Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964)

Regista:

Robert Aldrich

Writers:

Henry Farrell (screenplay) &
Lukas Heller (screenplay) ...
(ancora)

Data di uscita:

24 dicembre 1964 (USA)

Genere:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Slogan:

Don't Tell Anyone What Happened In The Summer House!

Plot:

The arrival of a lost relative, engulfs terror upon an aging southern belle, forever plagued by a horrifying family secret.

Plot Keywords:

Macabre | Nightmare | Southern Gothic | Widow | Ghost

Premi:

Nominated for 7 Oscars. Another 5 wins

Recensioni degli utenti:

''Chop, Chop Sweet Charlotte!''

Cast

Bette Davis	...	Charlotte
Olivia de Havilland	...	Miriam (as Olivia deHavilland)
Joseph Cotten	...	Drew
Agnes Moorehead	...	Velma
Cecil Kellaway	...	Harry
Victor Buono	...	Big Sam
Mary Astor	...	Jewel
Wesley Addy	...	Sheriff
William Campbell	...	Paul Marchand
Bruce Dern	...	John Mayhew
Frank Ferguson	...	Editor
George Kennedy	...	Foreman
Dave Willock	...	Taxi Driver
Michel Petit	...	Gang Leader (as Michael Petit)
John Megna	...	New Boy
Kelly Flynn	...	2nd Boy
Percy Helton	...	Funeral Director
Alida Aldrich	...	Young Girl
Kelly Aldrich	...	3rd Boy
William Aldrich	...	Boy Dancer
Carol Delay	...	Geraldine
Ellen Corby	...	Town Gossip
Marianne Stewart	...	Town Gossip
Helen Kleeb	...	Town Gossip
Lillian Randolph	...	Cleaning Woman
Geraldine West	...	Cleaning Woman
Maye Henderson	...	Cleaning Woman (as Mary Henderson)
Bill Walker	...	Chauffeur (as William Walker)
Idell James	...	Ginny Mae
resto del cast in ordine alfabetico:
Teddy Buckner and His All-Stars	...	Band (as Teddy Buckner And His All Stars)
Robert Adler	...	Mr. Howard, 1927 Party Guest (uncredited)
Jerry Leggio	...	Doctor (uncredited)

Regia di
Robert Aldrich

Scritto da
Henry Farrell		(screenplay) &
Lukas Heller		(screenplay)
Henry Farrell		(story)

Prodotto da
Robert Aldrich	....	producer
Walter Blake	....	associate producer

Musiche originali di
Frank De Vol		(as DeVol)

Fotografia di
Joseph F. Biroc		(director of photography) (as Joseph Biroc)

Montaggio di
Michael Luciano

Architetto-scenografo
William Glasgow

Arredatore
Raphael Bretton

Costumi di
Norma Koch

Trucco
Gene Hibbs	....	makeup artist
Robert J. Schiffer	....	makeup artist

Direttore di produzione
Jack R. Berne	....	production supervisor

Aiuto regista
William McGarry	....	assistant director
William F. Sheehan	....	assistant director
Sam Strangis	....	assistant director

Art Department
John La Salandra	....	construction coordinator
John Orlando	....	painter
John Orlando	....	property master

Sonoro
Bernard Freericks	....	sound mixer
Herman Lewis	....	sound mixer

Controfigure
Evelyn Finley	....	stunts (uncredited)

Music Department
Albert Woodbury	....	orchestrator (as Al Woodbury)

Altro personale
Adell Aldrich	....	script apprentice (as Adell Aldrich Bravos)
Robert Gary	....	script supervisor
Alex Ruiz	....	choreographer
Robert Sherman	....	dialogue supervisor

Production Companies

• Associates & Aldrich Company, The

Distributors

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1964) (USA) (theatrical)
• Centfox (1965) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1968) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Fox Video (1992) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Key Video (1995) (USA) (VHS)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2005) (Brazil) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• CBS/Fox (19??) (USA) (VHS)

Alias:

What Ever Happened to Cousin Charlotte?
Piano... piano dolce Carlotta (Italy) [it]

Durata:

133 min | Argentina:134 min

Nazionalità:

USA

Lingua:

Inglese

Colore:

Bianco e nero

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sonoro:

Mono

Divieti:

Australia:PG (TV rating) | West Germany:18 (nf) | Norway:16 | Germany:12 (nf) | Australia:M | Portugal:M/16 | Spain:T | Argentina:Atp | USA:Approved | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:15

Luoghi delle riprese:

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA

Company:

Associates & Aldrich Company, The

Curiosità:

Weather and travel delays, as well as Joan Crawford's departure, forced director Robert Aldrich to cease location filming and move to a $200,000 replica of Houmas House at Fox Studio's Soundstage 6.

