Reviews (142)

Fasten your seatbelts, you're in for a bumpy ride!
Bette Davis is perfect as aging movie star who takes newcomer Anne Baxter under her wing. Little does Bette know that Anne is only too happy to walk all over Bette as the former climbs the ladder of success. -- This is Hollywood looking at Hollywood; with all it's glamour, back stabbing and the insatiable desire to be on top. The story line as well as the acting are dated, but even today you can have a grand 'ol time with this entertaining classic! Look for a young Marilyn Monroe in a bit part as a party guest!

Classic NY Theatre comedy
Biting, satiric comedy of the New York theater world. Bette Davis is aging stage actress Margo Channing who finds her career (and her romantic life) threatened when "adoring" fan Eve Harrington (Anne Baxter) worms her way into a job as Margo's assistant. Seems Eve has plans of her own for her future and they may include Margo's next stage role and her fiance. Incredibly witty script by director Joseph Mankiewicz is acted to the hilt by all, especially Davis and Baxter and, in standout supporting roles, George Sanders as a bitchy critic and Celeste Holm as Margo's loyal, long-suffering best friend.

Bette Davis, Bette Davis, oh why are you so great?
And god she is. The Best actress ever, in the best screenplay ever. If I had one thing to say about "All About Eve", it would probably be about Bette Davis. There's nothing else to say. If the film had been less witty, less wise, it would still be a classic because of her performance. She just put herself right on the showcase and and did it. She never wondered, or feared anything. She pushed everybody out to make her way, and changed herself into an instrument for Margo Channing. There's no doubt that Bette Davis was very like Margo Channing in real life. But that just adds to the character, she knew she was Margo Channing, and used it to push the boundaries further to what and actress could do, to what was the limit of what was tolerable or not. But she didn't mind that, and look how it paid off at the end. Never, and I insist on never, is there a moment in the film where you don't believe here. Not a second, not the blink of an eye. It is the perfect performance. And the movie has everything else as good as Bette Davis. When you think of Thelma Ritter, or Celeste Holm, or Marilyn Monroe, or George Sanders, or even Hugh Marlowe, in this picture, they're all astonishing. The dialogue is so brilliant you just can't help to wonder, how long can a writer take to write this? A month? A year? A decade? I don,t know, but it every word in it is placed there for a reason. That's "All About Eve". Every bit of it is carfully put in the perfect ensemble, surrounded by Bette Davis. And to say that Claudette Colbert was suppose to do it...

No good deed goes unpunished
"All About Eve" excels on so many levels it's hard to keep track of them all. It won eight Oscars and was nominated for 14 (a record that wasn't tied until "Titanic"). It has been called "The bitchiest film ever made." It's probably one of the most literate films ever made, too, with references to "paranoic outbursts," Fort Sumter and the dramatists Beaumont and Fletcher. (It's unlikely that its screenplay could be produced today.)

The story of how an innocent-seeming young ingenue slowly worms her way into an older actress's heart and takes her career away from her is now fifty years old but is as fresh as if it were filmed yesterday. The performances are outstanding across the board, and feature Bette Davis as star Margo Channing, Anne Baxter as usurper Eve Harrington, Celeste Holm as Eve's best friend, Thelma Ritter as Eve's live-in companion, and Marilyn Monroe in a small role as Miss Caswell, "a graduate of the Copacabana School of Dramatic Art." This is a film to treasure and to enjoy over and over.

There is also a brand-new book devoted to the movie: "All About 'All About Eve'" by Sam Staggs.

"You can always put THAT where your heart ought to be"
This film is an example of the superb writing talent that Hollywood boasted before the 80's and 90's (when American filmgoers became addicted to special effects and vulgar physical comedy). Whereas the film was one of the most successful of 1950, chances are today even with the Best Picture Oscar under its belt, 50% of Americans would probably lose interest halfway through. The casting is perfect - there was no better choice for Margo Channing than Bette Davis (by the way - stage actress Tallulah Bankhead thought the character was a sendup of herself, and granted, there are shades of Tallulah in Margo). And if I had one wish, it would be to have George Sanders's deep, snide voice - you can just hear the sarcasm dripping in every line he speaks. Some feel that "Sunset Boulevard" lost Best Picture to "Eve" because where the former directed its animosity toward Hollywood, the latter took exception with the theatre; yet after viewing the film several times, it becomes apparent that "Eve" aimed its barbs at all forms of media (stage, screen, television, and even newspapers - the party scene alone sufficiently skewers the glamorous yet empty side of Hollywood and television). It makes one think - just how real ARE these actors and actresses we see on the screen, and how exactly did they get where they are today? The acting business is certainly one of the most competitive, and I can't imagine they all got where they are by being sweet and gentle.

By far, the lion's share of praise belongs to Mankiewicz, who had just won an Oscar for "A Letter to Three Wives" and not only directed this masterpiece but WROTE it (and before simply dismissing such an accomplishment, I dare you to compare a script of this film to any of today's film scripts - 90% aren't NEARLY this tight or fluid). Just one thing - toward the end, what exactly happens to Thelma Ritter's character? She just kind of vanishes, and yet she's one of the most lovable characters in the film. I think it would have made a nice touch if Mankiewicz could have given her a chance to get a couple zingers in on Eve at the end, too. But that's light criticism - this film is one of the most flawless Hollywood films ever made and, if you haven't treated yourself to it, by all means, do so immediately. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

I'm so excited!
Both Bette & Joan collections on the SAME DAY!

I know some people are upset that this set includes 3 prior releases, but fortunately for me, I don't own any of these titles yet.

I agree with many others that Beyond The Forest & Hush, Hush definitely deserve that DVD treatment. Along with The Nanny, The Anniversary and The Petrified Forest.

I also wish TCM would do a retrospect on Davis like they did for Crawford.

I look forward to adding these 5 great titles to my own collection of All About Eve, Dead Ringer and The Burning.

what did you thinking???
Bueno cuando vi,.,que iba a poner una coleccion de las peliculas de bette davis... me emocione..mucho..ya que valoro mucho su trabajo...pero..por que incluir... peliculas que ya existen en dvd....a excepcion de Mr Skeefington y The Star....esta ultima..si bien..es de mi agrado..creo que hay muchas otras opciones para .realizar la transferncia a Dvd....asi tenemos.:
All this and heaven too, Marked Woman, In this our life, o hasta Hush hush sweet charlotte....creo que la coleccion de Joan Crawford esta mucho mejor escogia en cuanto a las peliculas.. ya que de las 5, 3 son titulos nuevos en dvd,,,favor tomar esto como unasugerencia,, para una segunda entrega,,,

saludos cordiales

All This and Bette, Too
At last, we're getting the legacy collections of some of our legendary stars. For the Bette collection, I do hope they've cleaned up and restored the DVD version of "Dark Victory." When I watched it, I was shocked by the poor, grainy quality. "Now Voyager" looked wonderful but there were no extras at all. There are several good Bette documentaries floating around that should be included on this collection. Like some of the other commentators here, I wish the next Bette collection would include the following:
1. In this Our Life. Bette burns up the screen as one of the most villanous psychopaths to ever appear in movies. As Stanley Timberlake, she says; "I'd rather do anything than be still." She lies, kills and destroys with abandon. A wonderfully atmospheric movie with the main part of the movie occurring against the backdrop of the decaying Timberlake mansion. Great musical score by Max Steiner.
2. Beyond the Forest. Another powerful portrait of evil as Bette sashays around as that over-sexed, frustrated Rosa Moline, who is described by one character as "Something for the birds, Rosa. Something for the BIRDS!" Bette is incredibly sexy in her Edith Head clinging dresses and robes. And you've never seen anything like Bette's death scene--all accompanied by one of Max Steiner's greatest film scores, all revolving around "Chicago, Chicago, that toddlin' town." Bette later told a reporter that there's one sequence in the movie that she had to return and re-loop (dub. "If I don't get out of here, I'll die! If I don't get out of here I HOPE I die--and burn." When she uttered those words, everyone in the projection collapsed with laughter because this is what she had been saying during the entire filming of "Beyond the Forest." Contrary to legend, Jack Warner did NOT force Bette to make this movie. She chose it. She had already turned down "Mildred Pierce," "Humoresque," "Possessed" (all Joan Crawford triumphs, "Hold Back the Dawn," (Olivia De Havilland's Oscar winner).
3. Old Acquaintance. This is a delicious brew of female rivalry, cococted into an exhilirating cocktail of catfights and threats by Bette and her arch-enemy, Miriam Hopkins. According to Davis, Hopkins pulled her usual scene-stealing tricks and did her damndest to upstage Davis in every scene. Poor director, Edmund Goulding, had his hands full.

ditto Scott's review
I couldn't agree more with what Scott wrote.I already own "Dark Victory", "Now, Voyager" and "The Letter" on DVD.Why not release new films?I'm glad "The Private Lives of Elizabeth & Essex" was just released; it's one of my favorites (see my review of the film)."Mr. Skeffington" is good, too; Davis at her lightest and most humorous. But "The Star" is dreadful...a B movie with an awful performance by Davis.Not even fun to watch as camp.

