|
Old Acquaintance |  | Directors: Chuck Jones, Ralph Staub, Vincent Sherman
Actors: Bette Davis, Miriam Hopkins, William Boyd, Joe E. Brown, Virginia Bruce
Studio: Warner Home Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $19.98
Buy New: $4.27
as of 9/10/2010 06:32 EDT details
You Save: $15.71 (79%)
New (34) Used (14) from $4.25
Seller: coastbooks100
Rating:  12 reviews
Sales Rank: 26143
Format: Full Screen, Dubbed, DVD, Subtitled, NTSC
Languages: Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), English (Original Language), French (Dubbed)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Region: 1
Discs: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Running Time: 110 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: 012569678804
UPC: 012569678804
EAN: 0012569678804
ASIN: B000EU1Q2C
Theatrical Release Date: November 27, 1943
Release Date: May 30, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Tell A Friend
Add to Wishlist
Add to Wedding Registry
Add to Baby Registry
| |
| Similar Items:
| |
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
A collection of films starring Bette Davis as a former child star, a proud Southern belle, a film critic's secretary, a vengeful witness, and an autho
Amazon.com
Bette Davis and Miriam Hopkins--a pair of actresses who hated each other--re-mix their chemistry from The Old Maid in Old Acquaintance, an entertaining adaptation of John Van Druten's play. The action begins with Davis, a semi-famous author, returning to her small town and the home of old friend Hopkins. The later has opted for the settled life of husband and pregnancy, and she doesn't much hide her envy of Davis's success. Then the tables turn, as Hopkins pens a series of potboilers that sell much better than her friend-rival's. The movie keeps checking up on these two as the years pass, each wanting what the other has. It kicks around such staples as career vs. family, but what comes across most memorably in Old Acquaintance is the friendship between the two characters despite their rivalry; in that sense, the best scene in the film is the last scene. Hopkins has the flashy role, a silly ninny who seemingly never stops screeching, and Davis takes the more centered, self-effacing part. (By the way, Davis said that a scene in which she wears men's pajama tops caused a bit of a vogue at the time.) The men are in the background, although John Loder does a nice job of layering a gentle humor to Hopkins' long-suffering husband. Gig Young, in one of his earliest roles, is almost unrecognizable as a Davis paramour. Vincent Sherman (Mr. Skeffington) directed this example of the "women's picture," the kind of movie that kept Bette Davis the queen of the Warner Bros. lot. It was nicely remade by director George Cukor in 1981 as Rich and Famous, with Jacqueline Bisset and Candice Bergen. --Robert Horton
|
| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 12
 NEW "OLD ACQUAINTANCE"..... May 31, 2006
Mark Norvell (HOUSTON)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Well, it's about time. This delicious story of two women who remain friends through tons of drama may seem dated now, but it's a rare pleasure to finally have it available on DVD. Bette Davis and Miriam Hopkins are perfectly matched as the two friends even though they did not get along in real life. Davis is Kit Marlowe, a writer who's more critically successful than financially and Hopkins is her lifelong friend who follows in her footsteps as a writer and becomes wildly successful financially. Through divorce, career highs and sharing the love of Hopkin's daughter, they remain bonded until later in life when old rivalry and jealousies finally erupt. The DVD print is remarkably good and a fine addition to the Bette Davis Vol.2 collection. Hopkins is truly funny as the histrionic Millie, a perfect foil for the more down-to-earth Kit. Enjoy this unique collector's item---maybe with a "nice glass of flat champagne".
Tigress times 2 January 27, 2009
gejome (Oakland CA)
Combine Bette Davis with Miriam Hopkins, and what do you get? "THATS ENTERTAINMENT"> This is a great classic with oveflowing talent. Laughter, sadness,scheming, revenge "a surprise in every scene" makes for a great story. If you like the best of Hollywood, you'll love this flick !
What Friendship is Really About January 5, 2007
Sade Deann (New York, NY)
3 out of 5 found this review helpful
Another Classic Bette Davis film, The consumate actress and in this wonderful piece she is joined by another really great actress, Miriam Hopkins.
Together they give true friendship and loyalty a run for their money
Don't miss it.
WHAT A SURPRISE March 15, 2006
Carlos Cedeo (ecuador)
5 out of 18 found this review helpful
DEBO FELICITAR POR ESTA EDICION... TITULOS NUEVOS E INTERESANTS
ME GUSTARIA PARA UNA TERCERA ENTREGA
ALL THIS AND HEAVEN TOO
DANEGEROUS
IN THIS OUR LIFE
THE OLD MAID
WHATCH IN THE RHINE
SIMPLEMENTE MARAVILLOSA
GRACIAS
The prototype "Womens Picture" - excellent package June 17, 2006
Douglas M
16 out of 16 found this review helpful
"Old Acquaintance", a masterful Warner Brothers production from 1943, tells the story of a friendship between 2 woman over 25 years of their lives. Both are authors, one of trashy romance novels and the other of serious ones. This reflects their natures. Miriam Hopkins plays the flighty superficial Millie and Bette Davis plays the level headed intellectual Kit.
Both actresses are well cast and the film raises many issues for women - career versus marriage, youth versus age in relationships etc. In 1943 Hollywood, these were unusual subjects and hence the enormous popularity of the film for the female audience. The film, moving between arch comedy and heavy drama, has a slick, glib quality and will not appeal to men.
"Old Acquaintance" is beautifully made by director, Vincent Sherman. While Hopkins penchant for theatrical mannerisms and overacting sits perfectly on her character here, Davis still outshines her with her superb mastery of the medium. Watch her use of props in this film and her movement around the sets. Hopkins has dated, Davis has not. The climax of the film is probably the scene when an exasperated Davis shakes Hopkins, reportedly reflecting the attitude of the director and the film crew, not just the audience. The film also has a fine Franz Waxman score, never used better than in an intimate scene in an hotel lobby between Davis and John Loder.
The print of the film is excellent and the DVD benefits from a very good commentary by Boz Hadleigh accompanied by the elderly Sherman. It is a treat to hear Sherman speak highly of Davis and her co-operation and intelligence while making the film. There is also a mediocre cartoon and a short film called "Stars on Horseback" which compiles clips, some of which are interpolated misleadingly from Warner's films, showing some of the studio's stars on horses - fairly dumb. The original trailer shows some shots cut from the film and lastly, there is a very good discussion of the film by the a number of historians/ biographers. These Warner's DVDs provide a lot of enjoyable extras and are good value.
This film has never been available before but can now be obtained alone or as part of the Davis Collection Volume 2. It is a worthwhile addition to the usual Davis classics.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 12
|
|
|
|
CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON SERVICES LLC. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED ‘AS IS’ AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME. Copyright © 2009 Cheap.CD All rights reserved. | |
