A frumpy spinster blossoms under therapy and becomes an elegant, independent woman.A frumpy spinster blossoms under therapy and becomes an elegant, independent woman.A frumpy spinster blossoms under therapy and becomes an elegant, independent woman.
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
17K
YOUR RATING
- Director
- Writers
- Casey Robinson(screenplay)
- Olive Higgins Prouty(from the novel by)
- Stars
Top credits
- Director
- Writers
- Casey Robinson(screenplay)
- Olive Higgins Prouty(from the novel by)
- Stars
- Won 1 Oscar
- 3 wins & 2 nominations total
Videos1
Katharine Alexander
- Miss Traskas Miss Trask
- (as Katherine Alexander)
Tod Andrews
- Dr. Dan Reganas Dr. Dan Regan
- (uncredited)
Brooks Benedict
- Party Guestas Party Guest
- (uncredited)
David Clyde
- Williamas William
- (uncredited)
Yola d'Avril
- Celestineas Celestine
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- Casey Robinson(screenplay)
- Olive Higgins Prouty(from the novel by)
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
- All cast & crew
Storyline
Boston spinster Charlotte has had her life controlled entirely by her mother; a wealthy mother, Mrs. Henry Vale. Feeling despondent, she's convinced to spend some time in a sanitarium. Soon, Charlotte's transformed into a sophisticated, confident woman. On a cruise to South America, Charlotte meets, and begins an affair with Jerry Durrance, a married architect. 6 months later, she returns home, and confronts her mother with her independence. One day, after a brief argument, her mother has a heart attack and dies. Charlotte inherits the Vale fortune but feels guilty for her mother's death. She returns to the sanitarium, where she befriends a depressed, young adolescent, named Tina. The young girls' depression brought on by having been rejected by her mother; Charlotte's former lover, Jerry's wife. Charlotte takes Tina home to Boston with her. —Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Taglines
- Today Her Greatest! For a woman there's always an excuse . . .
- Genres
- Certificate
- Passed
- Parents guide
Did you know
- TriviaThe biggest box office hit of Bette Davis's career.
- GoofsWhen Charlotte confronts Jerry in front of the fireplace about "The most conventional, pretentious, pious speech...", a crew member is visible in the mirror of the fireplace and quickly backs out of view.
- Quotes
[last lines]
Charlotte Vale: Oh, Jerry, don't let's ask for the moon. We have the stars.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Summer of '42 (1971)
- SoundtracksNight and Day
(1932) (uncredited)
Written by Cole Porter
Played offscreen on piano at the pre-concert party
Top review
One of Bette's Better!
The "makeover" of Bette Davis in this film from a frumpy old maid (grossly exaggerated) to a svelte looker (to say "beauty" is maybe a bit over the top) was a bit hard to accept, but that aside the acting of Davis, and the wonderful Gladys Cooper made this quite an outstanding film. Bette was in her prime in 1942, and together with the supporting cast given to her, made this such a success. Claude Rains, of course, did a sterling job as her Doctor, while Paul Henreid had one of his better Warner Brothers' roles. It was interesting to see Bonita Granville in a sympathetic (eventually!) part at long last, but for me it was a very interesting film, which today would be called a "soapie and tear-jerker" (which it was then!). Good entertainment, with a very good musical score by the ever reliable Max Steiner.
helpful•143
- dougandwin
- Aug 25, 2004
Details
Box office
- Gross worldwide
- $10,390
- Runtime1 hour 57 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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