Errori:

Continuity: While waiting outside the Hollis home, Willis licks and seals the letter for Charlotte. When she opens it, however, it is unsealed.

Citazioni:

Miriam: You just can't keep hogs away from the trough, can you?
Velma Cruther: I just come for my things.
Miriam: Is my cousin one of your things?

Movie Connections:

Citato in Stardust: The Bette Davis Story (2006) (TV)

Colonna sonora:

Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte

''Chop, Chop Sweet Charlotte!''

"Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte" was, as most people know, intended as a follow up (not a sequel) to the first and most influential "horror hag" film of them all, "Whatever Happened To Baby Jane?". Producer/director Robert Aldrich who had helmed "Jane" wanted to repeat that film's box office success. He re-teamed Bette Davis (as Charlotte) and Joan Crawford (as her cousin Miriam) but, in events that have become the stuff of Hollywood Legend, Crawford became "ill" and checked into the hospital and wouldn't come out. She was eventually replaced by Bette's long-standing friend, Olivia de Havilland, fresh from "Lady in a Cage" (1964).

Although many find the plot somewhat convoluted, it is basically rather simple. Aging southern belle Charlotte Hollis lives in decayed splendor in the Louisiana mansion where, thirty seven years earlier, a horrible murder took place. The victim was none other than her married lover John Mayhew (Bruce Dern, in an early screen appearance) whom Charlotte fears was killed by her overbearing father (Victor Buono) who was against their affair. Over the years, however, the local townspeople have concluded that Charlotte herself was responsible, but escaped punishment due to her father's political connections. As it happens, the highway commission is planning on building a bridge where Charlotte's house stands, and are tirelessly trying to remove her from the property. She is just as doggedly determined to remain, because she fears demolition of the house will reveal proof of her father's guilt. Charlotte's only companions are her old, white trash housekeeper, Velma Crother (Agnes Moorehead) and the family doctor, Drew Bayliss (Joseph Cotten). Charlotte's attempts to hold off the sheriff are finally beginning to weaken, so, in a last attempt to hold onto the old plantation, she sends for her Cousin Miriam Deering, hoping she can help. Miriam does, eventually arrive, but it's soon obvious that she is there for reasons other than to comfort and aid her cousin.

The film is well photographed in eminently suitable black and white, and the haunting musical score by an Oscar-nominated Frank DeVol (as well as the beautiful nominated title song) aid it immeasurably. The performances are what makes the movie so much fun. Bette Davis, as usual, goes all out as the tormented cousin, moaning, whining simpering and,especially shrieking her way through her part. In contrast, the still very attractive de Havilland is, at first, a model of restraint. Matching Davis in the histrionics department is Moorehead (who was also Oscar-nominated for her performance) as she carries on, sometimes so hilariously, it's difficult to understand what she is saying. (Oh well, that's what DVD subtitles are for!) At the same time, she can be moving as well. Cotten gets to do his own (relatively restrained) scenery-chewing , but the scenes in which Davis, de Havilland and Moorehead scream at each other in very thick southern accents could be right out of the old "Mama's Family" TV series. As Jewel Mayhew, widow of Bette's lover, Mary Astor gives her usual excellent performance, so subdued and realistic, that she seems to be in a different film. Ditto Cecil Kellaway as a curious insurance investigator. In the end, though, it's all the overplaying and gaudy scene stealing which makes "Charlotte" so much fun. A remake would be not only redundant, but a mistake. "Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte" is truly one of a kind. The just-released Fox DVD includes a great widescreen transfer of the film, an audio commentary, and, best of all, a trailer, teaser trailer and three television spots, which emphasize the movie's lurid aspects--what else could you want? GET IT NOW!