The Nanny (1965)

There's just something not quite right when Bette Davis stars as an English nanny. And is her 10-year-old charge an emotionally disturbed murderer or just an insolent brat?

Director:

Seth Holt

Writers:

Jimmy Sangster (screenplay), Marryam Modell (novel) (as Evelyn Piper)

Stars:

Bette Davis, Wendy Craig, Jill Bennett

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Bette Davis	...	Nanny
Wendy Craig	...	Virginia Fane
Jill Bennett	...	Aunt Pen
James Villiers	...	Bill Fane
William Dix	...	Joey Fane
Pamela Franklin	...	Bobbie Medman
Jack Watling	...	Dr. Medman
Maurice Denham	...	Dr. Beamaster
Alfred Burke	...	Dr. Wills
Harry Fowler	...	Milkman
Angharad Aubrey	...	Susy Fane
Nora Gordon	...	Mrs. Griggs
Sandra Power	...	Sarah

Storyline

Bette Davis is an English nanny whose charge is a rude 10-year-old Joey, just discharged from a disturbed children's home where he'd spent two years undergoing treatment for drowning his little sister in the bath. He returns to an unloving father, fragile mother, and doting nanny -- whom he hates. Suspicion arises again when his mother is poisoned, and Joey continues to insist Nanny is responsible. Joey contends the nanny was responsible for his little sister's death, and only the upstairs neighbour girl believes him.

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Plot Keywords:

london england | nanny | drowning | woman dies from abortion | dead woman with eyes open | 

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Taglines:

Nanny wasn't responsible . . . WAS SHE?

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Genres:

Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

Unrated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Time magazine quipped: "(a) definitive essay on the servant problem, and may be taken as antidote by those who found Mary Poppins (1964) too sweet to stomach".

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Goofs

In the opening titles, Bette Davis is returning from errands, feeding birds in the park, buying flowers from a street vendor. She carries a square box tied with string that is upturned while buying flowers. Upon returning home to the Vane household, the box is opened to reveal a decorated cake for Joey and amazingly the cake looks perfect despite it's perilous journey home.

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Quotes

Joey Fane: I'm *not* staying with her.
Dr. Medman, Fane's Upstairs Neighbor: Now see here, Joey.
Joey Fane: I won't! I won't stay here with her, and if you try to make me stay here with her, alone, I'll run away.

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Connections

Featured in 100 Years of Horror: Girl Ghouls (1996)

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Soundtracks

Focus on Fame
(uncredited)
Music by Sam Fonteyn
Brull Music Ltd

User Reviews

Chilling

Bette Davis gives her most chilling performance in this film. Her restraint is remarkable, following Baby Jane as this film did. If you ever want to see what passive aggressive looks like, watch this movie. I've seen it twice, and would want to see it again.

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 January 1966 (Italy)

Also Known As:

The Nanny

Filming Locations:

Walmer Road, Notting Hill, London, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$1,300,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hammer Films, Seven Arts Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1