The inheritance of a wicked woman who expired mysteriously in a fire is contended by her alternately scheming, resentful and disturbed surviving family members. After years pillaging the Sci-Fi genre, the director turns his attention this time out to the 'Grand Guignol'-type thrillers popularized by Robert Aldrich's WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE? (1962); to his credit, Gordon's contribution – though essentially dreary – is no worse than most efforts in this vein
but therein lies the problem, for we have all been here once too often. Typically, we have a fine cast letting their hair down, in this case: Don Ameche (as the patriarch), Martha Hyer (as his daughter's governess, whom he loves), Wendell Corey (possibly inebriated judging from his slurred delivery of lines!) as the family lawyer, Signe Hasso (as the nun who raised Ameche's traumatized daughter), Zsa Zsa Gabor (as Ameche's late, egotistical wife) and Anna Lee (as a society matron). Also involved in the sinister goings-on are the director's own daughter Susan (the progeny of Ameche and Gabor) and menacing, facially-scarred butler Maxwell Reed. Interestingly, the film starts with Gabor's death which is elaborated upon intermittently throughout the film in red-tinted flashbacks and comes full circle with history repeating itself
only with a different, if equally deceitful, victim this time around. Apparently, Gene Tierney and Hedy Lamarr were considered for the roles eventually played by Hyer and Gabor!
Review of Picture Mommy Dead
