Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Geraldine Page | ... | Mrs. Marrable | |
Ruth Gordon | ... | Mrs. Dimmock | |
Rosemary Forsyth | ... | Harriet Vaughn | |
Robert Fuller | ... | Mike Darrah | |
Mildred Dunnock | ... | Miss Tinsley | |
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Joan Huntington | ... | Julia Lawson |
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Peter Brandon | ... | George Lawson |
Michael Barbera | ... | Jim Vaughn | |
Peter Bonerz | ... | Mr. Bentley | |
Richard Angarola | ... | Sheriff Armijo | |
Claire Kelly | ... | Elva | |
Valerie Allen | ... | Dottie | |
Martin Garralaga | ... | Juan | |
Jack Bannon | ... | Olin | |
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Seth Riggs | ... | Warren |
An aging widow hides a deadly secret which she will do anything to keep buried.
Although this movie looks a tad dated in certain respects - for instance a stupid subplot could have been eliminated and no one would have missed a thing - it works because of the brilliant playing of Ruth Gordon and - especially - Geraldine Page. I first watched this film at age the age nine when it was released theatrically: it was actually more enjoyable than the supposed "bigger" picture of the double feature! It is very obvious that Geraldine Page relished playing her role of Claire Marrable: she's totally awesome, so witchy and natural-like in her acting technique. Ms Marrable is a rather narcissistic woman who goes through an astonishing array of household help. Enter Ruth Gordon, a sly fox who comes to Marrable for a position in her lovely desert home. Once hired, the viewer is in for a tour-de-force game of cat-and-mouse. Played to the hilt, this little sleeper creeper is most enjoyable.