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The Bad Seed

  • 19561956
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 2h 9min
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
14K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Henry Jones, Nancy Kelly, and Patty McCormack in The Bad Seed (1956)
Trailer for this incredible story of an evil little girl
Play trailer3:21
1 Video
76 Photos
DramaHorrorThriller

A housewife suspects that her seemingly perfect eight-year-old daughter is a heartless killer.A housewife suspects that her seemingly perfect eight-year-old daughter is a heartless killer.A housewife suspects that her seemingly perfect eight-year-old daughter is a heartless killer.

IMDb RATING
7.5/10
14K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Mervyn LeRoy
  • Writers
    • John Lee Mahin(screenplay)
    • Maxwell Anderson(play)
    • William March(novel)
  • Stars
    • Nancy Kelly
    • Patty McCormack
    • Gage Clarke
Top credits
  • Director
    • Mervyn LeRoy
  • Writers
    • John Lee Mahin(screenplay)
    • Maxwell Anderson(play)
    • William March(novel)
  • Stars
    • Nancy Kelly
    • Patty McCormack
    • Gage Clarke
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 228User reviews
    • 91Critic reviews
    • 51Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 4 Oscars
      • 1 win & 5 nominations total

    Videos1

    The Bad Seed
    Trailer 3:21
    The Bad Seed

    Photos76

    Mervyn LeRoy and Patty McCormack in The Bad Seed (1956)
    Henry Jones and Patty McCormack in The Bad Seed (1956)
    "The Bad Seed" Patty McCormack in a special photo shoot for her Oscar nominated performance 1956 Warner Brothers
    "The Bad Seed" Patty McCormack in a special photo shoot for her Oscar nominated performance 1956 Warner Brothers
    Patty McCormack in The Bad Seed (1956)
    "The Bad Seed" Patty McCormack in a special photo shoot for her Oscar nominated performance 1956 Warner Brothers
    "The Bad Seed" Patty McCormack in a special photo shoot for her Oscar nominated performance 1956 Warner Brothers
    Patty McCormack in The Bad Seed (1956)
    Henry Jones, Nancy Kelly, and Patty McCormack in The Bad Seed (1956)
    Nancy Kelly and Patty McCormack in The Bad Seed (1956)
    Henry Jones, Nancy Kelly, and Patty McCormack in The Bad Seed (1956)
    Patty McCormack in The Bad Seed (1956)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Nancy Kelly
    Nancy Kelly
    • Christine Penmarkas Christine Penmark
    Patty McCormack
    Patty McCormack
    • Rhoda Penmarkas Rhoda Penmark
    Gage Clarke
    Gage Clarke
    • Taskeras Tasker
    Jesse White
    Jesse White
    • Emoryas Emory
    Joan Croydon
    • Miss Fernas Miss Fern
    • (as Joan Croyden)
    William Hopper
    William Hopper
    • Col. Kenneth Penmarkas Col. Kenneth Penmark
    Paul Fix
    Paul Fix
    • Richard Bravoas Richard Bravo
    Henry Jones
    Henry Jones
    • Leroyas Leroy
    Evelyn Varden
    Evelyn Varden
    • Monicaas Monica
    Eileen Heckart
    Eileen Heckart
    • Mrs. Hortense Daigleas Mrs. Hortense Daigle
    Frank Cady
    Frank Cady
    • Henry Daigleas Henry Daigle
    Frances Bavier
    Frances Bavier
    • Woman in Dinner Partyas Woman in Dinner Party
    • (uncredited)
    Violet N. Cane
    • Teacheras Teacher
    • (uncredited)
    Vivian Clermont
    • Mary Beth Musgroveas Mary Beth Musgrove
    • (uncredited)
    Shelley Fabares
    Shelley Fabares
    • Margieas Margie
    • (uncredited)
    Kathy Garver
    Kathy Garver
    • Rhoda's Classmateas Rhoda's Classmate
    • (uncredited)
    Don C. Harvey
    Don C. Harvey
    • Guard in Hospital Corridoras Guard in Hospital Corridor
    • (uncredited)
    Edna Holland
    Edna Holland
    • Salesladyas Saleslady
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Mervyn LeRoy
    • Writers
      • John Lee Mahin(screenplay)
      • Maxwell Anderson(play)
      • William March(novel)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Christine Penmark seems to have it all: a lovely home, a loving husband and the most "perfect" daughter in the world. But since childhood, Christine has suffered from the most terrible recurring nightmare. And her "perfect" daughter's accomplishments include lying, theft and possibly much, much worse. Only Christine knows the truth about her daughter and only Christine's father knows the truth about her nightmare. —A.L.Beneteau <albl@inforamp.net>
    evil childcolonelgirlfemale protagonistfamily relationships120 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • A WOMAN'S SHAME...Out in the Open!
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Horror
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • Approved
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The original Broadway production of "The Bad Seed" by Maxwell Anderson opened on December 8, 1954 and ran for 334 performances. Nancy Kelly won the 1955 Tony Award for Actress in a Drama for "The Bad Seed" and recreated her role in the movie. Patty McCormack, Eileen Heckart, Evelyn Varden, Henry Jones and Joan Croydon also recreated their stage roles in the movie version.
    • Goofs
      Christine plans dinner for Tasker. She gets word from Bravo that he is coming to town that same evening, maybe even in time for dinner. Christine sends Rhoda to Monica's because the adults expect to eat late, past Rhoda's dinner time. Tasker ends up leaving, after meeting with Christine. However, there is no mention of dinner or why he leaves before eating.
    • Quotes

      [How murderers are executed]

      Leroy: They got a little blue chair for little boys and a little pink chair for little girls.

    • Crazy credits
      After the finale, a narrator tells the audience "One moment please. And now our wonderful cast." Then, the principal cast members are introduced one by one, like they would be at the end of a play. After that's done with, there's a brief scene in which Nancy Kelly spanks Patty McCormack.
    • Connections
      Featured in Deadly Friend (1986)
    • Soundtracks
      Au clair de la lune
      (uncredited)
      Attributed to Jean-Baptiste Lully
      Played on the piano by Patty McCormack and whistled by Henry Jones
      Played often in the score

    User reviews228

    Review
    Top review
    WHOA!!!
    I was blown away! I was at the edge of my seat the whole time. Those people gave me the creeps. I was just flipping through the channels when I came across it. Normally I'll change the channel after a minute or two to see what else is on, but not when I saw this movie! I was so terrified, I sat through the whole movie, uninterrupted. I'm shivering just thinking about it right now!
    helpful•41
    17
    • jweatherford27
    • Jul 13, 2001

    FAQ9

    • What is 'The Bad Seed' about?
    • Is "The Bad Seed" based on a book?
    • What is the music that Rhoda keeps playing on the piano?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 12, 1956 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Böse Saat
    • Filming locations
      • Midwest Street, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 2h 9min
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 4:3

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