Old Acquaintance (Warner Bros.) (1943)

ALL ABOUT BETTE DAVIS In Which a Writer Looks for New Slant On Bette Davis So the boss tells you to go write a story about Bette Davis for the Salt Lake Tribune. “Something with a new slant,” he says. “Something different than anybody has written before.” Of course it’s a cinch. Bette Davis has been in pictures for so many years, and has won so many Academy awards, and has given so many interviews. Sure! There’s plenty to be written about Bette Davis that hasn’t been written before. Oh, yeah? So you go out to the set and watch Bette Davis for awhile. Sure, you've seen her in pictures. Pictures like “Elizabeth and Essex” and “Dark Victory” and “The Little Foxes” and “In This Our Life” and “Thank Your Lucky Stars” and things like that. So you think you know Bette Davis. Right now she’s working in “Old Acquaintance,” opening Friday at the Strand Theatre. That’s Bette Davis, over there in the corner. She has on some kind of a funny dress. Gingham or dirndl or ersatz or something. One of those things a man doesn’t know anything about except that it has a lot. of colors in it and looks like a Scotch plaid, except it isn’t the right kind of material. She’s doing a scene, right now with Miriam Hopkins, who is costarred. Bette is all funnied up. Straight-combed hair, heavy eyebrows, glasses, cotton stockings, flat heels. It’s all make-up. Miss Davis wriggles uncomfortably. “Let’s rehearse it,’ says director Vincent Still OA 22; Mat 201—30c Bette Davis is starred with Miriam Hopkins in “Old Acquaintance,” the Warner Bros. filmization of John Van Druten’s well-known stage play, which is now playing at the Strand Theatre. Sherman. They rehearse and then _ they talk. There’s one moment in the scene when Bette shows a book to Miss Hopkins. She walks away without it. Bette suggests that the book is important—she should take it with her. She and the director discuss the matter, and it turns out that In “The Man Who Came To Dinner” from Broadway’s laugh sensation with Monte Woolley, Bette’s versatility as an actress manifested itself in a sparkling comedy role. “ Shakespeare said it. Bette Davis proves it. She’s appeared in more films based upon stage plays than any other actress in Hollywood. “Old Acquaintance” is the latest Broadway hit to provide a starring role for Bette’s genius. The new Warner Bros. film based on John. Van Druten’s play, co-stars Bette Davis and Miriam Hopkins and features Gig Young. Before that came “Dark Victory”, “The Old Maid”, “The Man Who Came to Dinner” and “Watch on the Rhine”, which doesn’t name them all. And next to come will be Edith Wharton’s timeless “Ethan Frome” which was both a great novel and a great play. Bette is right. It is more natural that she should take the book away. That’s the way it is with all her pictures, apparently. She. knows drama and dramatic value. Her directors realize it and are willing to discuss her suggestions. Not that she is always right. “T just have feelings,” she admits. Still Service Stills available on most of the scene cuts on the publicity pages in this campaign plan. Price: 10c each. Order by still number indicated under each cut, from Campaign Plan Editor, 321 West 44 Street, New York 18, N. Y. If still number is not given, photo is not available because the cut was made from a special retouch or a composite. (*Asterisk denotes still is available at local Vita graph Exchanges.) pate a le aa SI a ES “Sometimes they are right and sometimes wrong. But we talk about them. I’m always willing to be convinced.” The scene is finished and Miss Davis retires to her portable dressing room while the lights and camera are being shifted for the next shot. A man wanders on to the stage. A workman on the lot. In his arms is clasped a tiny baby, just a few months old. Hesitantly he goes to the portable room. Miss Davis looks up. “Dave!” she cries. “And that’s your baby! Bring him in—let me see him.” She takes the baby in her arms. Dave is just one of the workmen on the lot. But Miss Davis knows him by name. She knows them all by name. “He’s so cute,’ says Miss Davis, holding the baby close. “So cute, Dave—you’re so nice to take the time to bring him to let me see him. Thanks, so much!” Well, boss, that’s Bette Davis. ChristmasfireWhen She Was 8 Almost Ended Star's Career She can never remember when she hasn’t wanted to act and although she’s a big star now, she very nearly lost her life when she was a tiny tot. The tragedy took place at a boarding school in the Berkshire Hills when the girl, then only eight, was filling her first dramatic role. It wasn’t much of a part, but it meant everything to her, because it was a happy Christmas pageant and the girl was taking the part of Santa Claus. The school hall rung with the laughter of youngsters. Tinsel and decorations were everywhere. The little girl, thrilled with her chance to perform for the others, was decked out in the conventional gay red suit and long white whiskers of our merriest patron saint. Suddenly a scream and the horrified shout of “Fire!” The greedy flames shot high, licking at the heavily laden tree, catching at the Santa Claus beard and _ inflicting horrible burns on the tiny star’s face and body. For eight weeks the little girl lay silently in a darkened room; eight fateful weeks when doctors despaired of her eyesight and even of life itself. Then one day the child was lead out into the light. “Mama,” she cried. “Mama—I can see again! And Mama—I will ACT again!” She did act again, too. Her name—Bette Davis, star of “Old Acquaintance,” currently at the Strand Theatre. If you’ve read a good book or seen a good play lately, there’s a good chance that you'll be seeing Bette Davis in it on the screen, adding to the great characterizations illustrated in the scenes shown here. A best-selling novel then a Pulitzer prize play, Edith Wharton’s “The Old Maid” was a splendid vehicle for Bette Davis’ talents as a great dramatic actress. Miriam Hopkins co-starred. reaectee 0 os Hes eters Bette a 5 chieved one of her greatest triumphs in “Dark ° Victory”, the story of a love that won a victory over darkness and defeat. The picture featured George Brent and was based upon the well-known play by George Emerson Brewer, Jr. and Bertram Bloch. “Old Acquaintance,’ based upon Johm Van Druten’s Broadway success, is the latest play to provide a starring role for Bette’s genius. Miriam Hopkins is costarred with Bette in the film. In “Watch On The Rhine’, Lillian Hellman’s prizewinning play, Bette Davis adds anew and distinct portrayal to the impressive list of characterizations she has contributed to the screen. Critics hailed this motion picture as the finest translation of a play ever made. Order “Mat OA 502B” (art and type )—75ce—from Campaign Plan Editor, 321 West 44 Street, New York 18. N. Y. a