Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964): Cast & Plot
Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte is a 1964 mystery thriller directed by Robert Aldrich, starring Bette Davis as Charlotte Hollis, Bruce Dern and Victor Buono. It runs 2 hours 13 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 13m (133 min)
- Director
- Robert Aldrich
- Original language
-
English - After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte About?
The premise of Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
As decades pass, the evidence of a lover’s betrayal—his blood‑stained face—fades into oblivion. An aging, reclusive Southern belle, haunted by a terrifying family secret, finds her fragile sanity unraveling when a long‑lost relative arrives, thrusting her into a spiral of madness and dread.
Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- severed head
- severed hand
- love triangle
- gaslighting
- neo noir
- hand chopped off
- southern gothic
- haunted by the past
- literature on screen
- title different than book
- crime literature on screen
- american crime literature on screen
+38 more Show fewer
- title as song
- father daughter relationship
- spinster
- f rated
- portrait painting
- name in title
- lullaby
- accomplice
- deception
- breakup
- suitor
- domineering father
- electra complex
- extramarital affair
- nursery rhyme
- african american stereotype
- outcast
- social outcast
- gore
- spurting blood
- urban legend
- family tragedy
- dysfunctional family
- bechdel test passed
- biblical reference
- false friend
- invitation
- socialite
- ethnic stereotype
- racial stereotype
- eavesdropping
- antihero
- unrequited love
- love song
- breaking a mirror
- breaking a window
- injection
- hiding in a closet
Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte Cast & Characters
Bette Davis leads the cast as Charlotte Hollis, with Bruce Dern as John Mayhew and Victor Buono as Big Sam Hollis. Directed by Robert Aldrich; 31 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Robert Aldrich
-
Bette Davis as Charlotte Hollis -
Bruce Dern as John Mayhew - Victor Buono as Big Sam Hollis
- Mary Astor as Jewel Mayhew
Also Starring in Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte
· 27 more- Agnes Moorehead Velma Cruther
- Olivia de Havilland Miriam Deering
- Joseph Cotten Drew Bayliss
- Bill Walker Joseph
- Cecil Kellaway Harry Willis
- George Kennedy Foreman
- Ellen Corby Lily
- Cosmo Sardo Party Guest (uncredited)
- Frank Ferguson Newspaper Editor
- Percy Helton Funeral Director
- Dave Willock Taxi Driver
- Lillian Randolph Cleaning Woman
- William Campbell Paul Marchand
- Helen Kleeb Town Gossip
- Wesley Addy Sheriff Standish
- Marianne Stewart Town Gossip
Show all 31 cast members Show fewer cast members
- John Megna New Boy
- Teddy Buckner Band Leader
- Kelly Flynn Boy #2
- Mary Henderson Cleaning Woman
- Michel Petit Gang Leader
- William Aldrich Boy Dancer
- Idell James Ginny Mae
- Alida Aldrich Young Girl
- Kelly Aldrich Boy #3
- Carol Delay Geraldine
- Geraldine West Cleaning Woman
More from Robert Aldrich
More films directed by Robert Aldrich, best-rated first: What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, Hustle, The Longest Yard and The Frisco Kid.
Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte Plot Summary
What happens in Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Charlotte Hollis Bette Davis and her married lover John Mayhew Bruce Dern plan to elope during a party at the Hollis family’s antebellum mansion in Ascension Parish, Louisiana. The moment is charged with tension as Charlotte’s family and guests mingle, but the mood darkens when Charlotte’s father Sam Hollis Victor Buono confronts them about the affair. Sam’s stern warning is sharpened by the news that John’s wife Jewel Mayhew Mary Astor had visited the day before and revealed everything. John tries to put on a brave face, telling Charlotte that their love has ruined itself and that they must part ways. Yet, before the night ends, tragedy strikes: John is ambushed and decapitated in the summerhouse by an unknown assailant wielding a cleaver.
Full summary
The whole story of Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte, scene by scene
Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte Trailers & Videos
4 videos: 3 trailers and 1 featurette.
- Trailer Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte ≣ 1964 ≣ Trailer #1
- Trailer Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte ≣ 1964 ≣ Trailer #2
- Featurette A Woman’s Face and Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte with Mario Cantone (Clip) | Creepy Cinema | TCM
How Well Do You Know Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the name of the mansion’s owner who inherited the property after her father’s death?
Cars in Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte
10 cars on screen, including the 1964 Buick Electra 225 and the 1964 Buick Electra 225.
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1964 Buick Electra 225 Important role -
1964 Buick Electra 225 Important role -
1964 Buick Special Deluxe Important role -
1964 Ford Custom Important role
Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte Also Known As
19 alternative titles, including “What Ever Happened to Cousin Charlotte?” and “Canción de cuna para un cadáver”.
- Also known as
-
- What Ever Happened to Cousin Charlotte?
- Canción de cuna para un cadáver
- Berceuse pour un massacre
- Chut, chut, chère Charlotte
- Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte
- 허쉬...허쉬
- 스윗 샬롯
- 허쉬 허쉬 스윗 샬롯
- Wiegenlied für eine Leiche
- Piano... piano dolce Carlotta
- Hysch hysch
- Charlotte!
+7 more Show fewer
- Csend, csend, édes Charlotte
- Тише... тише, милая Шарлотта
- שקט... שרלוט מתוק
- 最毒妇人心
- Cálmate, dulce Carlota
- Com a Maldade na Alma, სიჩუმე....სიჩუმე, ტკბილი შარლოტა
- Sladká Charlotte
Seen Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte?
Movies Like Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Hush, Hush and The Shuttered Room.
Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte FAQ: Cast & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte?
Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte runs 2 hours 13 minutes (133 minutes).
When was Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte released?
Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte was released on December 15, 1964.
Who directed Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte?
Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte was directed by Robert Aldrich.
More films by Robert Aldrich Who is in the cast of Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte?
Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte stars Bette Davis as Charlotte Hollis, Bruce Dern as John Mayhew and Victor Buono as Big Sam Hollis, among 31 credited actors.
Does Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte have a post-credit scene?
No. Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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