Hush... Hush, sweet Charlotte
Charlotte suffered the trauma of seeing her love beheaded and being suspected of the crime as a young girl. Many years later, she lives a lonely and comfortable life alone. When her cousin Velma comes to visit her, old wounds reopen.
It was supposed to be the natural sequel to the cult film "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?", but Joan Crawford backed out, and Robert Aldrich, also a producer, chose Olivia de Havilland as a replacement, giving her a role far from her usual "women in distress". Once again based on a novel by Henry Farrell, the film does not reach the originality and impact of its predecessor, but it remains one of the best products born in the wake of that success. Not only for the remarkable performance of Bette Davis but also for the intricate plot, centered on the psychological duel between the protagonists, full of twists and with a well-constructed ending. At times the pace slows and the dialogues drag on unnecessarily but given the duration of over two hours it is understandable, Aldrich takes maniacal care of photography (strictly in black and white) and scenography, confirming himself as a master in packaging these thrillers tinged with decadence. Absolutely to be seen.