August 25 movie: Old Acquaintance. Bette Davis and Miriam Hopkins play writers and best friends: Davis is a talented serious writer and playwright with more recognition than income, and Hopkins is a wildly successful author of trashy women's novels who "cranks them out like sausages." The movie follows their friendship/rivalry over three decades.
I would have liked this movie better if it were more balanced, if they had shown that each woman had something for the other to envy. Instead Davis is a paragon and Hopkins is a total shrew. It was still fun though. Hopkins throws herself into the role of a silly, selfish bitch with wild abandon, and the payoff (when Davis finally grabs her by the shoulders and shakes her really hard) is well worth it. It was during that scene that I realized I'd seen this movie before. But the first hour didn't seem at all familiar so I think I must have come in on the middle.
John Loder has a nice turn as Hopkins' husband. I've seen him in other things and really like his work. I'd like to see more of his movies, but I looked him up online and unfortunately most of his career was in the British film industry, starring in movies that sound great but aren't carried by Netflix. I think I might write to TCM and suggest they do one of their day-long specials on him. Although, with my luck they'd just show Hollywood movies in which he has supporting roles, many of which I've already seen.
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