A fairly stunning film version of Lillian Hellman's play, with great acting in Gregg Toland's deep focus. Bette had Perc Westmore paint her white, almost Kabuki theatre. George Marshall, Teresa Wright, Richard Carlson (her love interest), Charles Dingle, Dan Duryea, Patricia Collinge, Carl Benton Reid, Jessica Grayson, John Marriott, Charles H. Moore. It was an independent Sam Goldwyn production.
Wyler wanted Davis softer but she would have none of it.
Oscar nominations were plentiful - Wyler, Daniel Mandell, Meredith Wilson's score, film, Davis, Collinge, Wright, Hellman and designers Stephen Goosson and Howard Bristol - no one won. (How Green Was My Valley was the year's big winner.)
I love how protective the maid Jessica Grayson is over the Wright character - with journalist Carlson, for example - to all intents and purposes she's the girl's surrogate mother.
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