What Ever Happened To Aunt Alice?

1969, Movie, PG, 101 mins

What Ever Happened To Aunt Alice?: Review

Aldrich produced this spinoff of his own WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE? (1962) and HUSH . . . HUSH, SWEET CHARLOTTE (1965)--once again demonstrating his delight in the macabre. Page plays an Arizona widow who can't cope with poverty. In her desperate quest for financial security, she kills the elderly maids who come to work for her and then steals their considerable savings. After the strange disappearance of Gordon's faithful maid and friend (Dunnock), Gordon poses as a housekeeper and applies for a position with Page, hoping to uncover the mystery behind her friend's disappearance. Both Page and Gordon are excellent--one moment humorous (as they deliver lines filled with cruel sarcasm) and the next menacing and suspenseful. Although Katzin is not so distinctive a director as Aldrich, he gets the job done with the help of great camerawork by Joseph Biroc. Apstein's script is a good combination of chills and black comedy. leave a comment