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Die! Die! My Darling!

Die! Die! My Darling!

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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: The dahling Bankhead's finest hour on celluloid.
Review: Tallulah Bankhead is magnificent in her final screen role as a religious fanatic who kidnaps and torments the pretty young dauhter-in-law(Stefanie Powers) she holds responsible for her son's death. This Gothic chiller from Britain's Hammer Films is one of the studio's finest psychological thrillers richly enhanced by the mighty Bankhead's macabre, all-out portrayal which makes this film rank right up there with PSYCHO/BABY JANE, and the other popular shockers of its day. The screenplay was written by Sci-fi/horror master Richard Matheson(THE LEGEND OF HELL HOUSE).

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: The dahling Bankhead's finest hour on celluloid.
Review: Tallulah Bankhead is magnificent in her final screen role as a religious fanatic who kidnaps and torments the pretty young dauhter-in-law(Stefanie Powers) she holds responsible for her son's death. This Gothic chiller from Britain's Hammer Films is one of the studio's finest psychological thrillers richly enhanced by the mighty Bankhead's macabre, all-out portrayal which makes this film rank right up there with PSYCHO/BABY JANE, and the other popular shockers of its day. The screenplay was written by Sci-fi/horror master Richard Matheson(THE LEGEND OF HELL HOUSE).

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: pkay baby jane stlye thriller
Review: the plot is interesting and talullah bankhead and stephanie powers are superb and it is atmospheric, but the film drags along and often moves too slowly to be the riveting thriller that it could and should have been.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Camp classic comes to DVD
Review: This is a film that is great fun if you like Tallulah Bankhead and camp. Bankhead didn't make very many films, especially in her later years, but she did this one basically for the money and because other distinguished actresses (Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Olivia de Havilland, etc.) were making horror films.

In "Die, Die, My Darling", a Hammer production (originally titled "Fanatic" in England where it was filmed), Tallulah plays a religious zealot who cannot get over the death of her son. When her son's former fiancee (Stephanie Powers) arrives to pay her a visit, she becomes more and more enraged when she finds that Powers has participated in all kinds of ungodly things like falling in love again and heaven forbid, wearing make-up! She then traps Powers in her attic where she torments her. It's all quite over the top, offering a minimum of suspense, but it is, nevertheless, quite entertaining.

Bankhead filmed the movie just a few years before she died. She was plagued by a number of health problems at the time (most of them caused by too much drinking and smoking). She wears no make-up, her hair was dyed gray and put in a bun and there were many harsh, unflattering close-ups. Before the film was released, it was shown to Tallulah and a small audience of her friends. After her first scene, she stood up and told everyone, "Darlings, I must apologize for looking older than God's wet nurse."

"Die, Die, My Darling" is a hoot to watch. The role had to have been 180 degrees from Tallulah herself, but she pulls off the role flawlessly. She delivers Bible verses in her sonorous voice in a rapid-fire manner. Her double takes, as in response to Powers appearing in red dress and red lipstick, are hilarious. It was Tallulah's only appearance in a color film and she is practically unrecognizable except for her distinctive voice, which gives her away.

It is great to see this film restored to dvd. The picture has never been sharper - you can actually see a fly buzzing around Tallulah in one scene where she is lying on her bed! The film featured a muted color palette and they appear true and not saturated. The sound (Dolby Digital monaural) is decent for a film over 40 years old. The extras are a disappointment though and feature only three trailers ("Homicidal", "Strait Jacket" and "Mr. Sardonicus").


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