The Anniversary

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Julian S A well-written slice of family dysfunction, “The Anniversary” lives up to its promises and is a must-watch for fans of Davis’s later work. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/28/24 Full Review Steve D Davis is entertaining but the story is more interested in shocking than entertaining. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 04/17/24 Full Review scott j A black comedy that really lives through Bette Davis' wickedly conniving, scheming matriarch. Very Funny and dark at times. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/07/23 Full Review Audience Member Even though her husband popped his clogs some ten years before, Mrs Taggart still makes an occasion of her wedding anniversary to him by making sure that her sons join her at the family home so they can celebrate together.  The build up to the event sees her sons describing her as akin to a force of nature that can't be controlled and as a fierce matriarch. This seems fitting when she finally makes her entrance on screen as she is played by none other than Bette Davis who is on flying form and attacks her role with relish. Not just that but she has a fantastic wardrobe topped off with an eye patch! It's obvious that Mrs Taggart will keep her boys in place by means necessary whether it be manipulation, knowing secrets that her sons would rather be kept private to be used at any given moment like some kind of trump card that she keeps up her sequinned sleeves and by finding any weaknesses that her sons or their partners possess. It's fitting that this film was made by Hammer Films as whilst on the surface it's a very black comedy, it also works as a horror film with Davis demolishing all around her like a very stylish and catty version of Godzilla.  The tone here is high camp which is why it works so well. If this was presented as more serious it wouldn't have been half as much fun and Davis would have been wasted. Davis didn't want to take the role but only changed her mind when her friend Jimmy Sangster rewrote the script for the screen from the stage version. Sangster had penned the excellent screenplay for Davis' earlier film, The Nanny (also highly recommended). There was also animosity between cast members with 'serious stage actress' Sheila Hancock witnessing the way Davis was pampered over and given the attention deserving of a star of her stature and being utterly alienated by it. C'est la vie. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/19/23 Full Review Audience Member What a Dump this movie is. Thank God I'll never have to see it again. Horrible script. Disgusting story. Stiff as a board acting, as they each wait for the other to finish their lines, so that it's their turn to 'recite' their lines. Extremely unbelievable. Never knew if the ridiculousness of it was trying to make it a comedy . . . or what. And, nothing personal, and I love Bette Davis, but they do (and did) have this stuff called Teeth Whitener. Hard to get into a movie, when you're focused on the fluorescent jaundice yellow of someone's teeth. Sorry, but I don't recommend this movie for Anyone, but (like me) the hard core Bette Davis fans. Though I will say, on a positive note, Elaine Taylor as Shirley was quite enjoyable to watch. Rated 0.5/5 Stars •  Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/15/23 Full Review martin a Bette Davis is legendary in this film, vicious, camp, dramatic, and just fantastic. A wonderful film, total classic, the script is tight and crisp, and Bette tortures her family and their partners on a very special day. wonderful cast. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews

The Anniversary

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