- Format: PAL
- Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: 15
- Studio: Twentieth Century Fox
- DVD Release Date: 16 Jan 2006
- Run Time: 132 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B000BRBA56
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 40,997 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Reviews
Amazon.co.uk Review
Poor Charlotte Hollis. She's been shunned by the community for decades, ever since the fateful night in 1927 when her lover was hacked apart with an axe. Her antebellum southern mansion is slated for the bulldozer, as it stands in the way of highway construction. Charlotte's only hope lies in her cousin Miriam (Olivia de Havilland), coming down from up north to help settle things. Miriam, however, has other designs. Together with her boyfriend Drew (Joseph Cotten), she embarks on a scheme to systematically drive Charlotte out of her mind (not a great leap) and get her mitts on the family fortune. From there, things only get more complicated. Charlotte puts the "gothic" in southern gothic, as a great showcase for completely bizarre, overwrought, and out-of-control performances from all involved. Agnes Moorehead plays Charlotte's loyal, dishevelled housekeeper to the hilt, with an odd inflection that calls to mind Amos and Andy more than southern gentility. As the drunken, conniving Dr. Drew, Cotten's accent is indeterminate at times, and seems to come and go. As great as the supporting players are, though, the crown goes to Bette Davis as the shrieking Charlotte, a portrait of isolation and decay stuck in a world of tragic delusions inside her crumbling mansion. De Havilland is a close second as the scheming Miriam; the scene where she slaps the holy snot out of a hysterical Charlotte is itself worth the price of admission. Mary Astor (in her last role) and Cecil Kellaway (as a kindly Lloyd's of London adjuster) put in the only performances with any restraint, acting as counterweights for the rest of the cast. Besides, you'll never get another chance to see Joseph Cotten playing the harpsichord and singing, or caked in mud and lily pads! With Robert Aldrich's claustrophobic direction, Charlotte is as Southern as a field of kudzu, and as subdued as a train wreck. --Jerry Renshaw
DVD Description
This is the tale of a wealthy southern spinster Charlotte Hollis (Bette Davis) who lives with her eccentric maid (Agnes Moorehead) in a decaying southern mansion, shunned by the townsfolk after the mysterious axe-murder of her late lover. When her jealous cousin (Olivia de Havilland) and her cousin's wily husband (Cotton) arrive for a visit, the two conspire to drive Charlotte insane and have her committed so the two can sell off her estate and pocket the proceeds.
Bette Davis is an elderly Southern recluse slowly being driven mad. Fearing that her home may soon be demolished to make way for a new road, and at the same time exposing an ancient murder, her relatives start to gang up on her. What do they want? And why are they trying to convince her that she's mad?
Bette Davis is an elderly Southern recluse slowly being driven mad. Fearing that her home may soon be demolished to make way for a new road, and at the same time exposing an ancient murder, her relatives start to gang up on her. What do they want? And why are they trying to convince her that she's mad?
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Bette Davis gives a great performance, sometimes chewing the scenery, sometimes understated, as a Southern recluse, slowly going mad, or is she?
She is the victim, rather than the tormentor, the role she played in '... Baby Jane. Olivia De Haviland stepped in to play her mysterious 'Yankee' cousin from New York. She too gives a top performance, chillingly dark, seething with a repressed jealousy and hatred. Joan Crawford was to take that role, but she gave up part way through the production, claiming that Bette Davis had turned the rest of the cast and the crew against her.
In fact the fim is packed with great performances. It is as though these great stars from a generation earlier siezed the chance to be in a major film again, and put everything into their acting. Mary Astor is superb, and Agnes Moorhead (best known for playing 'Endora' is 60s T.V. 'Bewitched'), picked up a supporting role Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Velma Cruthers, the scary, but ultimately very loyal servant. Joseph Cotton and Cecil Kellaway are fine too, but this is really a film for its female stars.
Back in 1964, this was considered a horror film. By today's standards, the horror is mild and laughable, but it still works, in my opinion, as a great suspense thriller. Some might consider it a high camp classic.
She is the victim, rather than the tormentor, the role she played in '... Baby Jane. Olivia De Haviland stepped in to play her mysterious 'Yankee' cousin from New York. She too gives a top performance, chillingly dark, seething with a repressed jealousy and hatred. Joan Crawford was to take that role, but she gave up part way through the production, claiming that Bette Davis had turned the rest of the cast and the crew against her.
In fact the fim is packed with great performances. It is as though these great stars from a generation earlier siezed the chance to be in a major film again, and put everything into their acting. Mary Astor is superb, and Agnes Moorhead (best known for playing 'Endora' is 60s T.V. 'Bewitched'), picked up a supporting role Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Velma Cruthers, the scary, but ultimately very loyal servant. Joseph Cotton and Cecil Kellaway are fine too, but this is really a film for its female stars.
