Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte was the second collaboration between William Aldrich and Bette Davis after the amazing success of Whatever Happened To Baby Jane? The film begins with a pre-credits sequence that establishes the dark past of faded Southern belle Charlotte Hollister (Bette Davis). She'd been witness to the dismemberment murder of her fiance (Bruce Dern) and the suicide of the murderer, her own father (Victor Buono). Her close connection to these horrifying events have left the townsfolk wondering if Charlotte flipped her lid.

" From where you are, I could spit in your eye!... With no strain at all! "


Years later, Charlotte remains a recluse in her decaying southern mansion, zealously guarding the secret of her father's guilt. Charlotte's only companionship comes from her slatternly housekeeper (Agnes Moorehead). When her house is targeted for demolition, Charlotte fears that this will uncover her lover's body parts and thus confirm that her father was a murderer.

"Now let me see... What is it that you call your job?... Oh yes, 'Public Relations.' Sounds like something pretty dirty to me!"


She desperately summons her seemingly sweet-tempered cousin Miriam (Olivia De Havilland) to help her to do battle with the authorities, and prevent the house's destruction. Miriam is escorted by the family doctor (Joseph Cotten) to calm Charlotte's frayed nerves. When Charlotte begins to be plagued by nightmarish visions of the homicide/suicide of so long ago, it appears that she has gone completely insane.





But soon we learn who is behind these delusions...and why. It seems dear sweet cousin Miriam, isn't so sweet after all. She's in cahoots with the doctor to drive poor Charlotte mad (short drive in this woman's case), have her committed, and live the high life with all that wonderful old southern money. The housekeeper catches on to their scheme and is disposed of in short order by evil cousin Miriam.

" What do you think I asked you here for... COMPANY?! "

" You're a VILE, SORRY little BITCH! "

After some indiscriminate drugging of the old broad, he only thing left for the diabolical duo, is to stage the final fright that will push Charlotte, who is already on the brink, over the edge. After making Charlotte believe that she has accidently killed the doctor, Mariam takes her on a ride to dump the body in the lake. This scene is definitely a highlight, with de Havilland chewing the scenery as she goes off on Davis in the most unladylike manner. This is an Olivia de Havilland you haven't seen before, and won't see again.





The final blow to Charlotte's sanity appears to have done the trick, untill she wakes up from a drug induced slumber and overhears her cousin and the doctor celebrating their job well done, and unable to contain their excitement over their impending wealth. Charlotte promptly disposes of both of them on the spot. Just desserts for such a wicked pair.

" I could KILL YOU!! "


After the success of Baby Jane, it was intended that Davis would costar again with Joan Crawford in this film, with the part of Miriam slated for Crawford (that would have been something to see). Unfortunately it wasn't meant to be, as Crawford became suddenly seriously ill after shooting had already begun, and had to withdraw from the project. With Davis and Aldrich desperately looking for a replacement, Davis called on her friend de Havilland and convinced her to come out of retirement, and bail them out.





Davis felt that Crawford's exit from the project was a simple case of the actress folding her tent, unable to take the heat when it came to co-starring with her again. Other sources would have it that Crawford, although perplexed and unnerved by Davis' abrupt and stand-offish behavior towards her, was actually began to sense that her involvement with the film was yet another situation where her "Blanche" would be playing second fiddle to Davis' "Jane." Crawford merely became 'sick' over the matter and was unable to continue.





Cotten does a good job as the corrupt ole boy family doctor. Agnes Moorehead as the devoted-weirdo-housekeeper is priceless. The great Mary Astor appears (as a favor to Davis) in a swansong cameo. When not carping about, Davis has some authentic, poignant moments, before all hell breaks loose. There are a lot of dismembered arms and heads floating around, that are in serious need of a special effects makeover. 'Charlotte' is in some ways inferior to 'Jane', but there both are still a lot of fun.