Old Maid, The (1939)
Certainly worthy of some tear-jerking. Miriam Hopkins's character spurns a soldier (George Brent) who her cousin (Bette Davis) has always liked. While comforting him before he goes off to fight in the Civil War, Davis's character becomes pregnant. When Brent is then killed, Davis starts an orphanage to prevent scandal. Later, out of financial need, Davis seeks Hopkins, now a rich widow, who helps by adopting her child and pretending to be its mother. Of course, the women fight over what's best for the grown daughter, played by Jane Bryan, who doesn't know the secret. The always excellent Donald Crisp plays a doctor, who becomes a "go between", that helps smooth things over between the two ladies. Jerome Cowan also appears. Directed by Edmund Goulding, based on the Edith Wharton novel and Zoe Akins play, it was scripted for the screen by Casey Robinson (Captain Blood (1935)).
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