THE NANNY (1965)

When Greer Garson turned down the role of The Nanny, Producer Jimmy Sangster immediately thought of Bette Davis.  Sangster was so impressed with Davis's performance in WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE (1964), that he OFFERED her the role. Davis ACCEPTED, becoming  Director Seth Holt's NIGHTMARE. Tensions were on HIGH between the Silver Screen Diva and her director on the set because she REFUSED to take his DIRECTION. Davis was more COMFORTABLE with her old school MELODRAMATIC  style of ACTING. To make matters WORSE, Davis CONTRACTED the FLU causing a DELAY in the production.

 As Davis was RECOVERING, she would send comprehensive reports of her illness as any Silver Screen Diva would. When Davis did RETURN to the set, NOT fully recovered from the FLU. Davis would HACK in her fellow actor's FACES, thoughtlessly drink from other people's glasses, and made no attempt to stop SPREADING the VIRUS. On a positive note, Davis did finally SUCCUMB to Holt's direction. Davis gave a POWERFUL, but LOW key performance UNDERPLAYING William Dix's character.

PLOT SUMMARY (Spoilers Alert !!!) :
After SPENDING two years, Master Joey is now being RELEASED from the institution to live at home again. Joey's mother (Wendy Craig ) is beside herself, in the ANTICIPATION of her son's RETURN. She REFUSES to ACCOMPANY her husband ( James Villers) to BRING their son HOME. Because she still HASN'T forgiven him for WHAT happened to Suzy. It was a HORRIBLE incident, Suzy Fane (the youngest child) was found DROWNED in the bathtub. Instead of the Nanny ( Bette Davis) getting the BLAME for little Suzie's death, it went to her 10-year-old brother ( William Dix). The parents BLAMED their son for their daughter's death. Joey was sent to a PSYCHARTRATIC  facility for disturbed children.

Bette Davis plays the DEVOTED Nanny to the  WEALTHY Fane family. She cooks, cleans, and takes care of the fragile mistress of the house. The Nanny will also be looking after Master Joey if he lets her. The last time Master Joey was home, he made terrible ACCUSATIONS against her. Hopefully, things will be different this time around. Mrs. Fane REQUESTED that The Nanny take her place, accompanying Mr. Fane to the psychiatric facility because she has a headache.

Before being RELEASED from the psychiatric facility, Master Joey decides to play one FINAL PRANK. This one should have kept him inside for a long time, but instead, he was released. The prank was that Master Joey pretended to HANG himself. But it seems that the facility was too eager to release Master Joey back to the CUSTODY of his parents.

 Right away, there's some CONTEMPT for Master Joey towards the Nanny. It's almost like he HATES her for being PUNISHED for a crime he did NOT commit. When Joey's father SUGGESTED that Joey rides in the back with Nanny, he PROTESTED that he didn't want to sit near her. It seems that two years haven't mellowed Joey's RESENTMENT toward Nanny.

 Once home, Master Joey makes some DEMANDS. He doesn't want the bedroom that Nanny had set up for him. Instead, he would rather have the SMALLER guest room, which has ACCESS to the fire escape just in case he needs it. Master Joey makes his mother ORDER Nanny keep out of the bathroom when he taking a bath.  He REFUSES to eat anything that Nanny has prepared for him. Master Joey would rather make his own sandwiches than be POISONED.

When Joey's father is SENT away from home on business. Joey is now LEFT in the MERCY of The Nanny. He is not alone, his mother is there, but she is very FRAGILE and is in a DEPRESSION since the loss of her daughter. Ever since the TRAGEDY, Joey's mother has grown dependent on The Nanny, once again like when she was a little girl when Nanny took care of her. The two women have a very close relationship, which is why Joey's mother always comes to Nanny's defense when her son makes accusations. But The Nanny always REBUFFS defending Master Joey blaming his PARANOIA on his illness. The SEEDS of doubt have been PLANTED. The question is Master Joey UNSTABLE and should be LOCKED away forever. 

