An aging, reclusive Southern belle plagued by a horrifying family secret descends into madness after the arrival of a lost relative.An aging, reclusive Southern belle plagued by a horrifying family secret descends into madness after the arrival of a lost relative.An aging, reclusive Southern belle plagued by a horrifying family secret descends into madness after the arrival of a lost relative.
- Nominated for 7 Oscars
- 3 wins & 9 nominations total
Michel Petit
- Gang Leader
- (as Michael Petit)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaWhen Olivia de Havilland agreed to make this movie, director Robert Aldrich called Bette Davis to give her the good news. He also requested she keep the news a secret until he returned in two days, when he would legally inform Joan Crawford and her lawyer by letter. However, Davis didn't listen - she called her press agent, Rupert Allan, who immediately leaked the story to the press.
- GoofsIn the ballroom dance set in 1927, the women's hairstyles are contemporary with 1964.
- Alternate versionsThe original UK cinema version was cut by the BBFC to heavily edit the opening cleaver murder, and some cut prints have also been shown on Channel 4 TV. Video and DVD releases are uncut.
- ConnectionsEdited into The Time That Remains (2012)
- SoundtracksHush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte
Lyric by Mack David
Music by Frank De Vol
Sung by Al Martino
[Performed over the closing credits]
Featured review
Great film but slightly flawed in the middle
John Mayhew (Bruce Dern), a married man, is having an affair with Charlotte Hollis (Bette Davis). When Charlotte's father, Sam (Victor Buono), a local bigwig (the town is even named after the family) finds out that John was planning on eloping with Charlotte, he demands that John tells Charlotte during a big party that he's breaking off their relationship. John ends up dead, and Charlotte is the likely suspect. Thirty-seven years later, Charlotte is still living as a recluse on her family's plantation, but now she is being forced to move, as a highway is going to be built across her property. Gradually, people come back into her life to ostensibly help her.
For at least the first 45 minutes to an hour or so into the film, Hush . . . Hush, Sweet Charlotte is a 10 out of 10. Unfortunately, given a 133-minute running time, director Robert Aldrich can't sustain the intensity for the length of the film, but Hush . . . Hush, Sweet Charlotte finishes as an 8 out of 10 for me.
Although there are some thriller and horror elements, both take up relatively little screen time. At that though, these elements are extremely effective. Some parts are surprisingly graphic for 1964--just enough to be a surprise and evoke the appropriate sense of shock. The best horror/thriller material in the film is in the haunted house vein, and for a time, we wonder if Hush . . . Hush, Sweet Charlotte is going to end up being a ghost story.
But the focus here is primarily on Charlotte and Miriam Deering (Olivia de Havilland) and their relationship to one another. Davis and de Havilland are both incredible in the film, and both go through a very wide range of emotions. Oddly, Agnes Moorehead (as Velma Cruther) was more recognized for her performance than the rest of the cast in terms of awards and nominations, with de Havilland receiving neither. Not that Moorehead wasn't good, but in my view, she wasn't the standout performance. However, that's just further fuel for my belief that the Academy Awards have little to do with rewarding the best films, actors and filmmakers.
There are also broader themes explored as a subtext, including the changing way of life in the southern United States between the early and mid-20th Century.
I subtracted two points because the film lost a bit of its momentum and direction in the middle, but the last half-hour is as exciting as the beginning.
For at least the first 45 minutes to an hour or so into the film, Hush . . . Hush, Sweet Charlotte is a 10 out of 10. Unfortunately, given a 133-minute running time, director Robert Aldrich can't sustain the intensity for the length of the film, but Hush . . . Hush, Sweet Charlotte finishes as an 8 out of 10 for me.
Although there are some thriller and horror elements, both take up relatively little screen time. At that though, these elements are extremely effective. Some parts are surprisingly graphic for 1964--just enough to be a surprise and evoke the appropriate sense of shock. The best horror/thriller material in the film is in the haunted house vein, and for a time, we wonder if Hush . . . Hush, Sweet Charlotte is going to end up being a ghost story.
But the focus here is primarily on Charlotte and Miriam Deering (Olivia de Havilland) and their relationship to one another. Davis and de Havilland are both incredible in the film, and both go through a very wide range of emotions. Oddly, Agnes Moorehead (as Velma Cruther) was more recognized for her performance than the rest of the cast in terms of awards and nominations, with de Havilland receiving neither. Not that Moorehead wasn't good, but in my view, she wasn't the standout performance. However, that's just further fuel for my belief that the Academy Awards have little to do with rewarding the best films, actors and filmmakers.
There are also broader themes explored as a subtext, including the changing way of life in the southern United States between the early and mid-20th Century.
I subtracted two points because the film lost a bit of its momentum and direction in the middle, but the last half-hour is as exciting as the beginning.
helpful•5517
- BrandtSponseller
- Jan 14, 2005
- How long is Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- What Ever Happened to Cousin Charlotte?
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $2,235,000 (estimated)
- Runtime2 hours 13 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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![Bette Davis, Olivia de Havilland, and Joseph Cotten in Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMzU4YjNlNGUtN2ZkNy00OTkwLTkyMWUtZmZiNDMzNDA4N2ZkXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNzc5MjA3OA@@._V1_QL75_UX90_CR0,2,90,133_.jpg)
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By what name was Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964) officially released in India in English?
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