I personally would like to see these Bette Davis films on DVD:

1. Beyond the Forest (hilariously campy and noirish; Davis is on fire here, burning up the screen in every frame. Vidor brings a touch of German expressionism to the film. This is the film in which Davis utters the famous line, "What a dump!", which Edward Albee refers to in his play "Who's Afraid of Virgina Woolf?")
2. In This Our Life (also great camp and atmospheric; nobody's better than Bette when she's bad. Directed by John Huston.)
3. Dangerous (Davis in an early role, more natural than in "Of Human Bondage" yet still full of histrionics.She looks great and is quite sexy here. Good chemistry with Franchot Tone.)
4. Marked Woman (Davis & Bogart are great here; tough, dark film. Davis' only gangster film. Bogey is quite likeable here and shows a softer side.)
5. The Old Maid (one of Davis' best soap operas; she & Miriam Hopkins are dynamite.Davis at her most beautiful. More of a tearjerker than "Dark Victory" or "Now Voyager")
6. Juarez (Davis steals the film with her small role as the Empress Carlota. Her mad scene is worth the price of the DVD.)
7. Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte (better than "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?" Richer in detail and more complexity and subtlety to Davis' acting. Horror camp at its best. Great supporting cast including Agnes Moorehead, Joseph Cotten & Olivia DeHavilland)

"fasten your seatbelts, I'm gonna order this collection!"
i have to have me some Bette in my collection and i just love these movies. they are my favorites but i wished you added, "All about Eve" in the mix. I love me some Bette D. She was a legened. and i'm sorry, i think she was the better actress than Crawford. Joan had the looks but Bette had the talent and the balls to handle any tough roll and she brought it to the screen with both barrels. She will be a great asset to my movie collection. Now to find me some Barbara Stanywick. ... Read more

Reviews (22)

GREAT FILM WITH A HOLLYWOOD ENDING
I call this a "Hollywood ending" not in the sense that it is a happy ening, but one which seems to be contrived to follow the production code of the day which stated that all wrongdoers must be brought to justice. Bette Davis, in one of her great performances, is killed off by Gale Sondergaard who herself is arrested by the police at the end. I really don't know if this ending is in the novel but it does not ring right with me. After all, Leslie Crosby was cleared of the crime and could have gone on living even with the torture memory of the lover she murdered in cold blood although I doubt if she would have remained faithful to wimpy Herbart Marshall for long. Gail Sondergaard, the dragon lady wife of the knocked off husband, just seems to be unable to get enough revenge. The 10 grand she got for selling the incriminating letter to Bette apparently was not enough to satisfy her. I especially liked the scene where Leslie tells her husband how much she still loves her vengefully slain adulterer.

Getting Away with Murder
Who else could get away with murder and still get the approval of the audience but Bette Davis? Based on Somerset Maugham's story, THE LETTER relates the murder of a rubber-plantation owner (Herbert Marshall) in Malaya by his wife (Bette Davis). It is interesting how Davis approaches this part. She gives a brilliant study of a cold yet proper woman who intoxicates her society friends and authorities through a pretense of female sexual virtue. She deliriously illustrates the passion of a woman who would kill a man for attempting to leave her and in doing so entices the audience on her behalf. Davis is so brilliant at conveying such a cold woman who my in effect really need the warmth and passion of a desperate soul, that even she may not realize her actions are a desperate attempt to realize her own desires. Is her behavior a pretense or not? This was very erotic stuff for its time. This film was nominated for 8 Academy Awards. Carl Jules Weyl's Art Designs combined with Tony Gaudio's Cinematography made a very provocative setting for the images. However the only fault I found with this film was Max Steiner's score. Max Steiner is one of my favorite film composers but I found his score too full of that heavy-handed Warner Bros. sound and not sensitive to the nature of the main character or the film.

seven well-deserved Oscar nominations
"The Letter" is a superb adapation of the Somerset Maugham tale set in Malaysia. Bette Davis is at the top of her form in her role as a deceitful, anguished wife caught up in an illicit love affair. Her pleasant, steady, unexciting husband, a rubber plantation manager, is played exceptionally well by Herbert Marshall. James Stephenson, in the role of her defense attorney, turns in an admirably understated yet vital performance.

William Wyler's masterful direction, employing exotic settings and mysterious minor characters, make this spellbinding tale of passion and murder a can't-miss for all Davis fans.

"The Letter" deserves the highest recommendation!

Exciting exotic thriller from the colonial age
Pistol shots bang through the starlit night in the malayan jungle and rubber planter Robert Crosbie (Herbert Marshall) is stupefied to learn that his own wife, Leslie Crosbie (Bette Davis) has bumped off his best friend, Jeff Hammond. "He tried to rape me, so I shot him" she tells her husband - and we know from the start that she is lying. Hammond's body is riddled with bullets, her magazine empty. Some shots were fired when he was already lying on the ground.

While her credulous husband coddles her, she gives her lawyer, Howard Joyce (James Stephenson) her version of the story - only interrupted by crocodile tears and a simulated fainting-fit. Joyce is really considerate: he even commends her on her courage. So good is her mood when she regales the police with a dinner that she is surprised to learn that she could face a murder charge. Robert, haggard from lack of sleep tries to convince himself that everything is O.K: "She shot the man like a rabid dog". But Hammond was so dashing, charming, a real ladies man - hard to believe that he was capable of such a thing...

Robert has every reason to be worried: Joyce is informed by his asian counsellor that a certain letter exists: written by Leslie on the last day of Hammond's life, inviting him to come and see her...This letter is in the hands of his eurasian widow (Gale Sondergaard) who runs a gambling house. Leslie's smiling self-confidence dissolves under Joyce's interrogation. She denies everything, she rages, but her lawyer is not dumb: "I dont't want to hear more from you than is necessary to save your head". He feels nothing but contempt for the woman who implores him to get her the letter, but he feels compassion for her husband. The price for the letter is 10.000 Pounds - the exact amount of Robert's bank deposit - and Mrs. Hammond made it a condition that she should bring the money personally. Leslie tries to hide behind a veil, but it doesn't help her: after letting her wait for nearly one hour in an opium-den, the widow demands to see her face - and throws the letter before her feet with disdain. A male jury acquits the virtuous lady of her indictment, but there is more trouble brewing: Her husband wants to leave for Sumatra, become independent and buy his own plantation. He does not realize that his money is gone...

This exciting thriller contains one of Bette Davis' most famous performances. Herbert Marshall is equally brilliant in the role of her gullible husband, especially in the final scenes. He must have been the most often cuckolded husband on screen: Greta Garbo deceived him in THE PAINTED VEIL, and Marlene Dietrich in BLONDE VENUS and the delightful, underrated ANGEL. Perhaps he was beyond help, because he did not learn from his faults: His next film was THE LITTLE FOXES where he played Bette's victim again.

Sondergaard looks spectacular, but is psychologically wrong: Men usually fall in love with little Miss Butterfly - not with the empress of China. Bette Davis was universally praised. A very intelligent actress, she was on the right track: She wears glasses, she concentrates on her embroidery with great patience - needle-work and sex-appeal don't exclude each other, but there must have been a reason why her lover became tired of her...I think that she lacked the boldness to steep herself completely in Leslie Crosbie's true character. This type of woman ("One is getting so lazy here, the boys do everything" she says) has survived until recently in South Africa: she has no goal, no funcion, and my guess is that she was growing fat...Leslie Crosbie was porridge - and Bette plays her like caviar! W. Somerset Maugham, like Agatha Christie, is very good to read to this day: They were not dishonest authors, just one-sided: they nurture a nostalgia for the "glorious" age of colonialism, which existed only for a small part of mankind.