Master Joey seems to enjoy playing PRANKS, this time it involved the Milk Man causing him to drop his milk deliveries. Nanny DEFENDS Master Joey to the DISGRUNTLED Milk Man, which makes his teenage friend Bobbie Medman (Pamela Franklin) sing her praises. Master Joey decides to set up another prank, this time on Nanny. 

All it requires is his friend's DOLL and a BATHTUB. Master Joey INFORMS Nanny, that someone left the tub water running. Nanny goes to the bathroom to SHUT off the faucet after Master Joey REFUSED to do so. To her surprise, Nanny SEES a very disturbing sight of a doll floating FACE down in the TUB full of WATER. Nanny was so DISTURBED by it, that Master Joey was SCOLDED by his mother telling him as it was the CRUELEST thing she ever heard of. Master Joey replied, " It was only a doll...just a STUPID old DOLL,"

 That night Nanny DECIDES to make Master Joey's favorite dish,  Steak, and kidney pie. But before supper was served, Nanny INFORMS Mrs. Fane that Master Joey has been in her MEDICINE CABINET and has caught him SNEAKING around in the kitchen.

 At supper, Master Joey still REFUSES to eat anything that the Nanny has PREPARED, even if it is his favorite dish. Unfortunately, for Mrs. Fane, she DOESN'T have that option, with Nanny SPOON FEEDING every morsel. ACCUSATIONS are pointed in Master Joey's direction after his mother was RUSHED to the HOSPITAL with food POISONING. Unfortunate for Master Joey, a medicine bottle was DISCOVERED under his pillow. Someone must have PLANTED it there, probably the same person who discovered it . which would be Nanny.

Aunt Penn (Jill Bennett) is called to WATCH Master Joey because he REFUSES to stay ALONE with Nanny. Once there Aunt Penn CANNOT believe the way Master Joey TREATS and TALKS to her BELOVED childhood Nanny. Probably Aunt Penn was NOT  the right person to send for, to take care of her PRANKSTER nephew, with her WEAK heart condition,  which was mentioned earlier in the film. Hopefully, Aunt Penn won't get too EXCITED or she could DROP DEAD especially if not given her medication in time.

Later that evening, Master Joey DECIDES  to take bath, but not before Nanny SWEARS not to DISTURB him in front of his Aunt Penn. A while later, Aunt Penn was AWOKEN by her FRIGHTEN nephew who CLAIMS that Nanny had tried to DROWN him in the tub. Aunt Penn SLAPPED her nephew for CLAIMING that Nanny TRIED to MURDER him. Master Joey runs off.  Then Aunt Penn has one of her ATTACKS, for being overly EXCITED. Fortunately, Nanny was LURKING about, SAVES Aunt Penn's life.

 Before our Psycho Biddy Classic goes any further, it is time to REVEAL events of the PAST. What really HAPPENED to little Suzy Fane? Apparently, Nanny received a DISTURBING call and had to leave the children UNATTENDED. Suzy DECIDED to give her DOLL a BATH because she was BORED and her brother Joey WOULDN'T play with her. Suzy PULLED up a step stool up to the bathtub, CLIMBS up to turn the FAUCET on, trips HIT her head inside the tub. When Nanny RETURNS, she TELLS Master Joey that it is tub time and CALLS for Suzy. Nanny GOES and TURNS the facet on, NOT seeing Susy LYING in the tub FACE down. 

The next scene shows that we are back to the present day, with  Master Joey who had RECOUNTED the past with Bobbie, who sought solace after escaping with life from Nanny. But Bobbie's father would return Master Joey back downstairs where he belongs. Aunt Penn and Nanny are THANKFUL for Master Joey's safe return. But Master Joey isn't thrilled with the idea, running to his room. He BARRICADES his door with his dresser for no one could get in.

Nanny REVEALS her TRUE COLORS when Joey's Aunt Penn ( Jill Bennett) see Nanny WAITING outside Master Joey's bedroom with a PILLOW. This Mary Poppins INTENDS to SUFFOCATE the boy in his sleep. Nanny wanted to ELIMINATE the only WITNESS to her TRAGIC mistake which now leading to crimes to cover up. Aunt Penn DOESN'T believes Nanny's Story when asked why she waiting outside her nephew's bedroom with a pillow in hand. 

