REGENT THEATRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 November 1940, Page 2

REGENT THEATRE

“THE OLD MAID.” Presenting as co-sfars two of the screen’s greatest actresses —Bette Davis and Miriam Hopkins—the long-herald-ed motion picture version of Edith Wharton's famous story, “The Old Maid,” will be shown tonight at the Regent Theatre. It is the tale of two girls, cousins of a proud old Philadelphia family, and its period ranges from the beginning of the American Civil War in 1861 up into the 1880’s. Across that stretch of years the two live under the same roof —hating each other, never achieving reciprocal sympathy or understanding until both are well into middle age, and the young daughter of one is leaving the ancient homestead for matrimony. Miriam Hopkins is a widow, with two children of her own. The old maid is Bette Davis and the sweet young girl of the house is her daughter, and that of the man both she and her cousin loved, who was killed in the war.' This role is played by George Brent, and the role of the daughter is played by Jane Bryan, as a grown-up. The daughter grows up without knowledge of her true origin, and gives her love and affection to the woman she calls “Mummy” (Miriam Hopkins) rather than to her true mother. It is only on the eve of the girl’s own wedding that she comes to realise some measure of the sacrifices that her “old maid aunt” has made for her. And after the wedding, the two women go back to the empty house to live out the rest of their lives together. Associated with the co-stars are such noted players as George Brent, Jane Bryan, Donald Crisp, Louise Fazenda, James Stephenson, Jerome Cowan, William Lun- ■ digan, Cecilia Loftus, Janet Shaw, De Wolf Hopper and Rand Brooks. I Superb featurettes include a delightful children's revue, a Jesse Crawford presentation of popular melodies, an all-colour cartoon, and the latest newsreel. Plans are at Messrs Steele and Bull’s shop and the theatre.