Movie review of The Bad Seed

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The Bad Seed

July 30th 2007 01:04

Stage productions often end up as stilted film adaptations, but there are exceptions to the rule. It is very rare, however, for a horror film to have started life on Broadway, as this 1956 movie did. The Bad Seed initially won a Tony Award for one of the lead actors, and when the film was made it went on to receive four Academy Award nominations.

Based on a novel by William March, which in turn was adapted into a stage play, and then into a movie (which was subsequently remade for TV in 1985), The Bad Seed is an intriguing and insidious suspense thriller with dark horrific undertones. It has become a bonefide cult classic popular among the gay cinema circuit due to many of its “camp” and “outsider” elements.

Patty McCormack as Rhoda

Plagued by recurring nightmares noted to her childhood, Christine Penmark (Nancy Kelly) is a troubled woman, yet she appears to have a lovely life, despite her military husband leaving for weeks at a time. Her “perfect” eight-year-old daughter Rhoda (Patty McCormack) commands quite a bit of attention, and is adored by both parents and her aunt Monica (Evelyn Varden)

Papa gives his daughter a basketful of hugs

When a classmate of Rhoda’s wins a penmanship medal which Rhoda felt she should have won she commits murder, and thus reveals her true colours. It is subsequently revealed that young Rhoda also orchestrated the death of an elderly neighbour who promised her a valuable trinket when after she dies. When the household handyman Leroy (Henry Jones) teases and taunts little Rhoda, seemingly knowing of her murderous schemes, Rhoda makes plans for him too.

Leroy, aunt Monica, mom and Rhoda

Meanwhile Christine questions her father, a former crime reporter, about her childhood and learns she was adopted, and that her real mother was a vicious killer who was executed for snuffing out her entire family for money and sadistic kicks. It seems poor Christine gave birth to a bad seed indeed.

Nancy Kelly as Christine

There are the distinctive traits of 50s filmmaking; the fashion (denim jeans and designer sunglasses) and the subject matter was very modern, bordering on subversive. However the censorship powers of the time - the Hays Production Code - exerted their control over the movie and forced Warner Brothers to tag on a ludicrous post-narrative ending that is uncongruous, risible and altogether insulting to the audience (however it probably adds to the film’s camp appeal, along with many of the period lines of dialogue; “What would you give me for a basketful of kisses?”).

So shocking was the movie’s plot ending that a statement made by the producers comes up on screen just before the end credits, requesting viewers not to reveal the climax to other potential cinema-goers. It’s debatable just how “shocking” the end is, but in its own way it is fitting justice.

The Bad Seed Eileen Heckart and Patty McCormack

Eileen Heckart as Hortense

What stands out most clearly in The Bad Seed are the performances; Tony Award winner Nancy Kelly as tortured mother and wife Christine, Eileen Heckart as Hortense, the drunken mother of young victim Claude Daigle, Henry Jones as sneaky ol’ Leroy, and, of course, Patty McCormack as ruthless Rhoda. It’s not surprising Nancy, Eileen and Patty all received Oscar nominations (Patty and Eileen also received Golden Globe nominations of which Eileen won for supporting actress – and so she should, a damn fine portrayal of a ruined mother; “I’m drunk. It’s a pleasure to stay drunk when your little boy’s been killed.”)

Mirror, mirror, on the wall ...

The film also received an Oscar nod for its exceptional black and white cinematography, even if the movie does suffer from being too theatrical in its staging (the action takes place mostly in the household living area and scenes are often two-hander dialogues). Still there are some effective scenes that occur outside the house, especially the brilliant stand-off between Rhoda and Leroy over her shoes; “Give me back those shoes Leroy! Give them back! They’re mine!” Rhoda was one creepy little devil’s princess.

Silhouette of evil

No doubt this is a film some people are aching for to be remade. And sure enough it will be. But who would be cast? Dakota Fanning as Rhoda perhaps? She’s probably too old already …
The characters are all so richly etched in the 1956 original the producers of a big screen remake would need to think long and hard about the right casting. But enough about a possible remake!

Divine intervention

The Bad Seed was brought to my attention by my fiancé, whom watched it with her mother late one night on TV many years ago, and both were chilled by its seductive evil. The movie is available on DVD, but we could only find an old VHS copy, and in a way it added to the movie’s vintage melodrama and sinister atmosphere.

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Posted By: Bryn - Category: movie reviews

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Comments

8 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by KylieW

July 30th 2007 01:55

Celebrity Obsession

Wow, a horror movie that started as a stage production. I wouldn't have expected that at all.

That little girl looks creepy even in those photo's! Just a little bit too sweet and cute.

Comment by Damo

July 30th 2007 02:03

Bryn
I like this review and I like old creepy movies.

You should start a TV guide and let us know when the good movies comes on.

Comment by Bryn

July 30th 2007 03:12

Horrorphile

Ahh, it's my favourite "duo" ... cheers guys!
Kylie, hunt this gem down, a treat to watch with mates ...
Damo, thanks for the props ... I'm certainly thinking of collating all of my Pleasure of Nightmare posts for a project further down the track ... (and yeah, I could do a better job than ol' Doug whatshisface)

Comment by Nickoftime's Sanity Corner

July 30th 2007 13:24

Bryn,

this is still a timeless classic...it was creepy back then and it's still creepy now...

LOL

Great review and pics by the way!

Take care,

Nick

Comment by Cibbuano

July 31st 2007 00:04

Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak

oh yeah, I've seen this years ago... man, is it haunting.

Little girls are so creepy...

Comment by Bryn

July 31st 2007 01:26

Horrorphile

Nick, yeah I love the mirror shot ...
Cibby, Patty McCormack was brilliant.
But I love the performances of both Henry Jones (Leroy) and Eileen Heckart (Hortense)