As we know poor Aunt Penn has a HEART CONDITION and cannot get too EXCITED, but that 's what Nanny's HOPING for. But Poor Aunt Penn did get EXCITED after questioning Nanny and DESPERATELY makes her way BACK to the bedroom to get her MEDICATION. Aunt Penn DROPS to the floor, PLEADING for her medication to SAVE her life, but Nanny REFUSED. Poor Aunt Penn won't be able to come back from the DEAD to EXPOSE Nanny and save her nephew.

Before this Grande Dame Guignol can't have its finale, there are some loose ends that need to be exposed. So we must go back to the past, where we learn our SPINSTER Nanny was not is so CHASTE after all. She had a CHILD out of wedlock and gave her up. That's where Nanny was going where she left the children unattended to see her grown-up daughter but she was too late, her unwed daughter bleeds to death after having a BOTCHED abortion. 

When Nanny returned to the Fane Children, she was DISTRAUGHT with GRIEF, but persevered. When Nanny DISCOVERED poor Little Suzy in the bathtub, she CONTINUES to BATH her fully clothed like she was alive and making small talk. But when Master Joey discovered what had happened and he tries to call the police. But Nanny STOPPED Master Joey just in time, insisting that he JOINS his sister in the bath. As we all know how that turned out that Joey was blamed for his sister's drowning.

 Back from the past, Nanny needs to SILENCE Master Joey for good, especially after the DEMISE of poor Aunt Penn. Nanny tried to pay Master Joey a social call but discovered he is not up to accepting callers, because he has barricaded himself from the inside. Nanny could see her prey with her BETTE DAVIS EYES, as she pushes her way in. 

Once inside, Nanny tries to REASON with Master Joey, But he doesn't buy it.  He SCRAMBLES for the window to reach the fire escape to FLEE from this DEMENTED Mary Poppins. But Master Joey STUMBLES hit his head and is rendered UNCONSCIOUS. Nanny quickly GATHERS Master Joey in her ARMS and bring him to the bathroom for bath time. Once there She FILLS the tub with water and TOSSES Master Joey into the water.

 Immediately, Nanny starts to PUSH the boy's head UNDERWATER, holding it there for he CAN'T breathe. But then, Nanny SEES the light instead of TAKING his life she SAVES it. Nanny HOLDS Master Joey close to her, ROCKING  him.  But once Master Joey REGAINS  consciousness, breaks away leaving poor Nanny to cry uncontrollably. Thankfully this Psycho Biddy Classic has a happy ending for Master Joey visiting his mother in the hospital. As for Nanny, we learn that she will be taking a very long vacation for some much-needed R & R at the SANITARIUM

FILM FACTS :

Bette Davis was NOT the first choice to play THE NANNY, it was Greer Garson. The script appealed to Garson, but in the end that it would not be a good career move. Davis was offered the role and accepted it.

THE NANNY (1965) was the LAST Hammer film to be filmed in Black and white.

Jill Bennett said that Bette Davis gave a very important acting tip when they were making THE NANNY (1965) together. Davis told her to " Make Love to the Furniture."

William Dix who played Master Joey was not able to attend the British premiere of THE NANNY (1965) , because of the X rating the picture originally received.

 IMMORTAL DIALOGUE:

                      " I don't think he meant it, Sir. You didn't mean that    you did you, Master Joey ?"       

               Master Joey : " She tried to KILL ME !!!

          " I'm taking an extra pillow to Master Joey."

                    "1-2-3- OPEN... No more arguements."     

     FABRICATED DIALOGUE :

" I made this especially for Master Joey and nobody else !!"

               "Do you like my BETTE DAVIS EYES ?"

