Rent Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964)
3.7 of 5 from 106 ratings
2h 7min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
- Bette Davis delivers a powerhouse performance as Charlotte Hollis, a reclusive spinster still mourning the savage murder of the man she loved some 37 years ago. When the state wants her property in order to construct a new highway, to help her resist Charlotte turns to her worldly cousin, Miriam (Olivia de Havilland), and an old friend, Drew (Joseph Cotten). That's when the scares and shocks start in this expertly paced chiller.
- Actors:
- Bette Davis, Olivia De Havilland, Joseph Cotten, Agnes Moorehead, Cecil Kellaway, Victor Buono, Mary Astor, Wesley Addy, William Campbell, Bruce Dern, Frank Ferguson, George Kennedy, Dave Willock, Michel Petit, John Megna, Kelly Flynn, Percy Helton, Alida Aldrich, Kelly Aldrich, William Aldrich
- Directors:
- Robert Aldrich
- Producers:
- Robert Aldrich
- Writers:
- Henry Farrell, Lukas Heller
- Others:
- Michael Luciano, Joseph Biroc, Raphael Bretton, Norma Koch, Mack David, Frank DeVol, William Glasgow
- Studio:
- 20th Century Fox
- Genres:
- Classics, Thrillers
- Collections:
- A Brief History of Films About Sisters, Getting to Know..., Getting to Know: Olivia de Havilland, inema Paradiso's 2023 Centenary Club: Part 2, A Brief History of Film..., The Instant Expert's Guide, The Instant Expert's Guide to: Robert Aldrich
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 21/01/2019
- Run Time:
- 133 minutes
- Languages:
- English LPCM Stereo
- Subtitles:
- English Hard of Hearing
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Widescreen 1.85:1
- Colour:
- B & W
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- B
- Bonus:
- New and exclusive feature length audio commentary by critic Kat Ellinger
- Audio commentary by film historian Glenn Erickson
- Hush...Hush, Sweet Joan: The Making of Charlotte (22 mins)
- Bruce Bern Remembers (13 mins)
- Wizard Work (5 mins) - an archival behind-the-scenes look at the film, narrated by Joseph Cotten Archival Stills Gallery
- Trailer and TV Spots
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Reviews (1) of Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte
Southern Gothic. - Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte review by Steve
This was supposed to be a rematch between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford following their success in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?, but early in the production Joan threw in the towel, so Olivia de Havilland strapped on the gloves. Olivia wasn't as combative on set, and she and Bette got on, but she's well cast as a ruthless villain operating behind a mask of respectability.
Charlotte (Davis) was assumed to have cut off the head and hands of her married beau back in 1920s Louisiana. Now she's a rich old spinster, going crazy. Her cousin (Olivia) aims to gaslight her into a madhouse so she can profit from the property development taking over Miss Charlotte's plantation. There's an audacious climax which will stun anyone who's never seen Les Diaboliques.
It's the sort of sixties family horror that traded on re-situating the great stars of the golden age in a kooky contemporary context. Joseph Cotten supports and there's an appearance from Mary Astor. Agnes Moorhead does some scene stealing as Charlotte's cranky maid. But they are all ultimately merely context to Bette Davis' self-parodic scenery chewing.
It's Southern Gothic, with plenty of atmosphere and genre archetypes and gossiping townsfolk. There is a house full of shadows and the big scenes are scored with thunderstorms rattling the blinds. It's mainly a battle of the divas between Bette and Olivia, but credit to director Robert Aldrich for keeping such a ripe confection so digestible. And it's a lot of fun for fans of the stars.
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