WATCH THE FIREWORKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 July 1939, Page 4

WATCH THE FIREWORKS

BETTE DAVIS AND MIRIAM HOPKINS. Bette Davis and Miriam Hopkins, two of the most brilliant stars in the cinema, are highly strung, emotional actresses. When Warner Bros.’ officials announced that the pair would co-star in one of the most poignant screen dramas ever borrowed from the legitimate theatre —"The Old Maid” —all the gossips and busy-bodies said: “Now, watch the fireworks!” Bette Davis and Miriam Hopkins calmly went about the business of making a motion picture. The fireworks, anticipated with such relish by busybodies, were conspicuously absent. Some of the gossip writers took the wish for fireworks for the thought. Result: Newspapers readers were regaled with tall tales about “the tensity on 'The Old Maid’ stage at Warner’s,” or "Bette Davis and Miriam Hopkins haven’t exchanged a pleasant word since their picture began.” And so on, ad infinitum, ad nauseum. Bette and Miriam got tired of it. So, a few days ago, upon their return from lunch, they dug up boxing gloves. When the assistant director called them from their dressing rooms to resume work they entered the set with gloves ready. It broke up the company, smothered the rumours of strife under a barrage of laughs, and confirmed the fact that Bette Davis and Miriam Hopkins are women of humour and imagination.