Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte

With WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE? (1962), Aldrich had established his own psychological thriller subgenre of the horror film centred on ageing star actresses; with his second and last contribution to this Grand Guignol wave, he repeated its success and created a baroque crown jewel in his oeuvre. Charlotte Hollis’s (Bette Davis) married lover is brutally murdered during a glittering ball at a Southern mansion in 1927. Decades later, the eccentric heiress is still believed to be the perpetrator. When she faces eviction, her cousin Miriam (Olivia de Havilland) comes to her aid, but Charlotte is soon haunted by surreal visions of the night of the murder. A sunny portrait of small-town life turns into a nightmarish crime mystery full of red herrings and masterfully staged scenes of horror. This gripping exploration of perception reflects a recurring theme in Aldrich’s work: the vision of a hostile world drives Charlotte to madness. Aldrich had originally paired Bette Davis and Joan Crawford again to repeat the success of WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE?, but the production itself became a sort of horror when the two divas clashed for real. Then Crawford fell ill, whereupon Aldrich spent four difficult days convincing Olivia de Havilland to take over. (Christoph Huber)

All retrospective films that will be shown at the Filmmuseum after the Viennale - from 04.11. - can of course also be reserved as usual at filmmuseum.at or by calling 01/533 70 54 and purchased at the box office of the Austrian Film Museum. The prices of the Austrian Film Museum apply.