SIMPLY CAROLE

SIMPLY CAROLE
CAROLE LOMBARD - My Favorite Actress

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Classic Horror Films - Day 14 (HUSH...HUSH, SWEET CHARLOTTE - 1964)

'Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte'


After her betrothed died from multiple ax wounds 40 years ago, everyone in town thought Charlotte Hollis (Bette Davis) was guilty. But with no evidence to convict her, she walked. Since that time, holed up in a crumbling Southern mansion with her devoted servant (Agnes Moorehead), Charlotte's been a recluse. But when an ambitious cousin (Olivia de Havilland) comes along to get her hands on the plantation, Charlotte has to defend herself.

Bette Davis and Olivia de Havilland

Excellent gothic drama that is the perfect follow-up to Whatever Happened To Baby Jane? In some ways, Charlotte is even better. Davis gives a nuanced and more subtle performance than in Jane, and she is backed by a more solid supporting cast. Co-stars Olivia de Havilland, Joseph Cotten, Agnes Moorehead, Mary Astor, and Victor Buono compliment Bette extremely well. It's cool seeing Olivia in such a different role too as a woman of questionable scruples. Watch this with Baby Jane and you have the perfect double bill. Director Robert Aldrich helmed both films. Good stuff.

2 comments:

Gilby37 said...

I think this is a superior film to Baby Jane. The plot is excellent and it has outstanding supporting players in Agnes Moorehead, Cecil Kellaway, Victor Buono, Mary Astor, and Wesley Addy. The 3 stars Davis, Cotten, and DeHavilland are in top form. The sublety of the 3 primary performers leads to the viewer into a complex scenario. Davis & DeHavilland were friends and admirers of each other's work, therefore, the chemistry on screen is better than Davis/Crawford would have been.

Dawn said...

Monty, This film really surprised how wonderful it was. I had never seen it until recently when TCM ran it. Olivia is amazing and Agnes Moorehead won a Oscar for her role, she definitely deserved it. Also... loved Joseph Cotton, Victor Buono, George Kennedy also Bruce Dern's performances. What an awesome cast!

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