A great deal
It is a real crime story. Only at the end of this story you experience what happened in this special night. It is hard to feel how this nice beautiful woman can be a murderer.I was surprised that a lawyer does such a great deal (with that letter) to save the life of his client who is guilty. At the end you are in doubt if it is a fair end or not. The book is interesting to read. ... Read more

Amazon.com

It's brash! It's grotesque! It's a blistering display of psychological terrorism! One of the blackest comedies ever made, this 1962 thriller rejuvenated the careers of Bette Davis and Joan Crawford and played heavily on their own Hollywood legends, incorporating film clips from their earlier stardom to add depth and realism to a severely twisted tale of sibling rivalry. Davis plays the former child star turned wrinkled hag Jane Hudson, whose sister Blanche (Crawford) eclipsed her star in Hollywood, and has been paying for it ever since. Now confined to a wheelchair, Blanche is held prisoner in the musty mansion she shares with Jane, who terrorizes Blanche with maniacal control (and dead rats for dinner), and embarks on an absurd campaign to revive her career, curly-haired wig and all. A deranged showcase for its stars, the film also introduced Oscar nominee Victor Buono as the sycophantic pianist hired to accompany Jane's bizarre vaudeville revival. Hilarious, frightening, and not to be missed! --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (103)

But you are, Blanche. You ARE in that chair!
This is one great movie! "What Ever Happened to BabyJane?" is, as stated in Amazon's description, the story of twoaging sisters, each in her own way connected with show business.

Now the good stuff. The sisters are played by Bette Davis and Joan Crawford (the only time the two ever acted together) to absolute perfection. Crawford is wonderful in the role of crippled sister Blanche, but Miss Davis absolutely walks away with the show as the former "Baby" Jane Hudson. The role is meatly and she revels in it! It is obvious that Miss Davis held the philosophy that, if you are going to go over-the-top, don't apologize. And she doesn't. She goes WAY over-the-top with a gleeful abandon that is infectious.

The way she taunts her wheelchair-bound sister (the title quotes one of Jane's best lines), serves her meals of dead rodents and ex-pets, kicks her in the gut, mocks her ever-so-proper speech, etc. It's all so delicious. And check out the ballet that she does to one of the songs from her childhood vaudeville act. Bette Davis was obviously having the time of her life, and so do the viewers of this classic.

For the DVD edition, there are disappointingly few extras, but Davis is credited with developing the absolutely hideous hair and makeup combinations she sports while slouching about the house in her scuffs and house coat (Director Robert Aldrich said that, while he loved the look, he never would have had the nerve to suggest such a thing to Bette Davis).

Joan Crawford was in fine form, as well. But for Jane to be able to be credible doing the things she did, Blanche had to be the "straight man". Crawford or Aldrich knew this and Blanche behaves accordingly. Consequently, it is Bette Davis' Jane who has the best lines and the showier part in general.

If you have never seen this movie, get it. If you have, go back and visit the Hudson sisters again. Then you might want to write a letter to YOUR daddy.

A Classic Psychological Thriller - Truly Sick!
This is the ultimate is psychological thrillers starring two of the greatest "top-billed turned has-been" movie actresses in history.

Betty Davis as Jane Hudson and real life nemesis Joan Crawford as sister Blanche Hudson make for comic and scary thrills. Quick retread: Jane was "Baby Jane Hudson", a child star who lost her popularity after puberty. Blanche Hudson was jealous as a child but becomes a top rated adult movie actress. Jane, of course, becomes an increasingly insane alcoholic. Trouble ensues when Blanche is mysteriously crippled in a car wreck forcing 'whack-job' case sister Jane to care for her. The plot thickens as quickly as Jane loses her mind. It's hilarious. But the sadistic scenes Jane carries out on Blanche are both scary and hilarious, making this film a true cult classic. The ending is a masterpiece of plot twists!

I can't get into more details other than to tell you that every time I've shown someone this movie, they goes nuts over it! It's frightening and comedic simultaneously. It's no wonder these two characters have been Halloween favorites for years!

Quality of 'black & white' is okay and sound is what you would expect from an early 60's nightmare, but it's worth it. Before you pick up your main course covered dinner plate, remember what Jane said to Blanche - "By the way Blanche, did you know we have rats in the cellar?!"

WHO the Hell is Norman?
Check out the editorial review "Sadistic Jane and their servant Norman????" The only servant, err, make that housekeeper in this saga is ELVIRA [No, NOT THAT one!] who meets ..... [Clunk!~ Thud!]

WELL, this utterly dark little Gem of Joy still pack many a wallop!

No quite dated, but such an acidic picture of Tinseltown - as a matter of fact you can still see these old [er] Dolls and Guys on Hollywood Boulevard - or Rodeo Drive [botox-powered] for that matter.

IT hasn't really aged that badly - Crawford is superb as the wheelchair bound glam queen Blance ~ utterly dependent on her increasingly insane sister Jane ~ Davis probably on a par with her turn in THE STAR. Davis sacrifices all for this role, including figure and looks, shuffling around the house in flip-flops, dragging on a cigarette and swigging booze has NEVER been this fun!

Bring along a creepy VICTOR BUONO [debut role] as a grifter with an accent and his dear old Ma ... nasty little jewels they are - check out the scene with Davis and Buono and the sandwich plate ... then the booze scene later! Priceless [It's almost Norman Desmond and Joe - the later years].

Superior lensing and direction etc. etc. etc.

Davis daughter BD HYMAN plays the teen next door.

Roaring fun for late at night viewing - double billed with Sunset Boulevard.

[Now wasn't there a musical version of this one ....?]

Betty Grable and Ginger Rogers
oh well it could have been betty and ginger
both blonde both musical stars (grable was more popular)

Ohh.. But Cha AAH, Blanche, Ya AAH In That Chair!!!
In "What Ever Happened To Baby Jane?" you really DO find out, indeed!

But what horrors you have to endure to see the truth and consequences! With twists, turns, torture & anti-climactic scenes all played to the hilt by the Miss Hudsons (Bette Davis and Joan Crawford), respectively, you will never be able to look at your pet parakeet the same way again.

Miss Baby Jane Hudson, played with great, grotesque gusto by Davis who was once the belle of the ball. Kind of a Shirley Temple of her era. Baby Jane was daddy's girl and Jane, therefore, has quite an Electra complex that is and has been exhibited her entire life.

Her sister, Miss Blanche Hudson, played "aptly and sapply" by Crawford, has a long and lasting career as an adult movie star but is now wheelchair bound because of a little "accident" betwixt the sisters many years back. Jane is the caretaker of Blanche since the "accident" and they both live off of the residuals of Blanche's long and prosperous film career before she became crippled.

After a local California TV station decides to run summer afternoon, back to back Blanche Hudson films, Baby Jane gets that ol' jealous feeling brewing again and wants desparately to revitalize her childhood career. Baby Jane hires pianist from the classifieds, Mr. Edward Flagg, played in a great understated role by Victor Buono, who has his own Oedipal yearnings and problems. They make a great and perfect pair of drunks and crazies, let me tell ya.

Jane is certainly unstable and is likened to a gin and vodka guzzling 60 year old broad with a six year old spoiled brat mentality. SCARY combo, right there! Let alone Jane's guilt of the "accident", her shameless jealousy, and her expressions of the antithesis of "SISTERLY LOVE".

Filmed in glorious black and white, it lends itself to the dark, somber and horrific things that happen to Blanche vis-a-vis Jane...

"Whatever Happened To Baby Jane?" is a cult classic and a true and genuine classic in it's own right.

