Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte poster & wallpaper
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Bette Davis, Olivia de Havilland, Joseph Cotten, Agnes Moorehead, Cecil Kellaway ... see more see more... , Mary Astor , Victor Buono , Wesley Addy , William Campbell , Bruce Dern , Frank Ferguson , George Kennedy , Percy Helton , Kelly Flynn , Michael Petit , William Aldrich , Ellen Corby , Marianne Stewart , Helen Kleeb , Lillian Randolph , Geraldine West , William Walker , John Megna , Dave Willock

An unusually long pre-credits sequence establishes the roots of faded Southern belle Charlotte's (Bette Davis) insanity; she'd been witness to the dismemberment murder of her fiance (Bruce Dern) and t... read more read more...he suicide of the murderer, her own father (Victor Buono). Years later, Charlotte remains a recluse in her decaying southern mansion, zealously guarding the secret of her father's guilt; she is cared for by her slatternly housekeeper (Agnes Moorehead). When her house is targeted for demolition, Charlotte fears that this will uncover her lover's body parts and thus confirm that her father was a murderer. She desperately summons her seemingly sweet-tempered cousin Miriam (Olivia De Havilland) to help her fight off the house's destruction. Miriam brings along the family doctor (Joseph Cotten) to calm Charlotte's frayed nerves. When Charlotte begins to be plagued by horrific visions of the homicide/suicide of so long ago, it appears that she has gone completely insane. But soon we learn who is behind these delusions...and why. Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte was intended by director Robert Aldrich as a follow-up to the successful Joan Crawford/Bette Davis horror piece Whatever Happened to Baby Jane (1962). Ms. Crawford was originally slated to play Miriam, but became seriously ill shortly before filming started. Davis, who disliked Crawford intensely, suggested that the role of Miriam be filled by her best friend, De Havilland. On the first day of shooting, Davis and DeHavilland pulled a "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead" routine by toasting one another with Coca-Cola--a catty observation of the fact that Joan Crawford's husband was an executive with the Pepsi Cola company! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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82% liked it

7,630 ratings

Critics

84% liked it

19 critics

Unrated, 2 hr. 30 min.

Directed by: Robert Aldrich

Release Date: December 15, 1964

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DVD Release Date: August 9, 2005

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Stats: 372 reviews

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Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte Bette Davis and Agnes Moorehead Wesley Addy and Bette Davis 'Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte' Olivia de Havilland and Joseph Cotten 'Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte' Olivia de Havilland, Mary Astor, Bill Walker 'Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte' Olivia de Havilland and Joseph Cotten Olivia de Havilland and Joseph Cotten Bette Davis and Olivia de Havilland Agnes Moorehead and Bette Davis Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte Havilland and Willock
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Flixster Reviews (372)

