Winter Meeting (1948)

A successful poet (Bette Davis) falls in love with a naval war hero (Jim Davis). But both of them bring a ton of baggage to their relationship. Based on the novel by Grace Zaring Stone and directed by Bretaigne Windust (JUNE BRIDE). Often considered one of Bette Davis worst movies. It may not be her worst but it's certainly her dullest. Impeded by the censorship restrictions of the era (Catholicism is a sticking point in the movie), the book's teeth were pulled. In addition, Davis is settled with a clunky leading man, Jim Davis (no relation). A leading man in B movies, he finally found TV fame in the 1970s with DALLAS. Without a decent screenplay, the movie's unending dialogue is merely tedious talk (and talk and talk!). To her credit, Bette Davis tries but you can feel she knows the ship is sinking. In contrast to the film's anemic leads, two of the film's supporting characters bring a bit of punch to the proceedings: John Hoyt as an acerbic society hound and Janis Paige as a man hungry secretary. With Florence Bates and Walter Baldwin.