The Bad Sister (1931)
Directed by Hobart Henley and based on Booth Tarkington’s 1913 novel The Flirt, The Bad Sister is a classic pre-Code drama that marked the screen debuts of both Bette Davis and Sidney Fox. Released by Universal Pictures, the film explores themes of vanity, betrayal, and redemption within a small-town family torn by scandal.
Plot Summary
Marianne Madison (Sidney Fox) is the spoiled, flirtatious daughter of a respectable family. Bored with her provincial life, she falls for Valentine Corliss (Humphrey Bogart), a smooth-talking con artist posing as a businessman. Marianne helps him forge her father’s signature to swindle local investors, then runs off with him—only to be abandoned.
Meanwhile, her quiet sister Laura (Bette Davis) harbors feelings for Dr. Dick Lindley (Conrad Nagel), one of Marianne’s former suitors. As Marianne returns home disgraced, Laura’s integrity and compassion begin to shine, ultimately winning Lindley’s heart. The film ends with Marianne accepting a marriage proposal from the portly but kind Wade Trumbull, who helps restore her family’s honor.
Cast Highlights
- Sidney Fox as Marianne Madison
- Bette Davis as Laura Madison
- Conrad Nagel as Dr. Dick Lindley
- Humphrey Bogart as Valentine Corliss
- ZaSu Pitts as Minnie, the maid
- Charles Winninger and Emma Dunn as Mr. and Mrs. Madison
- Slim Summerville, David Durand, and Mary Alden in supporting roles
Behind-the-Scenes Trivia
- Bette Davis famously joked: “It was called THE BAD SISTER. And I played the GOOD sister!”—a line that always got laughs on talk shows
- Davis was so distressed by her performance at the preview that she left early and cried all the way home, fearing her career was over
- The film was originally titled What a Flirt and then Gambling Daughters before settling on Bad Sister
- It was the first collaboration between Bette Davis and Humphrey Bogart, who would go on to co-star in six more films
- Davis was reportedly shocked during a diaper-changing scene when she saw male anatomy for the first time—her reaction was so intense it appeared gray on screen