Happy Watching! ... Read more

Reviews (26)

NEGLECTED MASTERPIECE....
William Wyler's film of Lillian Hellman's play is a fine old example of masterful filmmaking. Scripted by Hellman, it tells of the ultimate greedy Southern clan circa 1900. Thankfully most of the leading players came from the play with the exception of Bette Davis who assumed the role of Regina---originally played by Tallulah Bankhead---and she is magnificent. Regina is embroiled with her brothers in a greedy and corrupt get-rich-quick scheme to open a cotten mill and needs the final third of the money to come from her ailing husband (a grand Herbert Marshall) who is opposed to the plan with good reason: he's honest and sensible. The brothers are cold, evil and despicable. But Regina is all that and more---she's smarter and greedier. Since Marshall won't give her the money, she withholds his heart medicine and allows him to die knowing she'll get the money now that he's dead. This is an unforgettable scene and there are many in this outstanding film. In contrast to the evil characters, there's Teresa Wright in her film debut as Alexandra---Regina's daughter---who represents innocence and hope and the marvelous Patricia Collinge (from the play) as the sweet, alcoholic and abused sister-in-law Birdie who represents the painful trampling of gentility by corruption and greed. Her performance is heartbreakingly good. Beautiful b&w photography and the recreation of small town Southern life are right on target here. And Davis is at her best as the wicked Regina. She performs feats of acting magic that no other actress could have accomplished in this role. "The Little Foxes" is a must see and a vintage classic that garnered 9 Oscar nominations for 1941. It deserved every one of them. Excellent DVD treatment from MGM as well. A collector's item.

DAVIS TERRIFIC AS REGAL REGINA GIDDONS
Bette Davis gave one of her better performances as the greedy Regina Giddons. A chilling story of greed and deception in the South circa 1900, THE LITTLE FOXES is a cold, cynical look at the dark side of human nature, but the acting makes this movie fascinating and well worth watching. Teresa Wright is spendid as Alexandra, and the great Irish stage actress Patricia Collinge is heartbreaking as the alcoholic Birdie (she admits doesn't like her own son, Leo). Herbert Marshall is gives a sympathetic portrayal of Horace (he's married to the witchy Regina) and Carl Benton Reid is top drawer as the brother who's in cahoots with Davis. The rest of the cast give uniformly excellent performances. Davis was loaned to Goldwyn by Warner Brothers to make this her third and final film directed by the legendary William Wyler. Highly Recommended.

How to Be Greedy and Mean by Bette Davis
Nobody played coldhearted, caustic and ruthless better than Bette Davis. She sweated acid. One can only imagine what her childhood must've been like. Fascinating on the screen but I wouldn't want to have known her in real life. The movie is just about perfect. Power and money corrupt absolutely. She gains the whole world but loses her soul in the process. A brilliant character study.

Power Hungry Southern Family
This is in the deep south, right after the turn of the century. There are a brother and sister Hubbard, who want money and lots of it. They don't care about their wives,husbands or children, all they want is money and power. Regina is the most calculating, this is Bette Davis's character. They want to get a cotton mill and Regina will sacrafice her husbands health and her daughter's happiness to get her hands on money so she can gain control of the main share of the mill. Blood is not thicker than greed. This film is chilling in that it shows how corruption and greed survived then as it survives now.

Lisa Nary

A Gloriously Atmospheric Moral Fable
Ben and Oscar Hubbard (Charles Dingle and Carl Benton Reid), their sister Regina Giddens (Bette Davis) and Oscar's son Leo (Dan Duryea) are not nice people. They are a family of profiteering entrepreneurs who have grown to prominence in a small southern town, grabbing the assets of its oldest aristocratic family through Oscar's cynical marriage to Birdie (Patricia Collinge) who has since been driven to alcoholism by his abusive lovelessness. Ben and Oscar's latest plot is to do a big deal with a business bigshot from Chicago who is keen to set up a new cotton mill with them on the understanding that the wages will be extremely low. Ben and Oscar are keen. Regina is keen. But Regina can't come into the deal in her own right: she must persuade her husband to do so. And her husband Horace (Herbert Marshall) is a very different kind of man from her brothers. To complicate matters further he is dying. Meanwhile her daughter Alexandra (Teresa Wright) is getting close to idealistic young journalist David Hewitt (Richard Carlson) and, not, as her scheming relatives intend, to the useless and corrupt young Leo.

This 1941 movie is adapted from a Lillian Hellman's classic 1939 play of the same year. The dates make it closer enough where we are - an era when the overwhelming political issue in the USA was whether to join a European war against Hitler. It's not hard to see from this where Hellman's sympathies lie. The movie's theme is the division of humanity three ways: the bad people, the good people who fight the bad people and the good people who just sit by and watch the bad people as they destroy the world; and the clearly articulated thought is that, for good people, sitting by and watching, is not, ultimately, an option.

The movie is a classic and richly deserves to be. The performances are remarkable: notably Davis at her most magnificently malign, Dingle splendidly hateful as her cynical and brutal brother, Duryea as the good-for-nothing Leo, Marshall as the profoundly decent but physically desperately weak Horace and Collinge as the pathetically wrecked Birdie who adumbrates horrifically what, if they are not resisted, her unspeakable relatives might eventually contrive to turn the charming young Alexandra into. Wyler directs brilliantly and the camerawork by Gregg Toland is astonishing in its use of shadowy, long, deep-focus shots. The oppressive atmosphere of hostile emotions running far too high in the southern heat is captured to perfection.

There is certainly a degree of simple-mindedness in the moral landscape of the film. The characters divide rather neatly into two sorts: very good, gentle, decent people and irredeemably evil people. There are no shades of grey, just jet black and lustrous white. And of course the world isn't that black and white. But perhaps insofar as the play is about the issues that World War II was fought over, that is an excusable fault; for those issues, if any ever have been, really were that black and white. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Following Albert Finney's quirky and compelling performance as Agatha Christie's Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot, in 1974's Murder on the Orient Express, Peter Ustinov capably took over the role in this 1978 adaptation of Christie's river-bound whodunit. While on a pleasure cruise along the Nile with a taciturn companion (David Niven), Poirot slips into action following the murder of a much-despised heiress (Lois Chiles). There's no shortage of suspects... until, that is, they also start dying off, obfuscating the investigation by suggesting that several killers may be at work. With a disciplined screenplay by Anthony Shaffer, the film is solid enough (certainly better than its 1981 follow-up, Evil Under the Sun) and is graced immeasurably by a glittery cast including Bette Davis, Maggie Smith, Mia Farrow, Olivia Hussey, Jack Warden, and Angela Lansbury. Directed with customary efficiency by John Guillermin (King Kong, The Towering Inferno). --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (36)

Spectacular!
The novel Death On The Nile ranks as my favorite of all of the Christie novels I've read, and so I was hoping that this movie was faithful to the original material. I'm happy to say I wasn't disappointed.

The performances of the many actors are great. Simon MacCorkindale's portrayal of Simon Doyle is wonderful, and Angela Lansbury as Salome Otterbourne is very entertaining. Maggie Smith and Bette Davis as Miss Bowers and Miss Van Schuyler, respectively, have some wonderful scenes together and have great chemistry. David Niven as Colonel Johnny Race is great and makes for a good Watson to Poirot. Jack Warden as Dr. Bessner and Jon Finch as Jim Ferguson, while don't have a ton of screentime, still portray their characters perfectly, and of course Peter Ustinov as the great Belgian detective Hercule Poirot is great.

The scenery is beautiful. The scene where Simon and Linnet Doyle are climbing the pyramid is simply breathtaking.

The extras on the DVD are pretty good. The 24-minute featurette "The Making of Death On The Nile" is interesting, and the interviews (both in French with subtitles) with Peter Ustinov and Jane Birkin (who plays Louise Bourget), while not extremely interesting, are still a nice addition.

There are a few flaws in the movie. The largest one is the fact that they cut out Tim and Mrs. Allerton. For those of you who have read the book, you'll know that cutting out Tim Allerton changes a few important things. Cornelia Robson is also cut out, as well as James Fanthorp and Signor Richetti (which again changes a few things). While I did like these characters a lot in the book, during the movie, these characters were hardly missed.

The movie runs approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes, and despite the PG rating, has some slightly graphic violence in it.

I would highly reccomend buying this DVD, however, I would suggest reading the book first.

