The ruthless, moneyed Hubbard clan lives in, and poisons, their part of the deep South at the turn of the twentieth century.The ruthless, moneyed Hubbard clan lives in, and poisons, their part of the deep South at the turn of the twentieth century.The ruthless, moneyed Hubbard clan lives in, and poisons, their part of the deep South at the turn of the twentieth century.
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
12K
YOUR RATING
- Director
- Writers
- Lillian Hellman(by)
- Arthur Kober(additional scenes and dialogue)
- Dorothy Parker(additional scenes and dialogue)
- Stars
- Director
- Writers
- Lillian Hellman(by)
- Arthur Kober(additional scenes and dialogue)
- Dorothy Parker(additional scenes and dialogue)
- Stars
- Nominated for 9 Oscars
- 3 wins & 9 nominations total
Jessica Grayson
- Addie
- (as Jessie Grayson)
Hooper Atchley
- Party Guest
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- Lillian Hellman(by) (screen play)
- Arthur Kober(additional scenes and dialogue)
- Dorothy Parker(additional scenes and dialogue)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaBette Davis and William Wyler fought a great deal during filming. Disagreements ranged from Davis's interpretation of the character (Wyler thought she should be more sympathetic) to the appearance of the house (Davis thought it was far too opulent for a family struggling financially), to her appearance (Wyler thought her white makeup made her look like a Kabuki performer.) Davis eventually walked out of production, but returned when she heard rumors she was going to be replaced by Katharine Hepburn or Miriam Hopkins.
- GoofsIn the final scene, just before Alexandra leaves Regina, in the shot when Regina climbs the stairs, and asks Zan if she would "like to sleep in her room tonight", we see a chair in the background (which earlier in the scene, Regina had sat in). The chair seat is empty. Two shots later, when Alexandra collects her hat and coat to leave, they have suddenly appeared on the chair.
- Quotes
Regina Giddens: I hope you die! I hope you die soon! I'll be waiting for you to die!
- Crazy creditsOpening credits prologue: "Take us the foxes, The little foxes, that spoil the vines:
For our vines have tender grapes." The Song of Solomon 2:15
Little foxes have lived in all times, in all places. This family happened to live in the deep South in the year 1900.
- ConnectionsEdited into Myra Breckinridge (1970)
- SoundtracksNever Too Weary to Pray
(1941) (uncredited)
Music and Lyrics by Meredith Willson
Sung off-screen by an unidentified group during the opening and closing credits
Featured review
Magnificent adaptation of Hellman's hit play
As the greedy, conniving Regina Giddons, Bette Davis gives a fascinating performance which ranks with her very finest. Tallulah Bankhead had her greatest stage success playing Regina on Broadway in 1939. Wyler wanted Davis to portray Regina with a more sympathetic "hot house" flavour, but Bette was adamant that the character was a witch in spades: the resulting performance is striking. Regina Giddons is a classic example of a character movie viewers love to hate. Carl Benton Reid is great as the equally greedy brother and Dan Duryea is fine as Leo the crumb. As Alexandra, Teresa Wright is almost annoyingly innocent in the beginning, but she wisens up considerably towards the end of the film: "Why, Alexandra, you have spirit after all. I used to think you were all sugar-water" says a frankly impressed Regina. As the alcoholic flibbertigibbet Birdie, Patricia Collinge is perfection personified: a truly memorable portrait brilliantly enacted. Herbert Marshall is fine as the tragically deceived Horace who shouldn't depend on his "lovely" wife to fetch his heart medicine for him. A magnificent example of a great play transferred to film, Wyler's guiding hand is patent throughout: they definitely don't make films like this anymore - no matter what the cost.
helpful•488
- willowgreen
- Feb 17, 2003
Details
- Runtime1 hour 56 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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