A lush vanity piece for the two lead actresses, The Old Maid sometimes is forgotten in a very busy year for Bette Davis. The story begins in Philadelphia during the Civil War, with Delia Lovell, played by Mariam Hopkins, breaking her engagement to Clem Spender (George Brent), who's been away for two years, and marries the wealthy Jim Ralston. Stunned by the marriage, Clem is comforted by Delia's cousin, Charlotte Lovell, played by Davis. After sleeping together, they make plans for a future together when he returns from the war. Unfortunately, Clem is killed at Vicksburg, and Charlotte, who is carrying his child, is sent off to Arizona by the family doctor, to cure the "lung problem" that is manufactured to explain her sudden departure.





After the war, Charlotte returns to Philadelphia to run an orphanage for the children whose parents have died in the conflict. This orphanage is the perfect venue for her to hide her daughter, Tina. Meanwhile, Joe Ralston, Delia's brother-in-law, takes a romantic interest in Charlotte. However, when Delia learns that Tina is Charlotte and Clem's child, she tells Joe that her cousin is too sick to marry. This lie opens a rift between the two that closes only after Delia's husband dies in an accident, at which point she invites Charlotte and Tina to live at her house.

Little Tina grows up thinking that Davis is her old maid aunt and that Delia rescued her from the orphanage. This odd lineage becomes a problem when Tina falls in love with Lanning Halsey, whose wealthy family doesn't look kindly on his involvement with an orphan. To rectify the situation, Delia suggests that she officially adopt Tina, thus destigmatizing her by giving her a good family name. Charlotte agrees, but promises herself that she will reveal the truth to Tina on the girl's wedding night.





We then see Davis' character turn into a testy, bitter spinster, who suffers at every turn as she watches her own daughter grow up not knowing that she is her mother, and Hopkins' Delia gleefully taking on the role that is rightfully hers. Davis has an incredibly sad and touching moment when she retires into a dark room after having a confrontation with the girl. Alone, when no one is watching, she acts out a scenario where she scolds her daughter, gives her advice, and by the end of the monologue, is very tender and loving.





When the wedding night arrives, The frantic Delia, terrified that her cousin will expose the truth to Tina, is relieved when Charlotte can't bring herself to spoil Tina's happiness. The newlyweds prepare to depart on their honeymoon and Tina bids everyone goodbye, and at the suggestion of her mother, which was made the previous evening, she saves the last kiss for her old maid aunt. Charlotte knows that she will never be able to tell her daughter the truth and must spend the rest of her life with Delia, who cannot forgive her for having the child by Clem.





Davis had already distinguished herself in Jezebel andDark Victory, but she revealed a new emotional depth in this film, and her performance is a revelation. She always liked roles that forced her to stretch as an actress and, despite the fact that she had only just turned 30, she is convincing as a 60-year-old here. Reportedly, Davis and Miriam Hopkins had many battles on the set, while jockeying for position in billing, close-ups, the directors attention, ect. Hopkins was reportedly very blatant in her attempts to upstage her co-star, but she definitely met her match with Davis.

Edmund Goulding had the thankless job of playing referee between the two women. He and Davis worked on a few films together, and had little or no control over her. Her tendency was to run rough-shod over him and take control of the situation, as well the the film. Davis exercised enormous latitude in every aspect of her vehicles directed by Goulding. He and Casey Robinson had collaborated on Dark Victory and the task of adapting this Pulitzer Prize-winning play fell to them. But despite the best efforts of everyone involved, The Old Maid received no Oscar nominations.