Christie goes to Egypt
This big screen treatment of mystery author Agatha Christie's best-seller is dinstinguished by the first appearance of Peter Ustinov as the world famous sleuth, Hercule Periot. Though the film version of "Death on the Nile" doesn't rise to the quality of its immediate predecessor, "Murder on the Orient Express," it is still a worthy trip with a boatful of nouveau rich upper classers who all have a motive to kill a filthy rich heiresss (Lois Childs). When she actually come up with a bullet to her head while sleeping, suspicion falls on her husband's spurned ex-fiancee (Mia Farrow, in a slightly nerve-trying overacting job) and an all-star passenger list headed by Bette Davis, Maggie Smith, Angela Lansbury and Olivia Hussey. Enter Inspector Periot and David Niven as another sleuth aiding in the investigation. Though the "who did it" isn't a surpise, the "how they did it" is, and that solution makes the film an enjoyable watch. Additionally, there's some stunning scenary of Egypt and along the Nile, and Ustinov's personification of the fabled detective is worthy. He shows up again in subsequent film versions of some of Christie's other novels, and this is one of Ustinov's better efforts.

The MAID did it!! Or did she??
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I watched this 1978 movie of 140 minutes without first reading the 1937 Dame Agatha Christie novel (of the same name) that it was based on. I'm glad I did this! Why? Because it forced me to really watch the movie in order to try and deduce who the murderer was.

As a brief synopsis, the movie begins with "Jacquline ('Jackie') De Bellafort" (Mia Farrow) telling her very wealthy friend "Linnet Ridgeway" (Lois Chiles) about the man "Simon Doyle" (Simon MacCorkindale) she has fallen in love with. Linnet falls for Simon and they eventually marry. Their honeymoon is on a riverboat (technically called a 'paddle steamer') called the "S.S. Karnak" that takes then down the Nile River in Egypt. Aboard the boat, besides the three mentioned above, are "Hercule Poirot" (Sir Peter Ustinov) and his good friend "Colonel Johnny Race" (David Niven). There are other passengers on board who all dislike Linnet.

Linnet is murdered. Eventually two other passengers are also murdered. Poirot has to solve who the killer is. For both Poirot and the viewer, it's obvious that the killer is either male or female or, as Poirot might say, either a "beau" or a "belle." It's also obvious that the killer is no "Simple Simon."

Who are these passengers? Besides the five mentioned above, they are as follows:

(1) Louise Bourget, Linnet's Maid (Jane Birkin)
(2) Socialite Marie Van Schayler (Bette Davis)
(3) Miss Bowers (Maggie Smith), Aid to Marie
(4) Marxist James Ferguson (Jon Finch)
(5) Romance Novelist Salome Otterbourne (Angela Lansbury)
(6) Rosalie Otterbourne (Olivia Hussey), Salome's daughter
(7) Lawyer Andrew Pennington (George Kennedy), Linnet's uncle
(8) Dr. Ludwig Bessner (Jack Warden)
(9) Manager of the Karnak (I.S. Johar)

Of the fourteen actors mentioned above, Ustinov's performance stands out. This was his debut performance as Poirot and I feel he does a stellar job being both serious and comical at the same time. Other performances to look for are Mia Farrow as the ex-fiance and Angela Lansbury as the perpetually drunk novelist.

The cinematography of this movie is visually stunning. We especially get to see the Sphinx, the Pyramids, and the ancient ruins of Egypt. The costume design is elegant. The main background music adds to this movie as well.

Listen for gags that run throughout this movie. For example, Poirot is Belgian but is always confused as being French. One of my favorite pieces of dialogue is where a passenger gets angry at the great sleuth:

Van Schayler: You perfectly foul French upstart!
Poirot: Belgian upstart, please madam.

As Poirot attempts to solve the crime, we are shown what might have happened. Unfortunately, there is some unintended humor as Linnet continually gets shot (in the head) as Poirot goes through each possible scenario. I found this somewhat distracting.

Finally, the DVD (which has the movie in widescreen format) has five extras. I found that the only one that was interesting was about the making of this movie. It lasts about 25 minutes.

In conclusion, this is a fun movie, even if you have read the book. For those who haven't read the novel, I have left clues in the above review as to the possible identity of the killer. If you think you know who it is, then watch this movie to find out if you're right!

<=====>

A Mysterious Movie and a Superb Tale!
It begins with a rich woman who gets EVERYTHING SHE WANTS and when her best friend Jackie's new fiance meets her. The rich woman immediatly steals Jackie's hunk and in a matter of weeks they are married and set off for their honeymoon in Egypt. Poor Jackie. Her only love has been stolen for her BY HER BEST FRIEND! But Jackie is determined and follows the new couple to Egypt. After meeting a host of new characters, the couple plus Jackie boards a little Nile tour thing. But suddenly the rich woman is dead (shot). Who could it be?

All Star cast who-done-it in Egypt.
The second lavish all-star Agatha Christie adaptation. This is the first film with Peter Ustinov as the Belgian Detective, Hercule Poirot. If you love a who-done-it mystery, this one will keep you thinking and stimulate your brain to the very end. Please watch it to the very last second. What may be so one minute may be different the next second. This all-star cast is wonderful, especially Angela Lansbury. Olivia Hussey, Peter ustinov and Simon Corkindale had just finished the NBC tv-miniseries movie "Jesus Of Nazareth" (1977). Also in the cast is Bette Davis, David Niven, Mia Farrow, George Kennedy, Maggie Smith (California Suite [1978], Jack Warden, Lois Chiles (Moonraker [1979]), Jon Finch, Jane Birkin, Harry Andrews and I.S. Johar. Warning: This is not for children to watch. very Grusome and graphic violence. There are many Agatha Christie movies from film and television. Here are some worth watching. Those with an "*" include Peter Ustinov as "Detective Poirot". And Then There Were None (Ten Little Indians) (1974), Murder On The Orient Express (1974), The Mirror Crack'd (1980), *Evil Under The Sun (1982), *Thirteen At Dinner (1985-tv), *Dead Man's Folly (1986-tv), *Murder In Three Acts (1986-tv), *Appointment With Death (1988).
For a lighter comedy, may I suggest MURDER BY DEATH (1976). ... Read more

Reviews (9)

The First Movie is Better but This Isn't a stinker!
While I agree that Return from Witch Mountain is not as good as Escape to Witch Mountain I disagree that it's a stinker. I have very fond memories of seeing Escape to Witch Mountain (1975) in a movie theater with my friends when I was about 10 years old and I absolutely loved that movie. Return from Witch Mountain came to the theaters in 1978 when I was about 13 years old but I didn't see it til it was shown on HBO and the movie was good but I just didn't like it as much as I liked Escape to Witch Mountain. I still like the actors though, Kim Richards and Ike Eisenmann have always been two of my favorite child actors and it was nice to see them again playing Tia and Tony and I recommend this movie because even though I think Escape to Witch Mountain is better this is good too.

Thank you Disney!
As someone who works to historically preserve music, I think Disney has succeeded in not only preserving this film on DVD, but they deserve to be applauded for putting in all the extras, even if it's not conisdered the best of Disney films. The print, audio and package is great.

I loved this film as a kid, and it was fun to re-watch as an adult. Ok, it's not going to win the award for the best film ever. It's definitely light Disney live action comparable to many of it's other 70s films. True, the original Escape To Witch Mountain was better, but this has some great moments of it's own. Also, it's got a fabulous cast, Bette Davis and Christopher Lee, and those incredible kids!!! Can you tell I like this film despite it's silliness?

What makes it all more special, are the extras. They are laid out kind of strangely, and if you don't look around, you could miss them. The highlight of these is the documentary, "Making the 'return' trip." If you wondered what ever happened to Kim and Iake, as well as the members of the gang (can you believe they actually grew up?), the crew, and director, they're all here. Thank you everyone at Disney for putting the extra effort into this release. Keep up the good work!

A Total Stinker
Truly terrible sequel to "Escape From Witch Mountain". The kid actors are hokey, the plot confused, and even the great Bette Davis looks bored and slightly embarrased by the mess that she's in. Its a shame, with this cast and a better premise, this could have really gone somewhere.
Not worth the purchase...get it from Netflix. The extras are interesting, but they don't save this clunker.

