The Anniversary (1968)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Roy Ward Baker

Writers:

Bill MacIlwraith (play)
Jimmy Sangster (screenplay)

Release Date:

7 February 1968 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Bette Davis a portrait in evil as the most merciless mother of them all!

Plot:

Three sons who work in the family construction business help their overbearing mother celebrate her anniversary to her late husband.

Plot Keywords:

Mother | Wedding Anniversary | Dysfunctional Family | Widow | Black Comedy

Cast

Bette Davis	...	Mrs. Taggart
Sheila Hancock	...	Karen Taggart
Jack Hedley	...	Terry Taggart
James Cossins	...	Henry Taggart
Christian Roberts	...	Tom Taggart
Elaine Taylor	...	Shirley Blair
Timothy Bateson	...	Mr. Bird
Sally-Jane Spencer	...	Florist
Arnold Diamond	...	Head waiter
Albert Shepherd	...	Construction Worker
Ralph Watson	...	Construction Worker

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

UK:PG | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Elstree, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Hammer Film Productions

Trivia:

Original director, Alvin Rakoff was replaced by Roy Ward Baker when Bette Davis demanded the change.

Quotes:

Mrs. Taggart: My dear, would you mind sitting somewhere else? Body odor offends me.

Movie Connections:

Version of "La verdad de Laura" (2002)

Hammer deliver a perfectly pitched black comedy!

Hammer studios are, of course, most famous for their horror productions; but the studio also gave us a number of films from other genres, and The Anniversary is a huge non-horror highlight! This camp and perfectly pitched black comedy is directed by one of the studio's heavyweight directors, Roy Ward Baker and is probably most famous for the fact that it stars the great Bette Davis in the sort of role that made her famous. However, the positive elements don't end there as The Anniversary benefits from a strong script and a varied array of characters that ensure the action is always entertaining and filled with tension. The film is an obvious inspiration for modern hits such as the Danish 'Festen', and works due its claustrophobic setting and well drawn characters. The central plot is brilliantly simple, and follows a family gathering for the anniversary of an overbearing mother and her late husband. She demands the presence of her three sons; a shy cross-dresser, a henpecked father of five and a careless youth who brings a different fiancé to meet his mother every year - and proceeds to rip them to pieces.

Bette Davis is undoubtedly the lead star of this production, and she completely controls every scene she's in; thus giving a huge compliment to the support cast, who all give realistic and interesting performances. Sheila Hancock, Jack Hedley, James Cossins, Christian Roberts and Elaine Taylor provide perfect support for Davis, and the combined cast give credibility to a script that could have ended up giving way to a comical film. The film is based on a stage play by Bill MacIlwraith, and perhaps the best thing about his writing is the way he manages to bring out traits from the vindictive matriarch in all three of her sons. As you'd expect, it's Bette Davis who gets the best lines and seeing the great actress have fun delivering them is brilliantly entertaining and ensures that the black comedy elements always shine through. The central setting - the parental home - makes up the backbone of the story and is an ingenious place for the story to take place, as we're always aware that the support characters are very much in Davis' domain and the fact that most of the action takes place under one roof means that claustrophobia is a big part of the story. This film may be avoided by some Hammer fans who are only interested in the horror - but it really shouldn't be. I don't hesitate to name this as one of the very best films Hammer ever made and it comes highly recommended to all!