Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte
An aging, reclusive Southern belle tormented by a horrifying family secret descends into madness after the arrival of a lost relative.
Director(s)
Robert Aldrich
Robert Gary
William McGarry
William F. Sheehan
Sam Strangis
Cast & Crew
Details
Reviews
John Chard
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
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Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte FAQs
The directors of Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte are Robert Aldrich, Robert Gary, William McGarry, William F. Sheehan, and Sam Strangis.
The cast of Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte includes Frank Ferguson as Newspaper Editor, Joseph Cotten as Drew Bayliss, Agnes Moorehead as Velma Cruther, Bruce Dern as John Mayhew, Bette Davis as Charlotte Hollis, Ellen Corby as Lily, John Megna as New Boy, Victor Buono as Big Sam Hollis, George Kennedy as Foreman, Cosmo Sardo as Party Guest (uncredited), Olivia de Havilland as Miriam Deering, Percy Helton as Funeral Director, and more.
The duration of Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte is 2h 13 mins.
Yes. Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte has 3 trailers on Fanbiz, including Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte ≣ 1964 ≣ Trailer #2. Watch them on this page.
Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte was released on 16 Dec 1964.
Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte is listed under Horror, Mystery, and Thriller on Fanbiz.
Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte has 1 review on Fanziz, with an average rating of 8.0/10. One reviewer wrote: "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 Ha..."