Escape to Witch Mountain is much better !
"Return from witch mountain" is a typical Walt Disney film- which is quite disappointing due to the fact that the movie this is a sequel to is "Escape to witch mountain" which was a magical movie filled with a powerful unique story,good acting,special effects & a brother & sister with special powers who may be from another planet & need to get away from money-hungry adults who kidnap them. This sequel movie on dvd has a commentary track that both actors Kim Richards & Ike Eisenmann say a few times on it that neither of them really understood why the story was as it was or remember the filming of that film compared to "Escape to Witch Mountain" which was very special- in other words they were saying the same thing that is written here- this movie is subpar- it just doesn't have the storyline to carry it and is more of a silly comedy than a science fiction mystery like the original. 70 year old Bette Davis and Christopher Lee as money-hungry villians who kidnap the brother with the sister not having much telepathic communication made no sense to the idea that the two kids were in Los Angeles,California for a day's visit yet never are together unless they are battling powers at the end. If one is going to make a sequel= one should first come up with an original idea and then play it out with good writing.They waited three years to put out a sequel to Alexander Key's "Escape to Witch Mountain" so we will have to wonder why they didn't bother to write a good story. Kim Richards is famous for her long blonde hair yet it is pulled back throughout this movie and she is "Tia" yet her starcase is long gone.Ike Eisenmann's harmonica is long gone as well & his wonderful smile is absent due to them having him as a robot-like character. Tia runs around with a group of truant boys with a truant officer as the bad guy. The movie mainly focuses on high speed car chases and special effects that aren't so special. As a fan of the original movie, a fan of all the actors in this movie and a fan of the first movie- I still couldn't find anything good about this movie.It gets 2 stars for being the sequel to a great movie but otherwise its' just a 1 on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the best.The extras on this dvd are mainly the commentary track and even that is better on Escape to Witch Mountain.Without comparing the two movies- this is still a typical movie that isn't worth watching more than once a decade at most so why own it on dvd ?

I Love Return From Witch Mountain
I just got my DVD of this movie today. And I loved it a lot. I had a copy of this movie on VHS but it was wearing out so I got the DVD. I really liked the Specail Features. I don't suggest this to kids that are under the age of 8 because it can be a little scary.

Here is a brief description of this movie.

Tony and Tia come back to the USA for a vactaion. This movie takes place in Los Angeles. There Tony meets the Criminal Mastermind Dr. Victor Gannon (Christopher Lee) and his Henchwoman, and Benefactor Letha (Bette Davis). Victor sees Tony's magical powers and kidnaps him for his own use. It ends up with Tia saving the day and rescuing her brother from the evil clutches of Victor and Letha.

Great Movie 5 Star Rating. ... Read more

Reviews (92)

Evil Has a New Home
Who's up for a truly creepy haunted house thriller? In 1976, director Dan Curtis, Dark Shadows (1966) and Trilogy of Terror (1975) brought to life a wonderfully scary movie that scarred quite a few younger viewers at the time and still has the power to evoke strong remembrances when mentioned.

Burnt Offerings (1976) stars Karen Black, Oliver Reed, Bette Davis, and Burgess Meredith. City dwellers Marian (Black) and Ben (Reed) Rolf find the deal of a lifetime in a fabulous, secluded country estate, and soon settle in, along with their son and old auntie (Davis). A deal too good to be true? Why yes, it is, as strange things start happening, but not so strange as to send up serious warning flags that would cause most any of us to flee.

What was so great about this movie was the way the director took his time in ratcheting up the suspense for the viewer. Changes to the various characters were introduced in such as way as to seem subtle, and not highly alarming. Soon some of the characters do catch on, but by then, it's too late. I thought Reed was really great in this movie, a man haunted by a past demon amplified through the house, who manages to keep a fairly level head throughout. Another wonderful character in the movie is the house itself. Dunsmuir Estate is the setting for most of the movie, actually coming to life through skillful directing and some very creepy music. This is an actual home, located in Oakland, California.

The movie runs just under two hours, but the time will seem to go by quickly as you will find yourself gorilla glued to the screen, waiting in anticipation as to what happens next. There is a noticeable lack of blood, as the scares are more of the psychological kind. This seems to be a tactic used not so much these days, as visceral sells, but I do enjoy when the violence can be implied, rather than shown. I find my imagination is able to come up with plenty of scary images given the right fuel. The main problem I had with the movie was the picture. The movie on the disc appears in that sort of diffused style common in the 70's, where everything seems to have a slight fuzz on it, a haze throughout the picture. I did get used to it after awhile, but it was a little annoying. I don't seem to recall it being like this when I first saw the movie so long ago, but oh well. Another problem, a minor one, was some of the audio was unclear, as it seemed the audio levels were uneven at times. There are English subtitles, and I made use of them.

As far as special features go, there is a commentary track by director Curtis, Karen Black and Co-writer William F. Nolan and an original theatrical trailer which I would avoid watching until after watching the film as it gave too much away, in my opinion. I will tall you this, the end truly a climatic one, and well worth the wait. If you liked Burnt Offerings, I would highly recommend the 1963 Robert Wise film, The Haunting.

Cookieman108

Disappointing Transfer
Burnt Offerings: I remember watching this classic flick when I was 10 or 11 years old in 1977. It was on NBC yearly for awhile. With memories of this movie coming back to me as I read the many reviews of this film on Amazon, I couldn't wait to see a DVD transfer of one of my favorite scary flicks.

I remember vividly the look in Oliver Reed's eyes when he was approaching his son David in the pool scene. That was one of the best elements of this movie: the actors' eyes and facial expressions. They were really into their roles, it would never have been half the movie it was without them. Oliver's character looked mad, like he was possessed when attempting to drown his son. A VERY intense moment to say the least. So I popped the DVD in and sat back waiting for this and many other moments to shine digitally from my home theater...

Well, I am writing today to say that this transfer looks NOTHING like the network broadcasts from so many years ago. This transfer is very blurry, some spots so dark its hard to make out what is being displayed. The chilling scene I referenced to above was nullified because Oliver's intense blue eyes seems to be completely lost in the blur. How could MGM's transfer team have messed this up? Did they even bother to look at teh finished product before it was released publicly??

I must say that I am EXTREMELY disappointed with MGM's DVD transfer of this classic movie. The audio is mono as well. Many parts of the dialogue are drowned out my loud music. I stopped watching X Files because of that very reason.

With that said, there is no way I can rank this movie lower than a 5. It is a brilliantly made film. But MGM's transfer to DVD gives it a 2 star bump to 3. I've waited a long time to see Better Davis' last film set to DVD, and I have to say that the results are quite disappointing. We may never see MGM give this a redo either. What a shame, and such a great movie in their catalogue too.

Fans of the movie who know what I'm talking about may opt to stay away from purchasing this DVD. Those of you who haven't seen it may want to give it a spin, but be warned that PLENTY gets lost in the translation. You may not find this as frightening due to the bluriness caused by an uncaring, unprofessional MGM DVD transfer team. To be honest, I've seen VHS to DVD transfers that looked better than this....

The King of haunted house stories!!
Remember Dark Shadows? Of course you do! But do you remember the movie Night Of Dark Shadows, released after the tv series went off the air? If you've seen that movie and then watch Burnt Offerings, you may have noticed quite a few similarities, especially at the end. That's because both movies were directed by Dan Curtis, but whereas Night Of Dark Shadows was anything but scary, Burnt Offerings conquers the list of haunted house stories by being everything NODS wasn't. By replacing the cast with superior actors, coming up with a mostly new script, new plot and forgetting all about Dark Shadows, except for some of the recognizable music, Curtis came up with a horror movie that scared even the goosebumps on my skin.

Here's the plot in a nutshell: Oliver Reed and Karen Black play Marion and Ben Rolf, who along with Ben's aunt Elizabeth (played superbly by Bette Davis) and the Rolfs' son, agree to pay $900.00 and take care of an 85-year-old woman in exchange for living in a decaying old mansion on a large estate for the summer. There are several clues about what they're in for right at the beginning, such as Ben and Marion viewing about a dozen pictures of the house, all from the same angle and each picture showing the house looking exactly the same even though there's over one hundred years separating the first picture from the most recent.

