"Whatever Happened to Aunt Alice" (1969) is another in the line of crazy old lady movies that became popular with "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?" in 1962. That film was directed by Robert Aldrich; here he is the producer, and turned over directing to Lee Katzen, known more for his TV work. This film has the look of a TV movie somewhat; the editing, the style, etc. The story is strange: a nutty widow (Geraldine Page) left penniless by her husband embarks on a way to make money: hire elderly female companions to work for her. Of course, the women have tidy savings, and so she kills them to get the cash, then buries them under a newly planted tree in her garden. Enter Ruth Gordon, who is suspicious when one of her dear friends goes missing after working for the widow. She goes "undercover" as a maid and is hired by Page. Stangely enough, Page takes to Gordon's character, and although she bullies and belittles her like she does her other companions, it is clear she respects her in an odd way. The story gets complicated; of course Ruth Gordon knows she has killed her friend, and the two have it out in a fairly violent scene. Ruth Gordon is charming and spunky here, fresh off her Oscar-winning role in "Rosemary's Baby." But is it Geraldine Page who is the real star of this B-film. She elevates the bizarre script with her wonderful acting; playing her character with all the venom she can muster, but hidden beneath a layer of ladylike charm. This odd little film is worth checking out, especially if you are a fan of Page or Gordon.
Review of What Ever Happened to Aunt Alice?
