Hush ... Hush, Sweet Charlotte  (1965)

... Starring: Bette Davis, Olivia de Havilland, Bruce Dern, Agnes Moorehead

... Bette Davis showed that her first horror film, "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?" wasn't just a fluke. "Hush ... Hush, Sweet Charlotte" proves it. When I first saw this film on the late-late show on TV, I was just 12 years old. I was permitted to stay up late during summer break from school. I watched this movie all alone and it scared the crap out of me.

Once again Bette Davis' character finds herself the victim of cruel circumstances, and again, in rather grisly fashion. Davis (as Charlotte) is up against Olivia de Havilland (cousin Miriam) who plays the foil in this thriller. It's too bad Joan Crawford was "ill" and got kicked off this film. (They say she was terrified of Bette Davis. Maybe it was the Pepsi and vodka what done her in.) Olivia de Havilland did a great job in Joan's place. Agnes Moorehead was nominated for an Oscar for her role as the snaggly housekeeper.

A wonderful feature in this horror flick is the music, which really ratchets up the chill factor. There are key moments when the music tips you off to something horrible about to happen. You can't help but feel the hair raise on the back of your neck in dread of what's coming. This is one of those rare scary movies where you come away satisfied that you got some good piss-yer-pants frights. Fun, scary movie.

My Grade: A+