Year: 1943
Director: Vincent Sherman
Cast: Miriam Hopkins, Bette Davis, Gig Young, John Loder
Another women’s weeper pairing two combustible participants: Bette Davis (Kit Marlowe) and Hopkins (Millie). These women are friends but rivals. When Kit publishes a big Broadway hit of a play, she becomes famous in Manhattan circles. Not to be outdone, Millie begins to write trashy romances and they ironically are gobbled up by the reading public. Despite being a hack, Millie has a great deal more financial success than her “friend” who is a respected artist. Hopkin’s character’s obsession with writing alienates her husband Preston — played by John Loder — and he sours on their union. When he confesses to Kit that he really loves her, she rejects him. However, Preston divorces Millie anyway.
MH portrays a female type that I am very familiar with having dated several of them over the years. Bergman calls them pathological narcissists and numerous pictures he’s completed cast this kind of woman in prominent roles. Millie’s focus on life is so myopic that she selfishly concocts plans that are indifferent to the people around her. She expects everyone to incorporate her life design as their own. To not get onboard is to carve a miserable existense for yourself, at least if you don’t break free from such a woman. Needless to say, by the picture’s end the romance novelist has alienated everyone around her. Except oddly, not Kit. Though she has been the picture of propriety throughout this story, Kit has somehow managed to push away any amorous entanglements that might be permanent. When a handsome man 10 years younger proposes marriage to Kit, she rebuffs him.
In the famous Davis/Hopkins moment Kit becomes irate that Millie is oblivious to how good her life has been, culminating in the former shaking the snot out of the latter. Art imitating life? Still, we see them toasting to a New Year in the final shot implying that the two writers are all they have. Sorority sisters if you will. Old Acquaintance is a good film and I really responded to the female archetype played by Hopkins. She’s such a nasty person on the screen that I can’t help but love MH’s performance.
Obscure Classics 
June 2, 2009 at 8:26 am
James,
just an fYI – On August 20th TCM is playing Miriam Hopkins films all day long!
June 2, 2009 at 4:24 pm
Thanks for the tip, John!
June 5, 2009 at 8:45 am
OLD ACQUAINTANCE is a wonderful film. A little less well known as THE OLD MAID, it is just as good and it’s stars have just as much chemistry (animosity?) as they did in the earlier film. I agree with you on Miriam Hopkins character and relating to her. Both ladies did a fine job. I always thought how grand it would have been if Hopkins had been cast as Blanche opposite Davis in BABY JANE!! What a hoot.
Rupert
June 5, 2009 at 2:11 pm
Rupert,
No doubt Hopkins made a better foil for Davis on film. Crawford is so ingrained in my mind for that role but what an interesting casting change you propose!
October 11, 2009 at 1:24 pm
The chemistry between Davis and Hopkins is wonderful. You can see the sparks flying as they attempt to upstage one another. A very worthy companion piece to Baby Jane.