first and i should say that i have see the 39 version at least 100 time while know all the dialog and and have read the 36 play and which be different from the 39 and contains nugget of gold of it own . this version be as flat a a lifetime movie on adultery . there a reason you haven not see an expensive campaign of tv ad for it . accord to entertainment weekly and bening hat the catty tone of the original and how the woman spend the whole time go to war on each other . guess what . that be booth intent . it be a slick and theatrical take on gossip and adultery and and back biting among a set of well heel manhattan socialite . the crowd that make this new version have no intention of honor the original source material . they pick at it weirdly and put in half a scene here and half a scene there that come from the first version . bette midler ( who be in just a few scene and act the old countess part in a broad and grinning style ) doesn not have any context in this version . she mention go after buck and which be a key element in the original then he never mention again . this movie be so dull that i be not go to over analyze it and but here be a few thing that i find unbelievable represent > mary haines brag to her domestic staff represent i can suck the nail out of a board . right . great writing . norma shearer could have do a line read on that and get an oscar nom and right . > a compassionate sylvia fowler . annette bening get what she want and and the movie just sort of withers away . claire booth use sylvia a the comic engine that sweep through the play . a portray immortally by rosalind russell and she be an ignorant and spiteful woman who rattle off ream of petty and ridiculous and irresistible dialog that be still classic and quotable . she wasn not above bite paulette godard ankle . the 2008 filmmaker decide that this character have to die . in kill her off and they kill the movie .