Ben begins seeing one of the most horrifying characters in horror movies, someone he'd repeatedly dreamed about following his mother's death years earlier. Marion seems to become possessed by the house, and aunt Elizabeth seems to grow weaker by the scene. And the slightest injury to any of the characters seems to cause part of the estate to become like new. The ending, although similar to that in Night Of Dark Shadows, is a hundred times more frightening and will be long remembered afterwards. Though released in 1976, Burnt Offerings is a classic horror movie that can still scare viewers today, partly because the scare factor is not dependent on virtually non-existent special effects or loads of blood and gore, but instead is supported by a fantastic script and the ability of its stars to utilize their talents. The Haunting has nothing on this film.

what's with all the DVD complaints?
I first saw Dan Curtis's creepy haunted house story back in 1976, in a movie theater when I was a kid, and both the chauffeur and the end scene haunted me for the longest time afterward. VERY chilling.

The Rolf family -- mother Marion (Karen Black), father Ben (Oliver Reed), son David (Lee H. Montgomery), and lively-as-heck 75-year-old Aunt Elizabeth (Bette Davis) -- decide to leave the city behind for a peaceful, quiet summer in the country (HAH! Not in a Dan Curtis film!). Marion and Ben find a wonderful, rundown old mansion owned by the Allardyces -- brother Arnold (Burgess Meredith) and his sister Roz (Eileen Heckart). You can tell from word one that the Allardyce siblings are not playing with a full deck, and that something VERY creepy is going on with this house, but of course the unsuspecting Rolfs don't notice -- especially when they find out they can rent the place for $900 ... not per month, but for the WHOLE SUMMER! Ben is still skeptical, especially when they learn the deal comes with taking care of the Allardyce's 85-year-old mother, who has the attic room but is never seen (well, ALMOST never). Marion, however, falls in love with the rambling old mansion, talking Ben into taking it, and swearing the old woman upstairs will be entirely her responsibility.

The family moves in, but right away weirdness ensues: Ben starts dreaming a nightmare he hasn't had since his childhood, about his mother's funeral, a nightmare that includes maybe the creepiest chauffeur ever seen; the vibrant Aunt Elizabeth starts to get weak, wanting to sleep all the time, as if the very life force is slowly being drained from her body; Marion becomes obsessed with the house, cleaning and taking care of it, and with the old lady upstairs -- even Marion's manner, speech, and style of dress and hair change; Ben, in the middle of playing with David in the pool, suddenly tries to drown the boy -- and tells Marion later that he meant to drown him, for a moment lost control of himself and was trying to kill him.

The weirdness escalates to the conclusion, which is not entirely surprising but very satisfying. Anyone who sees this film and knows Dan "Dark Shadows" Curtis's style will not be disappointed; the movie is atmospheric, well-acted, and has moments that genuinely get under your skin. The ending is a little hokey, but again -- if you know Dan Curtis's style -- it's also perfectly acceptable.

For new viewers who are more accustomed to what horror movies have become in the last 20 years or so, this movie may be a real bore; it plays more with the mind than with the eyes, and blood, gore, and special effects are kept to a minimum or are non-existent. And that is exactly what makes it a good film; it relies on the viewer to insert his own creepiness via the "gauzy" visual look of the film, the performances (especially by Black, Davis, and Reed), and by watching these "burnt offerings" (a practice in some cultures of burning animals alive as sacrifices to the Gods) being lined up, unknowingly, for a house rooted in evil.

What I don't understand are the complaints about the DVD quality -- mine is find. Granted, I am more about the picture quality than the sound, but I had no problem hearing the dialogue throughout the film, and the music was never too loud or a distraction. The picture quality was EXACTLY how it looked when I saw it on the movie theater screen 28 years ago -- that gauzy-white "burned" bright sort of look (burned - "Burnt Offerings"? Hmmm) is indeed how the film is SUPPOSED to look! So I don't know if I got lucky, or what, but my DVD is fine. I've watched it several times since buying it, and the film remains chilling to this day. Buy it, but don't look for Freddy or Jason or even Michael Meyers-type horror; this is much more of a game of the mind.

Could have been great
Despite the outstanding cast, this Dan Curtis horror flick is so poorly thrown together that it makes you want to send up burnt offerings for a better remake. Karen Black, Oliver Reed, Bette Davis, Eileen Heckart and Burgess Meredith are professionals all. They're saddled with the usual house-that-swallows-its-inhabitants. Special effects are virtually nil. On the commentary, however, a short-tempered Dan Curtis raves about this effort as if it were another "Psycho." Karen Black offers some interesting insights as to how she interpreted her fatalistic heroine. Screenwriter William Nolan, along with Curtis, explains how they revised the novel into a screenplay. As Curtis says repeatedly, "in the book, there was no ending. No Ending. Absolutely no ending. There was no ending. We had to fix--no ending!" Very little is said about the hunky, charismatic Oliver Reed, although Black does mention at least one scene which Reed tries to steal from Black. Curtis says nothing about Reed. He must've been a handful, as Bette Davis recalls in her memoirs.Curtis remembers how the preview audiences screamed to the screen at the end: "Don't go back into the house." Curtis seems proud of eliciting this response. He doesn't appear to understand that the audience was probably screaming its frustration at seeing another bunch of good actors being forced to do stupid horror things. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

what a Queen???
debo confesar...que no estaba muy emocionado ..cuando..vi escenas de esta pelicula..pero.. al verla... toda su historia... toda la majestuosidad de elizabeth,..el impetu...el profesionalismo de bette davis al mostrarse..toda..palida.. y con esa peluca... y dando una de sus mejores interpretacion....olivia de haviland,,toda bella..representando.. un papel.. si bien secundario...principal en esta historia...con un final.. excelente.. con un histrionismo unico.. ..sin duda la mejor ..Reina Elizabeth,.sin desmerecer a cate blanchet y a Judy Dench

saludos

Great film, careless transfer
Warner Home Video has provided a very sharp

transfer, but the color is extremely desaturated

and the soundtrack reproduced at a low volume.

Sooo sorry.I like Bette Davis & Erroll Flynn &
Elizabethan period pieces. Most of all I love all those great movies from 1939. However, I could not stand this boring mellow-
drama. It went on & on. I really feel bad about this when I see how much everybody else liked it.

I love Bette Davis
This is a great movie. Bette is Queen Elizabeth'

The clothes are just beautiful And it is a wonderful story. Errol Flynn makes a perfect Essex. If you love this period & love Bette this movie is a must.

ANOTHER CLASSIC FROM 1939!
Great cast, color and costuming plus brilliant dialogue from playwright Maxwell Anderson.At least, this is one of the top 100! ... Read more

Amazon.com

The tribulations of Tommy and Dick Smothers and their popular late-'60s television show are detailed in Maureen Muldaur's interesting 92-minute documentary. Viewing the clips from The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, one might find it hard to imagine that they were considered controversial at the time; indeed, the jabs at censorship, gun ownership, the Vietnam war, and more seem mild by today's raunchy standards. But controversial they were, especially to CBS, who aired (and eventually canceled) the Smothers' show. Turns out that Tommy, the "dumb" one, was in fact a gadfly who turned the program into a cause célèbre somewhat beyond its actual significance; and in the end, as one of the talking heads featured here points out, it was the Smothers' decreasing sense of fun that really doomed it. Both brothers are interviewed, as are writers Rob Reiner and Steve Martin and others. DVD extra features include bios and an excerpt from a book on the subject. --Sam Graham ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Very well done
I am among those who remember the Smother Brothers Comedy Hour. And I remember one of the things that a commentator said during this show, that they had some out-of-the-ordinary guests, "Not just Steve Lawrence and Edie Gormet, or Wayne Newton," as the guy said. The Who. Arlo Guthrie. Pete Seeger. These were guests they had.

But, as Rob Reiner, one of the writers, and others commented, they were so...ordinary! The blazers, the short hair (earlier, anyway). They were so American that people couldn't resist. It was also "wholesome" humor, not, say, George Carlin, or Lenny Bruce. That's how they got on, to compete with the select hour which "Bonanza" had dominated for years.

Then they did a bit--Tommy and Elaine Maye did--spoofing censors. That's where the censorship began. The whole bit was removed from the show!

In fact, the documentary shows that they were politicized by the censorship. The more they tried to say, the more they were challenged by CBS.

For what it's worth, I think their comedy hour was the last variety show I could even stomach. Most weren't very good anyway. They either weren't funny or were pathetically predictable. This opened new doors. In fact, contemporary critics said if it weren't for the Smother Bros.' show, Saturday Night Live would probably have never been on the air.

