Cubussoli Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

Lovesusti The Worst Film Ever

SanEat A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

Allison Davies The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

amplexuslotus Spoiler Alert (just a little):I'm glad to read so many positive comments about this film. I watched it for the first time April 2013 on TCM and was really surprised by all the fine qualities (and fun) "The Great Lie" offered. Especially since I'd never heard of this film before and have been a classic film fan since my childhood.While pleased to read so many positive reviews, I find making apologies for this and that in the story unnecessary. Life is stranger than fiction. I truly do not know what is so "unbelievable" about this story? It's an unusual story but "unbelievable" - absolutely not. Less likely today with DNA and paternity tests, media coverage, internet etc....but wealthy (especially famous) women sometimes disappeared and then reappeared with their "adopted" baby, or claimed the child was their "niece" or "nephew". Many of these women were actresses.I've also read several biographies of famous people who married a second or third time without knowing their divorce had in fact NOT been finalized. I've read other biographies of famous people who led secret lives, or had two families, or had a secret love child - human drama is messy beautiful and nuanced. Although most classic movies are in black and white, they understood that life is NOT black and white.Classic film writers and audiences understood this: If it can be imagined - it's absolutely possible. We've lost our imaginations to "facts" and so called "reality." How utterly sad.Although never a fan of George Brent, he's very good in this film. I know he and Davis had an intimate relationship but not sure if it was during the time this film was made. Either way, Davis & Brent have nice chemistry. Their love is believable.This is not a typical role for Davis - she plays it perfectly though - a little restrained and subdued. Bette Davis and Mary Astor reworked much of the script and according to what's been written about the making of "The Great Lie", director Edmund Goulding, was supportive of his actors changing the script, which is kind of amazing. It may also explain why Davis and Astor have great chemistry on screen together as well. They both understand their characters loves, fears and desires and that of each other.Grant Mitchell is terrific (as always) in a small part as the anxious worried manager of Astor's, diva Sandra. Lucille Watson (and actor I've always admired and enjoyed) also in a small role which she plays perfectly as Maggie's (Davis) aunt. But it's Hattie McDaniel who makes the very most of the small role as Maggie's maid, Violet. There's a very moving scene when Pete (Brent) flies down to Baltimore (Maggie's home) and Violet and Maggie have been reading about his marriage to famous concert pianist, Sandra Kovak(Astor). Violet is so loving and protective of Maggie (Davis) as she tells off Pete (Brent) for being thoughtless and uncaring - it's really a powerful scene.There's also a musical number which seems strange to more "modern" audiences but the music and singing is beautiful. In the past, people did entertain themselves by playing music, dancing and singing. Although I realize the African American roles in this movie (in any Warner film, in any classic American movie and let's not kid ourselves, in most current U.S. movies) are one-dimensional stereotypes but if you look past this, the talent of Hattie McDaniel and her brother Sam (playing Maggie's butler, Jefferson) shines through anyway.I find the story intriguing in that there are several strong female characters. The dynamic between Maggie, Sandra and Pete is an unusual twist on the typical love triangle. The dialogue throughout is funny bittersweet and occasionally bitchy and a bit over the top (mostly Astor's diva Sandra) but there are characters like this and in real life! Yes, there truly are we've simply become dull and after years of being subjected to mostly mediocre movies forgot what real makes art real and what makes both life and art interesting and real: heart soul passion sincerity and damn good writing and acting.Mary Astor (Sandra) plays a despicable talented narcissistic manipulative character with the bitchiness and ruthlessness of, many would say, a man. I haven't figured out why it's enjoyable to watch her character's personality unfold in this drama because she never redeems herself.Astor's Sandra remains true to her narcissistic self to the very end but somehow it works. Astor won best supporting actress for this role and it's easy to see why. For those who only know Astor from The Maltese Falcon, you will be surprised by what a sublime actor she was and still is all these decades later.

haddesah I must confess I love the old movies ... love the glamour and drama! The dialogue and acting may be bad, but there is still something enchanting about them all... maybe its just the deep respect and awe I have for all the old Hollywood movie stars, after all we would not have the great actors and movies we have today if it had not been for the great stars of yesterday! Love Bette Davis, love the expressions on her face. This is a good old black & white movie that I enjoyed. When you want to watch something completely different with over-the-top drama & acting, something a little more innocent & gentle then the violent movies of today, then curl up on your most comfortable chair or sofa, with a cup of tea or coffee and enjoy.I did have a good giggle to myself tho, as here in South Africa they have rated this movie from 1941 as '18'.... can u believe it!! WOW!! I wonder what kind of old movie it would be that they rate for '13'?? LOL!

David Atfield To my mind this film is perfect - a classic example of what the studio system of the golden years of Hollywood could achieve. Strong direction, witty dialogue, beautiful music, sublime cinematography, crisp editing, gorgeous production design and costuming, brilliant performances - every element of this film is perfect.Add to all that the daring (for its day) story-line, Bette Davis at the height of her dramatic powers and at her most beautiful, and Mary Astor delivering what I think is one of the great screen performances of all time, and you have a very special film indeed.Although the film may seem to have dated elements, especially in the depiction of the African-American characters, if you let yourself watch the film with 1941 eyes you will be richly rewarded. Besides which the wonderful Hattie McDaniel brings so much depth to what could have been a simple stereotype.As you can tell, I love this film. I understand Bette Davis and Mary Astor loved working together - and you can see that on the screen. The scenes between the two of them are electric, with so much being said beyond the words. Thank God Astor won an Oscar for her work here. She truly deserved it.

bkoganbing The Great Lie in its own way is quite daring for the time. There were not too many films in which motherhood was seen as a burden rather than a sacred obligation. In that sense Warner Brothers was taking quite a chance with this film.The one thing I don't understand is Bette Davis taking the role of the noble one in the triangle that involves her with George Brent and Mary Astor. Astor's part is clearly the showier one which she proved by taking home the Best Supporting Actress for 1941. Perhaps it was simply a matter of screen time and that Davis was not going to be in support of anyone.Be that as it may, The Great Lie involves a possible lie to come when a certain infant comes of age. George Brent's got both these women on the string. He marries Mary Astor who is a renowned concert pianist in a whirlwind courtship as soon as the ink on her divorce became dry.Turns out it wasn't quite that dry yet. But nature taking its course Astor gets pregnant. But before she and we find that out, Brent whose marriage to Astor was technically invalid runs off with Davis who's a member of the rich Maryland horsey set.Later on Brent goes missing in a plane crash in the Amazon rain forest and Davis comes up with a marvelous proposition. If Astor will give up the kid when it's born, she'll raise it as her own. Astor who is career minded to the last exponential degree agrees to this until Brent finds his way out of the rain forest.The Great Lie is one potboiler melodrama which is lifted above its worth by these two women. Davis does what she can with the part, though I think she would have been better as the pianist. But Mary Astor just dominates the film. Her performance is the best thing by far in The Great Lie. This was the pinnacle year in Mary Astor's career. She also co-starred in 1941 in her best known screen part, that of Brigid O'Shaunessy in The Maltese Falcon. Given the mores of the time there are only certain directions this plot can take. The Great Lie would be one great flop, but for Bette and Mary. See it for them.