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    Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte

    Reviewed by
    pietroantoni@

    This horror film by Robert Aldrich came about after the enormously successful "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? ", 1962 broke all sorts of box office records with two older "dames" Bette Davis and Joan Crawford working together for the very first time in their careers. Bette got a well deserved Oscar Nomination which drove Joan to distraction. In any case HUSH was to be the follow up film with Joan now to be the domineering character, Miriam, to the frightened, whimpering Miss Charlotte of Miss Davis! Joan Crawford started the film, but apprehensive about the way things went with Baby Jane, she suddenly quit the picture. The cameras were already rolling so a call went out to Olivia de Havilland living in France since her 1955 marriage. She took over the despicable role Miss Crawford was to play. The cast also boasted Mary Astor, Agnes Moorehead, Joseph Cotton, Cecil Kellaway, Victor Buono and a disarmingly young Bruce Dern who, in flashback, plays Charlotte's (Bette) love interest.

    This is not your typical horror film as such. There are elements of horror, but the story is much more about love lost, greed, blackmail and a reporter trying to get at the truth in this very complicated plot. The film works fairly well, but it did not have as enormous a success as Baby Jane. It was rather unsettling to witness Miss De Havilland and Mr. Cotton as the villains of the piece as I don't believe they ever played a villain in their very, very long careers. Having seen the film at least three times, I would still be rather stymied about giving a film summary of 'Hush Hush' though I would never dream of doing so. One thing is certain. One must see the film from the very beginning without missing a beat or you will be hopelessly lost in this very intricate plot. Of all the actors in the feature it was only AGNES MOOREHEAD as the trusty, unkempt housekeeper who managed to snag an Oscar Nomination in a supporting role.

    Of added interest is the title song "Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte" which occurs as a leitmotif throughout the film. It went on to get an Oscar Nomination as Best Song of the Year and became a huge #1 hit as recorded by the legendary Patti Page. There are some rough edges to the film and some acting that becomes slightly melodramatic, but, on the whole, you will enjoy this film with so many greats from the past. Shooting the film in B + W again proved beneficial to the entire ambiance as had the filming of Baby Jane.

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    pietroantoni@  4.8.2015 age: 36-49 14,551 reviews

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