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Blowing enough cigarette smoke to make Bette Davis' eyes water is an accomplishment. #OldAcquaintance #TCMParty
Old Acquaintance is based on a stage play by John Van Druten that Warner Bros. originally bought as a vehicle for Rosalind Russell. However, because of numerous script changes required by the censors the production was delayed for quite some time. #OldAcquaintance #TCMParty
Several actresses were considered for the roles of Millie and Kit, including Norma Shearer and Irene Dunne, but Warner's eventually cast Davis and Hopkins in hopes of capitalizing on the gossipy headlines that surrounded The Old Maid. #OldAcquaintance #TCMParty
Here's Roscoe Karns as the pushy reporter. He made a career out playing pushy reporters in films like It Happened One Night, His Girl Friday. #OldAcquaintance #TCMParty
Bette's sensible, menswear-inspired attire is meant to show her as a serious literary artiste compared to the frilly clothes of Hopkins' flighty romance novelist. #OldAcquaintance #TCMParty
If you're wondering if Hopkins character is going to be an OTT drama queen for the entire movie, the answer is YES! #OldAcquaintance #TCMParty
Women were a huge audience for old Hollywood films. Old Acquaintance, which focuses on the lives, loves, and careers of two ambitious women, is one of the premier examples of the woman's picture. #OldAcquaintance #TCMParty
This scene gives Old Acquaintance's central thesis: The difficulties for successful accomplished women in having both a successful career and a successful family life. #OldAcquaintance #TCMParty
Here's some vintage romance novel covers a la Millie's books (I would really like to know what Jennifer did to earn that title) #OldAcquaintance #TCMParty
Here's English actor John Loder as Millie's husband. His bland good looks made him a perfect supporting actor for the era's great female stars; he never upstages any of the other stars. #OldAcquaintance #TCMParty
Anne Revere is playing the reporter in this scene. She went on to be one of the great movie moms in National Velvet, Body and Soul, Gentleman's Agreement, and A Place in the Sun. #OldAcquaintance #TCMParty
Millie's husband just articulated what everyone in the audience is thinking about Kit: "Why are you still friends with her?" #OldAcquaintance #TCMParty
What a burn there from Anne Revere. #OldAcquaintance #TCMParty
Miriam Hopkins was born Ellen Miriam Hopkins in 1902 in Georgia. She got her first performing experience appearing in a church choir in her hometown of Bainbridge. #OldAcquaintance #TCMParty
She wanted to become a ballet dancer, but a broken ankle pushed her to the theater, where she found success on Broadway in the 1920s and later in Hollywood. #OldAcquaintance #TCMParty
Hopkins was one of pre-code Hollywood's great stars. She was quite glamorous and adept at playing both comedy and drama in films like Trouble in Paradise, Design for Living, and The Story of Temple Drake. #OldAcquaintance #TCMParty
In the later '30s, she also had success on Broadway in plays like Jezebel, and she got a very lucrative contract with Warner Bros., which paired her with Davis in two films, The Old Maid and Old Acquaintance. #OldAcquaintance #TCMParty
Ironically, Warner's bought the rights to Jezebel for Davis, although Georgia native Hopkins originated the role on Broadway. Davis, of course, won a second Oscar for her performance. #OldAcquaintance #TCMParty
Here's Hopkins as Julie Marsden in the stage version Jezebel, and Davis in the role for the 1938 film. #OldAcquaintance #TCMParty
After Old Acquaintance, Hopkins focused on her stage work and didn't appear in another film until The Heiress in 1949. #OldAcquaintance #TCMParty
Bette is rockin' the skunk stripe. #OldAcquaintance #TCMParty
Is it me, or do John Loder and Gig Young look exactly alike in this film. #OldAcquaintance #TCMParty
A photo from the set with director Vincent Sherman talking with Bette Davis and Miriam Hopkins. #OldAcquaintance #TCMParty
Here's an article I wrote a few years ago about Hopkins and Davis' two movies together and their working relationship: https://www.oldhollywoodfilms.com/2017/09/bette-davis-and-miriam-hopkins.html?spref=tw #OldAcquaintance #TCMParty
The way Davis says "Sorry" after shaking Hopkins is so perfect. #OldAcquaintance #TCMParty
I love the hiding behind screens line, but people only ever hide behind screens in movies (at least in my experience). #OldAcquaintance #TCMParty
The final scene here is very meta: Millie talking about the "unhappy ending" of two friends together, while the "unhappy ending" (at least for a Hollywood film) plays out in the same way. #OldAcquaintance #TCMParty
I enjoyed tweeting along with all of you with Old Acquaintance. Here's a poster from the film to bid you good night. #OldAcquaintance #TCMParty
