Baby Jane Hudson's

[launderess]

The Real Beauty Of Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte

Lies in it being a great mystery story.

Through most of the book and film one really thinks Charlotte Hollis *did* murder her married lover and therefore deserves somehow the treatment being metted out by her cousin, Miriam. Of course in the end the truth will out that Miriam is the actual villan along with June Mayhew. One actually committed the murder whilst the other knew of it and was blackmailing her and deviling Charlotte to get at her money.

In the end greed and evil claimed both of them and while Charlotte may have lost her family estate and will likely live out her days in an insane aslyum, the sort of smile she gives at the end shows she "won" after all. When handed the letter from the now dead Mrs. Mayhew and hearing "I think you've been waiting for this a long time", vindicates all along what Charlotte Hollis had told her father and anyone else who would listen; she didn't kill anybody. The group of nasty old gossips/bidy women gathered around at the end to chatter about Charlotte's plight and the goings on would finally have their mouths shut when the rest of the story came to light via Mrs. Mayhew's letter.

By the old Hollywood code both "evil" women in the end were punished. June Mayhew committed suicide rather than live on as known murderess as opposed to the wronged widow. Miriam got greedy and that never bodes well for anyone. She played a very dangerous game in trying to drive her cousin "mad" and in the end whether she did or not the results would have worked enough to get her off a murder charge. I would have heaved that planter over the railing as well.

For a really good Bette Davis murder mystery you cannot beat the often forgotten "Dead Ringer" released in 1964.

Miss Davis plays a dual role of twins where one kills the other to assume her sister's life in order to take revenge and get what is "her's" only to find out things weren't what they appeared to be and lands in some very hot water.

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[danemodsandy]

Ron:

There are two 1964 Electra 225s in the film.

The first one is the one you mention as having been rented for Miriam to drive; this one is light in color (remember, this is a B&W movie).

The second one is a darker one, seen at the end of the film, and Bette Davis is driven away in huge style in it.

There IS a small Buick in the last scene, but it's a light-colored '64 Special shown earlier as being driven by the crime magazine reporter.

 

[launderess]

This Is The Way To Go

When I've finally snapped and taken a few people out, here is how I'll leave my grand ole home.

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[dynaflow]

Sandy

so sorry I just remembered the Special a 64 225 is my fav buick of all

 

[stan]

I think the best

performances in "Hush" is given by Agnes Moorehead I think she out acts Davis by far, and gives a more than a convincing performance.
Don't think she was ever given the acknowledgment she deserved for her many character parts, 64 movie characters alone, "Velma" in "Hush" her 59th movie character!

De Havilland also gives a "more convincing' performance, especially the scene in the car after they have dumped "Cotton's" body in the swamp, and she get sick of Bette's over acted crying. Olivia literally shots daggers out of her eyes, slaps the holy hell out out Davis and tells her to "shut her mouth" she palyed it so well that I'd have been scared of her LOL

 

[twintubdexter]

oh I could not agree with you more...

...Agnes Moorehead gave a brilliant performance in that film, as she did with so many other movies, plays and television shows. She was truely one of the great American actresses. How cool it is to see so much interest in "Charlotte." You watch it for the hundredth time and you still can't wait for that urn to land on Joseph Cotton's and Olivia de Havilland's heads. That Miriam was rotten to the core.

"that's some kinda drug yer givin her"

 

[launderess]

The Late Great Agnes Moorehead

Towards her winter of her life lamented for all her excellent body of work on radio, stage, screen and even early television she was most widely known (and probably would be remembered as) the witch "Endora" from "Bewitched".

Ms. Moorehead got abit of religon late in her life and the witch thing must have bothered her no end.

IMHO the lady was an under used talent and never got the respect and by extension credit/awards that were her due.

Check out Ms. Moorehead in the radio version of "Sorry, Wrong Number".

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[twintubdexter]

I don't think she spoke a single word when that nasty little U.S. spaceship landed on her roof in The Twilight Zone...but once again she put in a memorable performance.

 

[stan]

just listened to the

"Sorry wrong number" Laundress posted. with Agnes Moorehead !

Damm she's good!

Are we going to get in trouble for all this in the wrong forum LOL

 

[tomturbomatic]

My favorite line from HHSC. "GIT OFF MY PROPERTY," while bradishing & firing a rifle.

When the foreman tells her that she could have killed his man, she responds, "If I'd been aimin' to kill him, I would have."

A template for a real steel magnolia.

 

[launderess]

You Forgot My Personal Favourite Bit

When the foreman of the work crew threatens to go into town to complain to some offical about Miss. Hollis's behaviour she shoots back:

" I don't care where you go straight to, just as long as you go; and take them and that with you".

Even northern soliders and officers during the civil war learned southern women were not all frail and helpless.

 

[danemodsandy]

One More Bette Story:

Years after Bette Davis and Olivia de Havilland made "Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte" together, they were invited to Warner Bros. for a tribute to its classic stars.

As often happens, the event was a catered banquet, held on a Warner Bros. soundstage - in fact, a soundstage that both ladies were very familiar with, with each actress having made some of her most famous movies on it.

Late in the evening, an "honor roll" of deceased Warner Bros. greats was called, and of course, many of the names on it were people Bette and Olivia had worked with in the glory days.

When it was over, Bette was all sentimental and teary-eyed. She turned to Olivia and gushed, "Oh, Livvie - what ghosts there are in this room!"

To which de Havilland tartly replied: "Yes, and wouldn't you just know we'd outlive them all!"