THE NANNY (1965)

THE NANNY (1965)

Mary Poppins she ain't. There is something sinister about Bette Davis and its not the Crawford eyebrows she wears for her character. Davis plays a devoted Nanny to  a wealthy British family. She cooks , cleans , and take care of the children. But a horrible accident happened to one of the children while in the Nanny's charge. Suzy Fane ( the youngest child) was found  drowned in the bathtub. Instead of the blame going to The Nanny for Little Suzy's death . It went to her 10 year old brother  Joey Fane (William Dix ), The parents blamed their son  for their daughter;s death . Joey was sent to a psychiatric facility for disturbed children.

After spending two year, Master Joey has been released from the institution to live at home again. Right a way there's such contempt from Master Joey towards Nanny. It's almost like he hates her for being punished for a crime he did not commit. Joey's parents   (James Villers &Wendy Craig) seem to be turning a blind's eye to all the RED FLAGS  that Master Joey is sending. He refuses to eat any food prepared by Nanny. refuses to take a bath with her in the room , and demands to sleep in a room with a lock.

After Joey's father is sent away from home on business. Joey is now left at the mercy of The Nanny. He's not alone with her. His mother is there but she is very fragile and is in depression since the loss of her daughter. Ever since the tragedy, Virgie Fane 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 long relationship which is why Virgie is always comes to her defense  when her son make accusations. But the Nanny always rebuffs defending Master Joey blaming his paranoia on his illness. The seeds of doubt are planted. The question is  Master Joey unstable and should be locked away forever ?

Accusations are pointed in Master Joey;s direction after his mother is rushed to the hospital for food poisoning. But Joey blames the Nanny. Master Joey finds solice  with a teenage neighbor (Pamela Franklin) who believes that The Nanny is plotting against him.

Nanny shows her true colors when Joey's Aunt Penn (Jill Bennett) sees Nanny waiting outside Master Joey's bedroom with a pillow.This Mary Poppins intended to suffocate  the boy in his sleep .Nanny wanted eliminate the only witness to her tragic mistake which is now leading to crimes to cover up.Aunt Penn doesn't seem to believe Nanny;s story when asked why she was waiting out her nephew;s bedroom with a pillow in hand. Poor Aunt Penn has a heart condition and cannot get too excited .Nanny just watched Aunt Penn drop to the floor asking for her medication to save her life  but Nanny refused.

William Dix gives a believable potrayal of Master Joey. Dix seems to have the  understanding of his character's plight.

 Rumors has it that there was lots of tension between Davis and her Director Seth Holt. Davis did finally take Holt's direction abandoning her over the top acting which she was accustom in doing in her earlier films. Davis is superb as the Nanny in this Guilty Pleasure. She gives a powerful but low key performance underplaying William Dix's character.

THE PSYCHO BIDDY GENRE...

 During the Sixties , Davis  starred with Joan Crawford in WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE ?(1964) which was a huge hit. The success of that film helped paved the way for veteran actresses to reinvent themselves like OLIVIA de HAVILLAND in LADY IN A CAGE (1964) Joan Fontaine in THE WITCHES (1966), BARBARA STANWYCK in THE NIGHT WALKER (1964), TALLULAH BANKHEAD in DIE, DIE MY DARLING (1965),and so on. Davis was at  the top of her game once again in the PSYCHO BIDDY GENRE.

FUN FACTS...

BETTE DAVIS  was not the first choice to play the Nanny. It was GREER GARSON.  She liked the script but felt it would not a good career move for her. Davis was offered the role and accepted. Davis was overlooked by the Oscars for this role. Her last Oscar nomination was for WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE ? (1964). Some consider the role of Jane Hudson to be her triumph role of the 1960's decade. I don;t disagree with that but I do believe that role of The Nanny should be included.

IMMORTAL DIALOGUE ...

Joey Fane : " SHE TRIED TO KILL ME. "

" I'M TAKING A EXTRA PILLOW TO MASTER JOEY. "

MADE - UP DIALOGUE....

" I MADE THIS ESPECIALLY FOR MASTER JOEY AND NOBODY ELSE."

" EAT ALL YOUR PORRIDGE LIKE A GOOD LITTLE GIRL."

" DO YOU LIKE MY BETTE DAVIS EYES?"

CAST                                       


The Nanny.......BETTE DAVIS
Joey Fane ......WILLIAM DIX
Virgie Fane..... WENDY CRAIG
Aunt Pen.......... JILL BENNETT
Bill Fane ..........JAMES VILLIERS
Bobby Medmen.....PAMELA FRANKLIN
Dr. Medmen...... JACK WATLING
Dr.Beamaster......MAURICE DENMAN
Dr. Wills........ALFRED BURKE
Suzy Fane.....ANGHARAD AUBREY

Directed by .....Seth Holt
Produced by....Jimmy Sangster
Written by .....Jimmy Sangster
Music by Richard Rodman Bennett
Cinematography... Harry Waxman
Edited by..... Tom Simpson
Production Company.... Hammer Films / Seven Art Production
Distributed by ....20th Century Fox
Released Date....October 27, 1965
Running time...91 mins.