlotte's cousin. When he dies
IN the Civil War, and the child's
paternity becomes common know
ledge between the cousins, life
settles down to a battle between
them for the paramount place in
its affections. The real mother
loses.
The reason therefor may appear
rather fuzzy at this point in his
tory, but Miss Davis and Miss Hop
kins. with the assistance OF Miss
Bryan as the unhappily placed Off
spring of Charlotte, make the sit
uation seem plausible for its time
in spite of the limitations of the
script on the point.
One does not have to understand
why tand one could not If one
would Miss Davis Charlotte had
to reverse roles with Sedate Cousin
Della after the formers child was
born, to realize that she is giving
a stunning performance. For the
childs good, she felt it necessary
to tear out of her heart every shred
of the warmth, love, understanding
and kindness she showed its father.
She is actress enough to make it
a heart-rending exhibition, even
though Miss Hopkins Della is the
more sympathetic character during
the process.
The part of Della, incidentally,
calls for quite as much of change
of mood. In the beginning, she is
the cold shoulder of the two cousins.
a heartless, uncompromlSlng rich
wench who could sacrifice love for
family standard. She changes COM
pletely in the course of the plays
movement.
Between two such actresses as
Miss Davis and Miss Hopkins, few
youngsters could look so capable
as Miss Bryan. In spite of her
youth and their talents. however,
she comes through scene after scene
with the two of them holding up
her end OF the story with complete
conviction With the bitterly frus-
trated mother played by Miss Davis,
she shares the copious tears that
The Old Maid" wins from the aud
iences.
Situations like that of this drama
were not to be laughed at in its
day and Director Edmund Goulding
has not tried to make believe there