Back in 1964, this was considered a horror film. By today's standards, the horror is mild and laughable, but it still works, in my opinion, as a great suspense thriller. Some might consider it a high camp classic.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is the movie I've watched numerous times, but upon the beginning of every viewing, always seem to have forgotten the outcome of the story. This was the second film on a similar theme to 'Baby Jane' made two years earlier, but far more complex, and as a consequence, can at times appear a little over-long. Agnes Moorehead deservedly earns herself an award here as the faithful and loyal servant of the alleged crazy 'Miss Charlotte' (played by Bette Davis) Compare Moorehead's performance to that of her role in the US 60s sitcom: 'Bewitched' and you will see what I mean! Olivia de Havliand is at her most cold and cunning in this, as Charlotte's cousin Miriam. There is one spectacular and un-missable scene between she and Moorehead at the top of the stairs when one character is highly suspicious of the other. Some of the best movies in this genre from the 60s were led by women such as the aforementioned; 'Baby Jane', Whatever Happened To Aunt Alice' and Britain's 'The Beast In The Cellar', and somehow have more impact, and are more disturbing, because of their sex.
'Hush Hush' almost has the exact same cast as starred in 'Baby Jane', and it would have been complete but for Joan Crawford, who because of the strain of working with Davis in 'Baby Jane', after only a short time of filming had been forced to drop out, and was replaced by de Haviland. The switch could have potentially been fatal to the success of this picture, but for de Haviland's outstandingly cold performance!
One of the extras on this DVD is the original Trailer - re-mastered (Trailers are not often polished up), and is one of the very best I have ever seen for this type of movie!
True movie gold!
'Hush Hush' almost has the exact same cast as starred in 'Baby Jane', and it would have been complete but for Joan Crawford, who because of the strain of working with Davis in 'Baby Jane', after only a short time of filming had been forced to drop out, and was replaced by de Haviland. The switch could have potentially been fatal to the success of this picture, but for de Haviland's outstandingly cold performance!
One of the extras on this DVD is the original Trailer - re-mastered (Trailers are not often polished up), and is one of the very best I have ever seen for this type of movie!
True movie gold!
39 of 43 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This was meant to be the sequel for Whatever happened to Baby Jane, and they say that sequels aren't as good. In this case they are completely wrong, i prefer this to Baby Jane, and in fact i think it is one of my favourite Bette Davis pictures. Agnes Moorehead stars in this and she is fantastic. All the actors, actresses work brilliantly together.
The twist at the end of the film is extremely clever as well.
The twist at the end of the film is extremely clever as well.
I was annoyed when i discovered this film even existed and you couldn't buy it anywhere in the uk, now though, being released here im extremely pleased i did decide to order it.
I also bought this DVD without knowing there were any special features, so when i discovered there was a trailer, which is also enjoyable, i was quite pleased.
Hope you enjoy this fantastic film.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
A Scream
Over the top acting at its best. How can you not like Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. Two of Hollywood's greatest at the their best. Read more
Published 5 months ago by G. Clapton
Solid little shocker
In 1962, when the careers of acting heavyweights such as Bette Davis, Joan Crawford and Olivia De Havilland were beginning to subside as the years took their toll, director Robert... Read more
Published 13 months ago by TGillespie
Exerlant old movie ! Bet at har BEST !
If you ejoyed Whatever happend to Baby Jane, You will LOVE this film. Davis is at her best, yet again but this time shes the victom which makes a change. Read more
Published on 8 Sep 2009
Bette Davis makes a great creepy hag!
This film was,apparently,originally meant to be the sequel to 'Baby Jane' and bears strong resemblances to it. Read more
Published on 8 Nov 2008 by Lazydrake
Great cast, so-so movie
Bette Davis plays the fragile title character in this movie, which feels like a cross between What Ever Happened To Baby Jane and Gaslight. Read more
Published on 11 Oct 2008 by NoWireHangers
Nightmares for years!
This film has stayed in my mind for over forty years, I watched it when I was 9 years old, late one night, and I wished I hadn't. Read more
Published on 24 July 2008 by J. Barron
Whatever Happened to Joan Crawford?
A couple of years after their successful teaming in 'Whatever Happened to Baby Jane' director Robert Aldrich and star Bette Davis were reunited for this frenetic monochrome... Read more
Published on 10 April 2008 by Book Wallah
Great entertainment
The story behind the conception of "Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte" is well documented, so the question is: without being another Bette Davis/Joan Crawford battlefest, does it match up... Read more
Published on 12 Feb 2007 by A. Griffiths
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