Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964)

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

Director:

Robert Aldrich

Writers:

Henry Farrell (screenplay), Lukas Heller (screenplay),

Stars:

Bette Davis, Olivia de Havilland, Joseph Cotten

Nominated for 7 Oscars. Another 5 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bette Davis	...	Charlotte
Olivia de Havilland	...	Miriam
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

Storyline

Charlotte Hollis, an aging recluse deluded into a state of dementia by horrible memories and hallucinations, lives in a secluded house where, thirty-seven years before, John Mayhew her married lover, was beheaded and mutilated by an unknown assailant.

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Plot Keywords:

murder | house | guilt | recluse | southern belle | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 December 1964 (USA)

Also Known As:

What Ever Happened to Cousin Charlotte?

Filming Locations:

Greystone Park & Mansion - 905 Loma Vista Drive, Beverly Hills, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,235,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Associates & Aldrich Company, The

Technical Specs

Runtime:

133 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Joan Crawford was seething when she read that Robert Aldrich had replaced her with Olivia de Havilland. She is quoted in "Hollywood Reporter" as saying, "Aldrich knew where to long distance me all over the world when he needed me, but he made no effort to reach me here that he had signed Olivia. He let me hear it for the first time in a radio release - and, frankly, I think it stinks."

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Goofs

As household staffers pack up her belongings, a haggard Charlotte wanders through the house wearing no make-up. But the minute she sees an insurance investigator in the yard, she's suddenly wearing lipstick, eye makeup and looking years younger.

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Quotes

Charlotte: What do you think I asked you here for? COMPANY?

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Connections

Featured in AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Bette Davis (1977)

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Soundtracks

"Good Night, Ladies"
(uncredited)
Traditional
Played by the band at the party when Charlotte appears

User Reviews

A Cast of Class!

Following soon after "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane", I originally thought that "Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte" would be a letdown - far from it, in my opinion, much better due a great deal to the cast of great actors and actresses. Bette Davis was in her element in this role of Charlotte, while Olivia de Havilland in the role originally planned for Joan Crawford was superb, and was an inspired piece of accidental casting! Agnes Moorehead deserved her Academy nomination, while Mary Astor was a most welcome sight. Joseph Cotten normally seems very wooden in his parts, but does an excellent job here. The Black and White photography adds a great deal to the mood, and is far better than Colour would have been. The ending was very well planned and carried out, and you feel after the film ends there is something else that happened that the viewer never saw. Get it on Video - it is well worth the experience.