/oe9YRZv9FTtOJ9IKbJxyh23MYO1.jpg
HorrorMysteryThriller

Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte

- The years will soon erase a lover's lies...the blood on his face!

An aging, reclusive Southern belle plagued by a horrifying family secret descends into madness after the arrival of a lost relative.

Release Date : 1964-12-15

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : The Associates & Aldrich Company20th Century Fox

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles : What Ever Happened to Cousin Charlotte?Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte

Cast

Bette Davis

Character Name : Charlotte Hollis

Original Name : Bette Davis

Gender : Female

Olivia de Havilland

Character Name : Miriam Deering

Original Name : Olivia de Havilland

Gender : Female

Joseph Cotten

Character Name : Drew Bayliss

Original Name : Joseph Cotten

Gender : Male

Agnes Moorehead

Character Name : Velma Cruther

Original Name : Agnes Moorehead

Gender : Female

Cecil Kellaway

Character Name : Harry Willis

Original Name : Cecil Kellaway

Gender : Male

Victor Buono

Character Name : Big Sam Hollis

Original Name : Victor Buono

Gender : Male

Mary Astor

Character Name : Jewel Mayhew

Original Name : Mary Astor

Gender : Female

Wesley Addy

Character Name : Sheriff Standish

Original Name : Wesley Addy

Gender : Male

William Campbell

Character Name : Paul Marchand

Original Name : William Campbell

Gender : Male

Bruce Dern

Character Name : John Mayhew

Original Name : Bruce Dern

Gender : Male

Frank Ferguson

Character Name : Newspaper Editor

Original Name : Frank Ferguson

Gender : Male

George Kennedy

Character Name : Foreman

Original Name : George Kennedy

Gender : Male

Dave Willock

Character Name : Taxi Driver

Original Name : Dave Willock

Gender : Male

John Megna

Character Name : New Boy

Original Name : John Megna

Gender : Male

Percy Helton

Character Name : Funeral Director

Original Name : Percy Helton

Gender : Male

Kelly Flynn

Character Name : Boy #2

Original Name : Kelly Flynn

Gender : Male

Michel Petit

Character Name : Gang Leader

Original Name : Michel Petit

Gender : Male

Alida Aldrich

Character Name : Young Girl

Original Name : Alida Aldrich

Gender : Male

Kelly Aldrich

Character Name : Boy #3

Original Name : Kelly Aldrich

Gender : Male

William Aldrich

Character Name : Boy Dancer

Original Name : William Aldrich

Gender : Male

Ellen Corby

Character Name : Lily

Original Name : Ellen Corby

Gender : Female

Carol Delay

Character Name : Geraldine

Original Name : Carol Delay

Gender : Male

Helen Kleeb

Character Name : Town Gossip

Original Name : Helen Kleeb

Gender : Female

Marianne Stewart

Character Name : Town Gossip

Original Name : Marianne Stewart

Gender : Female

Mary Henderson

Character Name : Cleaning Woman

Original Name : Mary Henderson

Gender : Male

Lillian Randolph

Character Name : Cleaning Woman

Original Name : Lillian Randolph

Gender : Female

Geraldine West

Character Name : Cleaning Woman

Original Name : Geraldine West

Gender : Male

Bill Walker

Character Name : Joseph

Original Name : Bill Walker

Gender : Male

Idell James

Character Name : Ginny Mae

Original Name : Idell James

Gender : Male

Teddy Buckner

Character Name : Band Leader

Original Name : Teddy Buckner

Gender : Male

Cosmo Sardo

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Cosmo Sardo

Gender : Male

Reviews

J

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

Glorious Southern Gothic Delirium. Hush…Hush, Sweet Charlotte is directed by Robert Aldrich and written by Henry Farrell and Lukas Heller. It stars Bette Davis, Olivia de Havilland, Joseph Cotton, Agnes Moorehead, Cecil Kellaway and Mary Astor. Music is by Frank De Vol and cinematography by Joseph F. Biroc. It’s 1927, the Louisiana plantation home of Sam Hollis (Victor Buono), and Charlotte Hollis (Davis) is having an affair with a married man, John Mayhew (Bruce Dern). After a heated argument between Sam and John, John is brutally slain by an unseen assailant, only Charlotte appears on the scene covered in blood. Then it’s the present day and just Charlotte and her house keeper, Velma (Moorehead) live at the Hollis mansion, Sam having passed away many years ago. Charlotte is mentally scarred from the echoes of the past, she’s a recluse and seen by the townsfolk as the local mental case. As developers try to plough a road through the Hollis home, Charlotte sends for her cousin Miriam (Havilland), but then strange things start happening and Charlotte might once and for all tip over the edge. A bit long at 2 hours 13 minutes and a bit too bonkers at times, Hush…Hush, Sweet Charlotte still comes out as glorious Guignol entertainment. The setting is perfect, a Baton Rouge locale of whispering trees and ominous foliage, the Hollis mansion a place of dark secrets, shadowy halls and mental disintegration. Biroc’s black and white photography seems to revel in the misery and emotional turmoil that blows about the place, and the brilliant Aldrich unleashes delirious turns from Davis and Moorehead as the others play perfectly restrained foil. There’s a strong mystery element driving the plot forward, because what we think is true may not actually be the case? The narrative deftly reveals back stories as film progresses, hints at means and motives dangle tantalisingly in the Gothic tinged air, and then the finale doesn’t disappoint, it has some surprises in store and closes the picture down handsomely. Best served with a good helping of Sour Mash, Hush…Hush, Sweet Charlotte is Southern Gothicana with bells on. Or should that be Belles? 8/10