  • Stinger839
    February 15, 2011
    Stinger839
    "So Fucked Up" highlight: the plot twist
  • webalina
    February 15, 2011
    webalina
    I saw this the first time -- or was at least exposed to it -- when I was 4. Parents went to the movies with me and my brother in tow, not realizing what kind of film it was. All I remembered for years was a head rolling down a staircase and a whole lot of screaming. This film cou... read moreld have been the reason I was so scared of horror movies until I was about 15. When I finally saw the whole film as a grown-up, I was surprised on how gruesome it actually is for 1964. Still pretty scary in places too. Good flick.
  • ajv2688
    December 2, 2010
    ajv2688
    This movie is advertised as being for people who liked What Ever Happened to Baby Jane, but you don't really need to have seen that movie to appreciate this one. The story is brilliant, and so are the actors, it's a modern murder mystery movie, one of my favourites. It's very i... read morentense and exciting, I highly recommend it.
  • FilmFanatik
    December 20, 2009
    FilmFanatik
    At times, very creepy and always engaging.
  • bottcorecords1
    April 3, 2009
    bottcorecords1
    Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964): Starring Bette Davis, Olivia de Havilland, Joseph Cotten, Agnes Moorehead
    Alot of very old hollywood stars come out of the woodworks to appear in this 60s horror film. Music was written by Devol, who wrote the theme songs to the Brady Bunch a... read mores well as My Three Sons. The movie begins in 1927, as Charlotte's father puts the kibosh on her romance with a married man. Someone runs off with a meat cleaver, and the next thing you know, the married man is hacked up and charlotte's party dress is covered in blood. Jump ahead to 1964, and the city is going to demolish Miss charlotte's house to make way for a new bridge. Charlotte's embarrassed to be wearing her hair in long braids when her cousin shows up at the house not looking like a hillbilly, but like an update modern 60s woman. Thelma the housekeeper thinks everybody is a snooty city slicker (except for Miss Charlotte, of course). These old broads are still pretty attractive, and they chew up the scenery with some very campy (yet very enjoyable) acting, especially Thelma (Agnes Moorehead). It's not a horror film in the traditional sense of the word, but it's enjoyable for no other reason than seeing the performances.
  • fb653545547
    October 9, 2011
    fb653545547
    Not necessarily a horror film as defined in 2011, nor is it truly a mystery, Hush..Hush, Sweet Charlotte is something entirely different I'm not sure how to name. Southern 1960s thriller? A complete mind frack? A study in long, slow torture of an individual without resorting t... read moreo Saw-like shenanigans? See, the film doesn't really let on what's going on until late in the picture, as it should. Until that point, we assume Charlotte is the crazy one. Why? Because we're told she is. Everything the camera shows leads to that conclusion in one way or another. Some parts are underutilized, such as a British insurance investigator, which is a pity, considering how pivitol he turns out to be in the end. I can certainly understand wanting to throw the audience off the scent (so to speak), but HHSC comes off a a bit schizophrenic because of it. However, any deficiencies are easily made up by the actors on screen, all of whom try to overact the others. Davis and de Havilland take the cake in this regard, though Agnes Moorehead is almost campy fun as well.
  • John2223
    March 25, 2010
    John2223
    The pacing of the story in "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte" runs a little slow, and the film tends to be slightly longer than necessary and somewhat confusing but the direction, acting and a few atmospheric scenes make this worth seeing at least once. The opening hatchet murder is... read more (for its time I was not expecting that scene) pretty shocking and bloody.
  • moviegirl50
    February 19, 2011
    moviegirl50
    I was intrigued by this movie as a teen, an excellent horror mystery with an older Bette Davis, superb as usual. A sad story with some awful moments when Charlotte's (Bette Davis) sweetheart is ax-murdered and she is unjustifiably looked upon as guilty for 40 years which makes h... read moreer a recluse. But then the mystery begins to unravel and surprises are on the way. Great enjoyable cast which includes Olivia de Havilland, Joseph Cotten and Agnes Moorehead. This is a must see! On "My 5 Star Suspense/Thrillers" list.
  • terryc1000
    February 15, 2011
    terryc1000
    Once again Bette Davis in her prime, is a winner as a character that is decidedly not in her right mind. Bette has an uncanny knack for these rolls of a tortured soul. I do believe this movie was filmed at the famous Oak Alley in Louisiana. The perfect setting for memories of Sou... read morethern debutants and formal planatation parties. The setting also lends itself well to the erie hauntings of this poor soul and her memories of her young lover who is murdered under the moss-hung oaks which line the swamps. Who says Black and white cannot be gory!
  • roxyavalon3
    February 15, 2011
    roxyavalon3
    Bette Davis getting old, in this wierd horror flick, mesmerising and funny and sick. Loved it.














    Bette Davis is older now. Creepy scary wierd movie, good good.

View All Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte Reviews

Critic Reviews

Steve Crum
June 8, 2007
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com

Bette Davis in her late, creepy mode...and still effective.

Dennis Schwartz
October 10, 2006
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Davis' near-crazed performance being over-the-top but satisfying in a campy way. Full Review

Eric Henderson
September 19, 2005
Eric Henderson, Slant Magazine

Director Aldrich's work on Baby Jane was already a study in hysteria, and his style for Charlotte is, if anything, even more ornate. Full Review

John J. Puccio
August 1, 2005
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis

If it's Grand Guignol you're after, here's where you'll find it. Full Review

Michael W. Phillips, Jr.
May 22, 2005
Michael W. Phillips, Jr., Goatdog's Movies

This film is bonkers ... heady Southern Gothic decadence, histrionics from just about everyone involved, and severed body parts that pop up at the most inopportune times. Full Review

Nick Davis
July 27, 2004
Nick Davis, Nick's Flick Picks

Smothered in Spanish moss, creakily derivative of Baby Jane, this one proves you can't borrow from the same well twice.

Don Willmott
March 8, 2004
Don Willmott, Filmcritic.com

essentially: well-shot schlock Full Review

Ken Hanke
August 7, 2002
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

First-rate souther gothic thriller. Much better than the overrated BABY JANE

Bosley Crowther
May 9, 2005
Bosley Crowther, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Dave Kehr
January 1, 2000
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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