When contrasted with "...Baby Jane," this movie wins as the best horror with Bette Davis playing the lead role. First, Olivia de Havilland is a MUCH better supporting actress than Joan Crawford. De Havilland's performance goes so against the types of characters she's most well known for that doing this role makes her talent stand way out. Second, God love Agnes Moorehead's brilliant Oscar nominated performance! They robbed her of this so well deserved Oscar. Hindsight crystallizes my point. Velma and Charlotte together have never been matched on screen or stage (as far as I know) with as much dramatic intensity combined with incredible acting skills. Third, mix Joseph Cotten into this blend and have him play a sleazy conniver and with this we get a major motion picture cast. That is exactly what "...Baby Jane" lacks: anywhere close to this caliber of a supporting cast. Oh yes, and just toss in Mary Astor (in her final film performance) and Cecil Kellaway, for good measure, and then we have what is now a classic treasure. Let's put their names in more plain sight: Bette Davis Olivia de Havilland Agnes Moorehead Joseph Cotten Mary Astor Cecil Kellaway The defense rests!Read full review
A spinster haunted by memories of her murdered fiance. Charlotte, whose only social contact is with her maid, Velma (Agnes Moorehead), is crushed to learn that the state wants to tear down her mansion and put up a highway in its place. She calls on her cousin Miriam (Olivia de Havilland) for help, but Miriam fails to offer any assistance other than bringing in the family physician (Joseph Cotten) to have her troubled relative committed. As the nightmares of her fiance continue to haunt her, Charlotte ends up fighting not only for the Hollis estate but for her sanity as well. Black and White a GREAT CLASSIC! Davis begun in the terrifying smash hit WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE? Davis heads up the stellar cast (which includes Bruce Dern and George Kennedy in small, early roles and Mary Astor in her last film appearance) with a performance that radiates desperation, entrapment, and inevitable collapse. HUSH...HUSH, SWEET CHARLOTTE provides a chilling investigation of a heartbreakingly demented mind. This is ONE MOVIE that never goes out of style! In my opinion it should never be remastered in Color, that would take away from the whole movie. Some things are better left alone, as they were meant to be. This is one of them. Some may disagree but it's all in ones taste. Any and all classics should be as they were from the beginning, true to life. Take a look at this film, you will watch it again and again!!Read full review
Of course Bette gives her usual stellar performance but the frosting on this is witnessing Olivia De Havilland transform from her usual namby-pamby butter-won't-melt-in-my-mouth milk toast victimhood (Melanie in Gone With The Wind!) to a conniving seething and quite viscous murderess! Also, Agnes Moorehead's performance as Charlotte's loyal empathetic protective maid is the crowning glory of her acting career. BTW: Filmed in black and white, this movie would have lost it's impact if released in color!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Very atmospheric film and a bit of a who-done-it twisting plot; great cast performances....excellent!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
I had this movie on VHS and wanted the DVD as I couldn't play the other. I love this movie and have seen it several times. It has a great and talented cast and the storyline is interesting and different. Bette Davis and Olivia Haviland absolutely chew up the sets. Great acting by two great old broads; and the rest of the cast do a creditable job as well.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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