What Ever Happened to Aunt Alice? (1969)

Director:

Lee H. Katzin
(more)

Writers:

Theodore Apstein (writer)
Ursula Curtiss (novel)

Release Date:

20 August 1969 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

A horrific tale...with grave consequences!

Plot:

As Aunt Alice, Ruth Gordon applies for the job of housekeeper in the Tucson, Arizona home of widow Claire...

Plot Keywords:

Question In Title | Wheelchair | Murder | Smoking | Barking Dog

Cast

Geraldine Page	...	Claire Marrable
Ruth Gordon	...	Alice Dimmock
Rosemary Forsyth	...	Harriet Vaughn
Robert Fuller	...	Mike Darrah
Mildred Dunnock	...	Edna Tinsley
Joan Huntington	...	Julia Lawson
Peter Brandon	...	George Lawson
Michael Barbera	...	Jim Vaughn
Peter Bonerz	...	Mr. Bentley
Richard Angarola	...	Sheriff Armijo
Claire Kelly	...	Elva
Valerie Allen	...	Dotty
Martin Garralaga	...	Juan
Jack Bannon	...	Olin
Seth Riggs	...	Warren
Lou Kane	...	Telephone man
Howard Wright	...	Mourner
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jess Riggle	...	Cab Driver (uncredited)

Directed by
Lee H. Katzin
Bernard Girard		(uncredited)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Theodore Apstein		writer
Ursula Curtiss		novel "The Forbidden Garden"

Produced by
Robert Aldrich	....	producer
William Aldrich	....	associate producer
Peter Nelson	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Gerald Fried

Cinematography by
Joseph F. Biroc

Film Editing by
Frank J. Urioste

Casting by
Lynn Stalmaster

Art Direction by
William Glasgow

Set Decoration by
John Brown

Costume Design by
Renié

Makeup Department
Jean Austin	....	hair stylist
William Turner	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Fred Ahern	....	production supervisor
Eddie Saeta	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Daisy Gerber	....	assistant director

Art Department
Ygnacio Sepulveda	....	property master

Sound Department
Richard S. Church	....	sound mixer

Stunts
Julie Ann Johnson	....	stunts (uncredited)

Casting Department
Frank Kennedy	....	extras casting (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Michael Luciano	....	supervising editor

Other crew
Michael Audley	....	dialogue supervisor
Richard Chaffee	....	script supervisor
Don Record	....	title designer

Production Companies

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC)
• Associates & Aldrich Company, The
• Palomar Pictures

Distributors

• Cinerama Releasing Corporation (1969) (USA) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1972) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (VHS)
• Cinerama Filmgesellschaft MBH (1970) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Dear International (????) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Distribuidora Cinematográfica del Centro (DISCENTRO) (1970) (Spain) (theatrical)
• ABC Video Enterprises (????) (USA) (DVD)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Aventi (2006) (France) (DVD)
• Film Collection, The (????) (UK) (VHS)
• Fremantle Home Entertainment (2001) (UK) (DVD)
• Gerit Oy (????) (Finland) (video)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Scand Video Finland (????) (Finland) (video)

Other Companies

• MGM Sound Department  sound post-production
• Modern Film Effects  titles

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG | Iceland:16 | Australia:M (tv rating) | West Germany:16 | USA:M (original rating) | USA:PG | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Aldrich Studios, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

American Broadcasting Company (ABC)

Trivia:

'Helen Hayes' was considered for a role in this film.

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: A microphone is visible at the sheriff's and Juan's feet in the police station.

Quotes:

Claire Marrable: You are the only mistake I made.
Alice Dimmock: Didn't you ever think you'd be found out?
Claire Marrable: No and I won't be.
Alice Dimmock: Giving yourself away like that...
Claire Marrable: To you? You are a dead woman.
Alice Dimmock: Oh no, I'm alive. See, I'm very much alive. And I'm not gonna be your next victim.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Die, Mommie, Die! (2003)

Whispering Pines in the Desert

Claire Marrable has just lost her husband, her fortune, and her rich and refined way of life. What is a spoiled, wealthy, egotistical woman to do? Why pack up and move to Arizona to be near your nephew, and begin killing housekeepers/live-in companions for their life savings of course. Aunt Claire seemingly has a green thumb as she transplants her housekeepers to the ground and plants a pine tree over them. As we see in the first part of the film, there are at least three pine trees before we see the first woman bashed in the head with a rock and then planted. We then see another housekeeper, Edna Tinsley, killed in similar fashion with a shovel. Now, five pine trees in the desert. Enter Mrs. Dimmock, a woman in disguise as a housekeeper out to find out what happened to her long-time friend Edna. This cat and mouse relationship between Claire and Mrs. Dimmock serves as the basis of the film. This film was produced by Robert Aldrich, who was responsible for bringing us films like Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? and Hush..Hush, Sweet Charlotte. Aldrich made films that had older female protagonists popular in the sixties by giving these starring roles to ladies that were a bit aged and considered passe. Geraldine Page stars in this film as Aunt Claire, and if you had any doubts about her talent as an actress prior to seeing this film, no doubts should have remained afterward. Page is simply stunning. She has an aura and charm about her. She has a wonderfully sadistic and maniacal laugh. She has an ability to take dialogue which would not work for any one else and make it sound meaningful. Her portrayal of this wicked, cruel, greedy woman is one of the best I have seen for roles of this ilk. Aiding Ms. Page is Ruth Gordon. Ms. Gordon gives a very good performance as Mrs. Dimmock out to find the truth no matter what the cost might be. Gordon and Page act and interact very well together, and it is their relationship which really makes this film work. The rest of the cast is okay and the direction is okay, but everything is brought up a notch by the two outstanding performances of these two incredible actresses. After seeing this film twice in two days, I am still stunned at the magnificent performance given by Geraldine Page. WOW!