The Great Lie (1941) 7.1
After a newlywed's husband apparently dies in a plane crash, she discovers that her rival for his affections is now pregnant with his child. Director:Edmund Goulding |
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The Great Lie (1941) 7.1
After a newlywed's husband apparently dies in a plane crash, she discovers that her rival for his affections is now pregnant with his child. Director:Edmund Goulding |
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| Complete credited cast: | |||
| Bette Davis | ... | ||
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George Brent | ... | |
| Mary Astor | ... | ||
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Lucile Watson | ... | |
| Hattie McDaniel | ... | ||
| Grant Mitchell | ... |
Joshua Mason
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Jerome Cowan | ... |
Jock H. Thompson
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Charles Trowbridge | ... |
Sen. Ted Greenfield
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Thurston Hall | ... |
Worthington James
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Russell Hicks | ... |
Colonel Harriston
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Virginia Brissac | ... |
Sadie
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J. Farrell MacDonald | ... |
Dr. Ferguson
(as J. Farrell Macdonald)
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Addison Richards | ... |
Mr. Talbot
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Sam McDaniel | ... |
Jefferson Washington
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Olin Howland | ... |
Ed, Arizona Ranch Hand
(scenes deleted)
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Sandra and Pete elope but their marriage is invalid since she's not yet divorced. Sandra is, however, pregnant by Pete. Pete marries his former fiancée Maggie, then flies to South America where his plane crashes. Maggie pays Sandra to let her adopt Pete's baby. Pete returns "from the dead". Sandra and Maggie contend for Pete and the baby. Written by Ed Stephan <stephan@cc.wwu.edu>
"The Great Lie" provides an example of what the Warner
Bros. stock company could produce during the early 40s.
Bette Davis is her usual strong character, George Brent
his standard wooden but creditable personality, and Mary
Astor in a surprisingly fiery turn, is a performance which
contributes a winning balance.
The best scenes are confrontations and interactions between Davis and Astor, and they play the dramatics for
all they're worth.
It's an entertaining film, with an array of fine character
actors (including scene-stealing Hattie McDaniel) to bolster the proceedings. Max Steiner's score is on hand to
add atmosphere to the action.