Southern-fried frights from screenwriters Henry Farrell (author of the novel "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?") and Lukas Heller (who adapted the "Baby Jane" screenplay) has Bette Davis trying to hold onto her sanity and her plantation after scheming cousin Olivia de Havilland comes to town. The thickly-applied Gothic atmospherics aren't convincing, and Agnes Moorehead is over-the-top as loyal housekeeper Velma, though the picture is still entertaining due to Robert Aldrich's brusque direction and de Havilland's juicy performance. Farrell and Heller keep Bette's Charlotte on the verge of hysteria throughout, borrowing a bit from "Les Diaboliques" to give their story a twist. The overlay of camp--beginning with an outrageous prologue--helps make the picture shamefacedly enjoyable, though it isn't up to the heights of "Baby Jane". ** from ****
Review of Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte
