Thanks. Been years since I saw THE GREAT LIE. I hope I didn’t leave the impression it was less than a terrific movie, I just don’t think it is in the same class as DODSWORTH which is a better film and a better performance by Astor. As you say though, the score is magnificent.

For some reason this one isn’t shown as often as some of Davis other films of this era.

Calling it a soap isn’t a knock though. NOW VOYAGER is soap opera too. Some of Bette’s best work is in soap opera.

But I still hold Astor is better in DODSWORTH or even RED DUST, PALM BEACH STORY, and MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS. It wouldn’t be the first time a well deserved Oscar was won for the wrong movie by the right performer.

You’ve got it backward about “The Great Lie”

Davis was Brents’ true love and Astor was the pregnant one whom Davis paid to carry the pregnancy to full term, so she could have her “presumed dead” lovers child.

Steve,

This is one of my favorite Bette Davis movies, and you should put this on your wish list from Amazon (or whichever)!!
Great performances all around. And Tchaikovsky to boot!

Mary Astor said in her autobiography (between getting laid) that she was upset at the way she was treated by MGM; a couple years after playing romantic leads at Warners they relegated her to “mother” parts.

I also prefer “Red Dust” to “Across The Pacific”, but believe me: that’s no knock on “Across The Pacific”. I just particularly enjoy how the Jean Harlow character treats Astor’s character in that one.

Today it’s THE MALTESE FALCON she’s known for, but her roles in THE PRISONER OF ZENDA and MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS are equally iconic, if not quite the same league.

For my money her best role is the sane European woman American millionaire Walter Huston falls for rather than his snooty unfaithful wife (Ruth Chatterton) in the fine adaptation of Sinclair Lewis DODSWORTH. THE GREAT LIE is worth seeing, but basically a soap while DODSWORTH is one of the best film adaptations of a novel ever done with Astor and Huston well matched. Aside from Huston and Chatterton the cast includes Paul Lukas, David Niven, and the debut of John Payne. She’s damn sexy in it too.

Her role in RED DUST was played by Grace Kelly in the remake MOGAMBO, her role in ZENDA by Jane Greer, and her role in THE HURRICANE by Mia Farrow.

She also shows a fine hand at screwball comedy in Preston Sturges PALM BEACH STORY as Rudy Valee’s much married sister who falls for Claudette Colbert’s ex Joel McCrea.

THE GREAT LIE is the one where Brent marries Bette Davis after his marriage to Astor (his true love) is annulled. His plane is lost and pregnant widow Davis and Astor battle each other and the elements when they are stranded together. You can guess what the ‘great lie’ proves to be.

I have the feeling, though, that MALTESE FALCON and this movie were the high points of her career, which I never realized until now, when I looked her up, continued on to 1964 (HUSH HUSH SWEET CHARLOTTE).

She was also in DESERT FURY, a pretty good Noir film that was a rarity, filmed in color.

But oops, speaking of high points, I see I missed one completely. Mary Astor won an Oscar (Supporting Actress) for THE GREAT LIE (1941), with Bette Davis and George Brent in the lead roles.

I’ve never seen that movie, and maybe I should.

— Steve

Regardless, the film is a lot of fun for all the reasons you give, and surprisingly coherent considering the rewrites.