‘See terror catch fire!’
Picture Mommy Dead is a 1966 horror thriller film produced and directed by Bert I. Gordon (Earth vs. The Spider; Necromancy; Empire of the Ants) from a screenplay written by Robert Sherman.
The movie stars Don Ameche, Martha Hyer, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Susan Gordon, Maxwell Reed and Wendell Corey.
Gene Tierney was originally announced for a lead role. Then Hedy Lamarr was signed, however, she was fired when she collapsed during filming from nervous exhaustion. She was replaced by Zsa Zsa Gabor.
Plot:
Teenager Susan (Susan Gordon) thinks her father (Don Ameche) killed her mother years ago. Released from an asylum, she is reunited with her father and a new stepmother, but suspicious ongoings threaten to push her over the edge…
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Reviews:
“The plot is heavy on the Gaslighting and is frankly nothing new; where Picture Mommy Dead earns its kudos is in the lean, muscular direction of Gordon and the surprisingly witty script of Robert Sherman, who wrote mainly for television […] the truncated running time and shorthand psychology makes for a fascinating feature.” Daily Dead
” …we should remember that folks acted like hysterical lunatics in most movies back then not just in low-budget horror flicks. Obviously everything was done here sincerely and not as a joke but it is funny– especially if you imagine the characters have no idea how insane they sound and are actually trapped in a surreally overstated melodramatic dimension they can’t escape.” Kindertrauma
“It’s creepy, it’s campy and a wonderfully colorful psychosomatic romp.” The Last Drive-In
” … typical Gordon trash, enlivened by a few crude shock effects and competent performances.” Phil Hardy (editor), The Aurum Film Encyclopedia: Horror
Cast and characters:
Don Ameche … Edward Shelley
Martha Hyer … Francene Shelley
Zsa Zsa Gabor … Jessica Flagmore Shelley
Susan Gordon … Susan Shelley
Maxwell Reed … Anthony Flagmore, the caretaker
Wendell Corey … Lawyer Clayborn
Signe Hasso … Sister René
Anna Lee … Elsie Kornwald
Choice dialogue:
“The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out, in your stomach and out your mouth”
Trailer:
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