The timing of the show is just about right. Any shorter and I might have felt short changed. Too long and it may have gotten a little dry. The people the producers talked to included the Brothers themselves, the writers, including head writer Mason Williams, famous for his single, "Classical Gas," and guests including Joan Baez and Pete Seeger (who was responsible for letters CBS received reminscient of the McCarthy witch hunt!)

If you want to remember an era when television even had some potential, or even just remember a great comedy duo, this is a DVD I recommend.

Not bad. but.....
This gives a good overview of the story of the Smothers Bros. late 1960s show and why and how it got cancelled. Those who are familiar with the basic story behind this may learn of some new things, such as the fact that LBJ himself watched and disliked the show (you' figure he had other things to worry about like Vietnam and Civil Rights) and of the Smothers successful lawsuit against CBS.

There are a few clips of the skits and on-air sermonizing that got the show in hot water, but very few. Joan Baez's speaking on her imprisoned husband, the hippy commentator's drug references, Harry Belafonte singing "Carnival" to footage of the 1968 Chicago riots (it's never clear if that footage actually aired), and Pete Seeger singing "Waist Deep in the Big Muddy and the Big Fool Says to Push On" and a snippet of David Steinberg's biblical parodies are about it. The other stuff is just talked about.

More clips would help, as well as an extra of an actual episode.

Nice
It's hard enough to get a guy in his thirties (me) emotionally invested in the sixties with a Time magazine ad "Turn, Turn, Turn" montage. So it's nearly impossible to get fired up about a (now) relatively tepid variety show. But this documentary works well at showing a banal, nuts and bolts level of politics. It's close to the center of things, where contract disputes and institutional pressures are mainstream metaphors for clubs and tear gas. (Rob Reiner compares key 60's assasinations to network "artistic assasination"... and looks like he knows he's stretching it). The story focuses largely on the increasing tension between CBS and performer Tommy Smothers over the program's political satire. LBJ and Nixon seem to loom in the shadows throughout, as fodder for jokes while exerting (plausibly deniable) pressures on the network. Throughout, David Halberstam provides good historical and political context. And clips from the show are... educational... (Look it's Steve Martin, David Steinberg, and that guy) There is a sort of "guess you had to be there" feel.... In the recent interviews, the entertainers are low key about their accomplishments. So you don't jump up and down, yet feel good that nothing is hyped -- great tone throughout.

when will they put out the original show?
i hope soon they put out on dvd the comedy hour
steve martin was one the writers of the show.it was too bad it
was canceled i didnt like nixon either.

GREAT insight to a GREAT Comedy team!
A Welcomed DVD to my collection. Now let's see some of the uncut episodes! Would love to see the FRED DE CORDEVA series on DVD too! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Hot on the heels of What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, Bette Davis slipped neatly into another juicy thriller. This time, instead of co-starring with Joan Crawford, she got to play opposite... herself. Dead Ringer casts Davis as a wealthy (and nasty) widow, and also as her slatternly (but good) twin sister, long estranged. When the poor sister discovers the depths of her sib's evil, she takes a dramatic step that will test her skills as a thespian. Davis's old leading man, Paul Henreid, directs this material at a leaden pace, but Davis gives such a brazen performance, she pulls it through. Plus, the moments of high trash (a red-hot poker rammed into a hand, a lethal dog attack) are easily savored. Peter Lawford's seedy playboy and Karl Malden's stolid cop fill out the key supporting roles--not that anybody else matters. This is Bette Davis's world; everybody else is just visiting. --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Can you stand Bette Davis in a dual role? This is the best.
Can you stand Bette Davis in a dual role? Edith goes to the funeral of Frank, a man she used to know personally. Frank was the husband of Margaret. There the widow asked Edith to come home with her. It has been 18 years since they had seen each other. Margaret lives in a mansion and is very well-to-do. Edith rents a Los Angeles cocktail tavern and she also occupies in the upstairs apartment. The audience finds out early in the movie that Edith and Margaret look the same. They are identical. They are sisters. They haven't seen each other since Margaret announced that she was "pregnant" and was going to marry Frank. The sisters have a long-overdue arguement and Edith decides to leave in a huff. The estate's driver drives Edith back to her tavern. She learns of some very interesting secret information about Frank and Margaret. This film will keep you informed and will hold your interest. I won't mention anything more so you will be surprised. Karl
Malden plays "Jim", Edith's love interest who used to work in the Homicide Dept. Oh, the suspense in this one. Even if you are not a Bette Davis fan, you'll like this film noir.

Bette at her most tacky
This movie is only worth watching if you are a die-hard Bette Davis fan, otherwise, forget it. This is also Bette at the end of her amazing career, a sort of last gasp before age and a string of mediocre movies forced her into semi-retirement. This is her last decent film, though it drags in long stretches and the plot is silly, contrived and stupid. Peter Lawford gives a thoroughly forgetable performance as her boyfriend. Karl Malden is good, but his character is pathetically stupid. Wake up, Karl, your girlfriend is a murderer!

If you love Bette Davis, you'll watch her recite the phone book. I require a little more than that to give it a thumb's up.

Check out the bonus commentarys and documentaries on this!
According to DVDReviews.com: Bonus material will include a commentary by Charles Busch (Die! Mommie, Die!) and Boze Hadleigh (author of Bette Davis Speaks and the two interview books, Hollywood Gays and Hollywood Lesbians), an all-new documentary Double Take: Bette vs. Bette, the featurette Behind-the-Scenes at the Doheny Mansion and a theatrical trailer. Sounds like great fun!

And btw, Busch is also doing a commentary track with Patty McCormack on Warner's new release of THE BAD SEED!

DAVIS x 2....
Repeating the gimmick from "A Stolen Life", Bette Davis here plays twin sisters...this time estranged due to complicated circumstances over a man years before. Margaret DeLorca (Davis) married the old flame of Edith (Davis) and got rich. Edie, who wound up poor, now runs a seedy jazz bar that's behind in it's bills. When Mr.DeLorca dies, Edie sees Margaret at the funeral and Margaret invites her to the mansion and flaunts her wealth (and cast offs) at Edie. Edie quickly realizes the set-up. Margaret never loved the man and married him for money (telling him she was pregnant) while Edie truly loved him and never really got over the pain. When the rent comes due on the bar again and Edie can't pay, she devises a murderous plan to end her financial worries once and for all. Davis is excellent in both roles and is ably supported by a top notch supporting cast. Karl Malden as the cop who loves Edie, Peter Lawford as the slimy, aging gigolo lover of Margaret, Estelle Winwood as a religious family friend of the DeLorca's and Jean Hagen as a playgirl friend of Margaret's. Edith finds out (too late of course) that Margaret was worse than she thought and more murderous complications ensue. While all this is basically a more macabre rehash of "A Stolen Life", Davis fans (like me) should eat it up. Her co-star from "Now Voyager" Paul Henreid directed the film and his daughter Monika plays the personal maid to Margaret/Edie. It's in glorious b&w and the scenes involving both sisters are very well done. Will be very glad to see this on DVD. Now, how about "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte"?

Worth watching for Bette, as always...
This is the second time Bette co-starred with herself; the first time was in "A Stolen Life"; however, do not look for that sort of quality here...the poor sister of the rich sister, Bette kills off her richer sibling and adopts her persona, and moves from her tawdry digs into the magnificent mansion in Beverly Hills. (The old Doheny estate, and the location for "Cinderfella" and "The Loved One.")
I enjoy Peter Lawford in anything, a truly underappreciated actor and a really nice man. He is enjoyably slimy in this role, and adds the right note for the jaded, rather tired boyfriend. Karl Malden is sad, and you feel sorry for him;; he was so devoted to the poor sister...the star of the show is Ms. Davis, and the fabulous house and grounds. Don't look for high, quality drama here, but rather, an enjoyable way to spend a Saturday night.
(NOTE: The Doheny estate, built in the early 1920s, is specatacular, and boasts several streets with signs for it's 25 acres of grounds, and it has a children's playhouse with fireplace and kitchen, etc., that rivals anything I've ever seen...and three guest houses, larger and more magnificent than most mansions! Also a bowling alley, a real movie theatre and over 30 bedrooms in the servants quarters. There was murder there, around 1929, the father caught his son with the butler, and shot and killed him; the son was put away in an asylum. Quite a history, and quite a setting...) ... Read more

Reviews (46)