   THE CAST:
   Bette Davis (The Nanny), William Dix (Joey Fane), Wendy Craig
(Virgie Fang), Jill Bennett (Aunt Penn), Bill Fane ( James Villiers),
Pamela Franklin ( Bobby Medmen), Jack Watling (Dr. Medmen),
Maurice Denham (Dr.Beamaster), Alfred Burke (Dr. Willis), Suzy
Fane ( Angharad Aubrey)
          

 MY BOTTOM LINE IS ...
THE NANNY (1965) is a thriller that doesn't disappoint mainly due to the talented Ms. Davis, who is not afraid to venture out on the ledge for her character. Davis is definitely not afraid to take on an unflattering look, sporting eyebrows that resemble her nemesis, Joan Crawford. THE NANNY is definitely not Mary Poppins, so looking pretty is definitely out of the question. Thankfully, it all paid off, with Davis receiving rave reviews for her performance. I do recommend  THE NANNY (1965) to those who love Davis in her Psycho Biddy period.

    

THE LETTER (1940)

  With an acting career that nearly spanned six decades, It would be nearly impossible to pinpoint Bette Davis's finest hour. There are so many marvelous performances to choose from. But one does stand out among the rest, the role of adulteress Leslie Crosbie from THE LETTER, in which Davis was nominated for Best Actress for the role, but did not win. Davis proclaimed the opening sequence of THE LETTER  to be finest she has ever seen and called the film, a magnificent picture.

Our story begins literally with a BANG,  actually several of them being dislodged into a man who has staggered out from the house, onto the porch and then falling down the stairs. Behind him, is Leslie Crosbie (Bette Davis), wife of the rubber plantation administrator. who had followed out to finish him off. There is nothing worse than a WOMAN'S SCORN. If she couldn't have him no other woman would either. She emptied the chamber firing shots into the lifeless body that lie on the ground. Leslie possessed an icy cold look upon her face as she glared down at her LOVER looming over him holding the SMOKING GUN.

Leslie convinces her DEVOTED husband, Robert Crosbie (Hebert Marshall) and everyone else that it was SELF-DEFENSE. The deceased was Geoff Hammond, a friend and well-respected member of the community. Leslie 's moral compass has eclipsed to a darker realm from an ADULTERESS to a MURDDERESS in self- preservation mode.

Leslie effortlessly fabricates a story to clear her name, including every detail about why Hammond was there visiting and that he made several advances toward her, which at first she shrugged off, because Hammond had been drinking and that he was a close friend of hers and her husband for years. But then things took a turn when he grabbed and tried to carry her upstairs. Then Hammond stumbled onto the floor, she got away to get the GUN. He continued to come at her, which left her no choice, but to SHOOT him to SAVE HER HONOR.

Even though Leslie had been ARRESTED for MURDER, everyone was assured that she would be ACQUITTED on the murder charge for SELF-DEFENSE. But then some evidence has come up to shed new light on the murder trial that could damage Leslie's case. It was a  copy of THE LETTER that was written by Leslie to the deceased Hammond pleading him to come to see her, that her husband was away and she would be alone that evening, and threaten him if he did not come.

Howard Joyce (James Stephenson), Leslie's Lawyer is told by his clerk, Ong Chi Seng ( Victor Sen Young)  that the ORIGINAL COPY of the handwritten LETTER by Leslie Crosbie is in possession of Hammond's Eurasian wife ( Gale Sondergaard). Mrs. Hammond blackmails Leslie for the cost of ten thousand dollars for THE LETTER. However, there is a catch, Leslie has to come in person to receive the letter from Mrs. Hammnond.

Soon after Howard Joyce reveals to his client, the damning evidence, Leslie confesses that she had penned THE LETTER for sale. Surprisingly, THE LETTER is going to cost Leslie's husband entire life's savings.

Shrouded in a lace shawl, Leslie has come to meet the demands of Mrs. Hammond delivering ten thousand dollars personally for THE LETTER. As soon as Hammond 's exotic widow entered the room, Leslie could feel the HATRED and the CONTEMPT, Mrs. Hammond had for her without muttering one word. Mrs. Hammond goes further by dropping THE LETTER at her feet, degrading Leslie to have to pick it up. Even though Hammond's exotic widow allowed the EVIDENCE to be SUPPRESSED, which ACQUITTED Leslie for her husband's murder, she was not through with the woman who took away the man she loved.

