Old Acquaintance (1943)

Overview
"Old Acquaintance" is a 1943 drama directed by Vincent Sherman and starring Bette Davis and Miriam Hopkins. Produced by Warner Bros, the movie was based upon John Van Druten's play of the same name. It explores the complicated relationship, rivalry, and mutual regard in between two women throughout the years, offering a close examination of the challenges and accomplishments related to both professional success and personal relationships.

Plot
The movie follows the lives of two long-lasting good friends, Kit Marlowe (Bette Davis) and Millie Drake (Miriam Hopkins). Kit is a seriously well-known author, while Millie composes commercial books that are popular but not significantly esteemed. Both women experience career success in their distinct ways and battle to balance their individual lives with their professional ones. For many years, they keep their relationship in spite of lots of ups and downs, disputes, and rivalries frequently fueled by Millie's selfishness and jealousy.

Key Characters and Relationships
Of the two ladies, Kit appears the level-headed one, managing her professional success with grace while preserving more steady personal relationships. Millie, on the other hand, becomes more unpredictable with her success, displaying pettiness and jealousy towards Kit. She even tries to mess up Kit's relationship with Rudd Kendall (John Loder), whom Kit eventually weds. Millie's stretched relationship with her child, Deirdre (Dolores Moran), adds additional drama, with the teen displaying more affection for Kit than her own mom.

Drama and Resolution
Throughout the film, "Old Acquaintance" checks out styles of friendship, aspiration, jealousy, and personal discontent. It explores the mind of both ladies, demonstrating the pressures that expert success can place on individual relationships and self-confidence. The film also presents an intriguing contrast between different types of success, with Kit's academic praise set against Millie's business success.

Despite the many disputes ignited by Millie's insecurities and resentments, the movie ends on a reconciliatory note. After several fights and misconceptions, Millie finally acknowledges Kit's genuine relationship and apologizes for her habits. The climax includes an iconic scene where Kit shakes a furiously resentful Millie, an act that serves as both an actual and figurative wake-up call.

Reception and Legacy
The efficiencies by Bette Davis and Miriam Hopkins were highly valued by audiences and critics alike. Their on-screen chemistry forms the backbone of the movie, breathing life into the detailed characteristics of friendship and rivalry. "Old Acquaintance" remains an engaging assessment of female friendships and expert competition, adding another plume to the cap of Hollywood's Golden Age. In spite of its age, the film's styles remain universally pertinent, and it holds up well to contemporary watching.

Conclusion
"Old Acquaintance" is an advanced gem from 1943 that dives passionately into an intricate female relationship marked by love, rivalry, and expert competition. With its strong efficiencies, engaging narrative, and ageless styles, the film withstands as a traditional tale of relationship checked by individual aspiration and success. While showing society's concerns of its time, it remains a pertinent exploration of friendship, ambition, and the pursuit of happiness.

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