Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte

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Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte

Released Dec 15, 1964

2h 13m

Horror

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Popcornmeter

83%

Tomatometer

30 Reviews

85%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Forty years ago, on the night they were meant to elope, Charlotte Hollis (Bette Davis) found her lover decapitated during a party, the blood on her dress leading everyone to suspect she was the murderer. Now, in 1964, Charlotte is an old recluse and must fight to keep her home. She enlists the help of her cousin Velma (Olivia de Havilland), who was there at the time of the murder. However, soon after Velma's arrival, Charlotte's mind becomes unstable, and she starts seeing her dead lover's head.

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Peter John Dyer

Sight & Sound

Agnes Moorehead is no less brilliant than Miss Davis as the rawboned, ferret-eyed housekeeper.

Mar 31, 2020

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TIME Magazine

Aldrich piles on a series of scream-in-the-night shocks, the better to batten a script strikingly short of sneakier surprises.

Oct 17, 2016

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Geoff Andrew

Time Out

Over the top, of course, and not a lot to it, but it's efficiently directed, beautifully shot (Joseph Biroc), and contains enough scary sequences amid the brooding, tense atmosphere.

Jun 24, 2006

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Trace Thurman

Horror Queers Podcast

Davis brings a necessary pathos to Charlotte's plight, but it's de Havilland who is having a ball playing a vindictive ice queen.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 23, 2024

Full Review

Joe Lipsett

Horror Queers Podcast

Bette Davis turns in another empathetic performance as a damaged Southern belle and de Havilland should play more villains because Hush...Hush is a hoot and a half.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 20, 2024

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Rob Aldam

Backseat Mafia

Robert Aldrich's film to continually defy expectations.

Jan 18, 2019

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Michael S

I saw this movie in 1965 at a Saturday matinee as a 3rd grader , and it scared the bee geebees out of me then . I still so dearly love this movie , and now it always makes me cry at the end. And even now just thinking about it. One of the greatest movies of all time , without a doubt.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/12/24

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Audience Member

Superb acting! I love this movie!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/29/24

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Jerod S

Bette Davis is Charlotte, who was accused of killing her husband when they got married. She's rotting in her big rotting mansion when they come to take it from her. Update the effects and you have a great thriller.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/27/24

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Luis M. D

Good movie, although perhaps not as good as “Baby Jane” (1962).

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

06/11/24

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Mike P

More from the 60s psychobiddy genre...(This, Psycho, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane, Straight Jacket)...Solid...if silly...

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/28/24

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Alec B

Finds that Southern Gothic sweet spot located between camp and genuine drama. All the performances capture that tone perfectly.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/26/24

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Robert Aldrich

Director

Bette Davis

Charlotte

Olivia de Havilland

Miriam

Joseph Cotten

Drew

Agnes Moorehead

Velma

Cecil Kellaway

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Synopsis

Forty years ago, on the night they were meant to elope, Charlotte Hollis (Bette Davis) found her lover decapitated during a party, the blood on her dress leading everyone to suspect she was the murderer. Now, in 1964, Charlotte is an old recluse and must fight to keep her home. She enlists the help of her cousin Velma (Olivia de Havilland), who was there at the time of the murder. However, soon after Velma's arrival, Charlotte's mind becomes unstable, and she starts seeing her dead lover's head.

Director: Robert Aldrich
Producer: Robert Aldrich
Screenwriter: Henry Farrell, Lukas Heller
Production Co: The Associates & Aldrich Company Inc.
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 15, 1964, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Dec 24, 1964
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 25, 2015
Runtime: 2h 13m

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