Celebrating Leslie 's acquittal, Robert announces at the party that he plans to buy a rubber plantation in Sumatra with his life savings. Quickly, Robert is ushered into another room, where Leslie and Howard come clean that his life savings were used to suppress THE LETTER. After reading THE LETTER, Robert is ravaged by the knowledge that his deceitful wife had been having an affair with Hammond for years. And it was JEALOUSY that prompt Leslie to MURDER her lover in cold blood, after learning he MARRIED another woman.

 Later that evening, as Leslie's acquittal party is ongoing, Robert clarifies his previous announcement stating that he plans to buy this rubber plantation instead of the one in Sumatra. Leslie could hear her husband 's announcement from the balcony, returning to her bedroom, she discovers a DAGGER. Leslie knew that it was from Hammond's exotic widow giving her the sign to take her own life. 

When Robert returns, he offers to forgive his wife for her transgressions. At first, Leslie agrees to put the past behind and do everything she can to make him happy again. But when Robert kisses Leslie, she recoils confessing "With all my heart, I still love the man I killed."

Robert exit the room a BROKEN man. As Leslie tries to pull herself together, she notices the DAGGER was missing. Leslie suspects that Hammond's exotic widow had planted the DAGGER and now, has taken it away. Wandering out of her patio into the garden, Leslie begins to search for the culprit with the DAGGER. Suddenly, Leslie encounters Hammond's exotic widow bearing the DAGGER. Quickly, Leslie is grabbed from behind by Mrs. Hammond's companion, then he stuffed a cloth in her mouth to silence her scream for help. Fiercely, Mrs. Hammond stabs the woman who murdered her husband, with the DAGGER. Leslie collapses to the ground, while Mrs. Hammond and her companion make their getaway, only to be confronted by the police. However, no one is aware that Leslie 's lifeless body lies in the dark , only to be expose by the moonlight. 

FILM FACTS

James Stephenson who played Howard Joyce died of a heart attack shortly after making THE LETTER (1940) at age 53.  

Hebert Marshall played the lover in the original version of THE LETTER (1929) with Jeanne Eagles.

IMMORTAL DIALOGUE

"WITH ALL MY HEART. I STILL LOVE THE MAN I KILLED !"

THE CAST

Bette Davis (Leslie Crosbie), Hebert Marshall (Robert Crosbie),

James Stephenson (Howard Joyce), Freida Inscecort (Dorothy Joyce), Gail Sondergaard (Mrs. Hammond), Cecil Kellaway (Prescott) Bruce Lester (John Withers)

Victor Sen Young (Ong Chi Seng).

MY BOTTOM LINE IS....

Bette Davis certainly gave an Oscar-Winning performance in THE LETTER (1940) playing Leslie Crosbie, a lonely neglected housewife of a  British rubber plantation manager, who seeks comfort in the arms of another man, only to kill him in a jealous rage. Davis was on fire, with her famous Bette Davis rolled back, dislodging every bullet from her pistol into her lover in the infamous opening scene of THE LETTER (1940). Unfortunately for Davis, she followed in the footsteps of Jeanne Eagles who played Leslie Crosbie in the original version, both were nominated for Best Actress for THE LETTER but did not win.

Gale Sondergaard who played Mrs.Hammond also gives a superb performance as Hammond's wife, barely speaking, she accomplishes this task with facial expressions, her glaring eyes, and her body posture. One can feel the hatred that Sondergaard has for Davis's Character without uttering one word. The infamous scene in which Sondergaard drops the letter, having Davis bow down to her to retrieve it, takes the contempt she has for Davis a bit further. All this is accomplished without any dialogue, rendering the scene priceless.

THE LETTER (1940) is a superb film with its top-notched black and white photography which captures the very essence of this film noir. And of course, the melodramatic acting, which was the style of the era, has Bette Davis at the top of her game delivering a tour-de-force performance of her career.

Bette Davis in a publicity photo for THE LETTER (1940).

Gale Sondergaard in a publicity photo for THE LETTER (1940).