Written by Henry Farrel And Lukas Heller
Directed by Robert Aldrich
Harry: "You're my favorite living mystery."
Charlotte: "Have you ever solved me?"
Following the success of Whatever Happened To Baby Jane? of course the studio at the time would be eager to see if lightning could strike twice. They brought back the director and the three actors from that movie for this one. Then one of the actors was fired from the production.
Anyways, let's move things along. It's 1927 and there's a lovely party held by the Hollis family. Big Sam Hollis (Victor Buono) disapproved of his daughter, Charlotte (Bette Davis) having an affair with the married John Mayhem (Bruce Dern). By the end of the night, an illicit affair would be the least of everyone's concerns.
Yup, poor John Mayhem would end up dead and Charlotte's dress would be covered in blood, thus convincing everyone of her guilt. Cut to thirty seven years later and Charlotte would be a maligned spinster who was about to lose her home to make way for a new interstate.
Charlotte was desperate enough to seek out help that she enlisted the assistance of her cousin Miriam Deering (Olivia de Havilland) and Doctor Drew Bayliss (John Cotten) in order to save her home. Unfortunately for Charlotte, their intentions were anything but good for her.
Throughout the movie, both Miriam and Drew delight in driving Charlotte absolutely mad. Thy make her believe that she's been terrorised by her dead lover, mess with her medication and at one point, Charlotte was convinced that Drew was shot and had to dispose of him.
Throughout the film, no one except for housekeeper Velma Cruther (Agnes Moorehead), who actually had Charlotte's back and a remorseful journalist named Harry Willis (Cecil Kellaway). The revelation that John's wife, Jewel (Mary Astor) killed him and Miriam was blackmailing her certainly added a nasty twist. On the plus side, both Miriam and Drew got their just desserts and Charlotte got some vindication in spite of losing her home.
- Originally Joan Crawford had been cast as Miriam but was fired from the production and replaced by Olivia de Havilland.
- Victor Buono is thirty years younger than Bette Davis but played her father. The movie kept Davis in the dark at the start instead of casting a younger actress.
- Standout music: Al Martino's Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte.
- Chronology: 1927 and 1964, Ascension Parish in Louisiana.
Hush ... Hush, Sweet Charlotte doesn't quite hit the same way that Whatever Happened To Baby Jane? did but it's certainly a noteworthy entry in the psycho buddy/hagsploitation subgenre. Bette Davis did fine but she's overshadowed by the more scheming antics of Olivia de Havilland in this one.
Rating: 7 out of 10
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