Picture Mommy Dead (1966)

Too much of everything

Thanks for the memories!

Did you people see the same film I saw?

As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.

If Bert I. Gordon directed a masterpiece, it would have to be this. Not only does it have the best cast of all his schlock operas, it has the best plot. Little Susan Gordon (Bert's daughter) is released from a "convent" three years after her mother's mysterious death to find dad Don Ameche(!) married to her one time governess (Martha Hyer). Hyer and her creepy ex-lover rekindle their romance while trying to eliminate both Ameche and Gordon. Gordon meanwhile is menaced by hallucinations of her mother (Zsa Zsa Gabor). Ameche appears to be taking this all very seriously and Hyer plays her sultry vixen bit to the hilt. Gabor has virtually no dialogue. The once great character actor Wendall Corey has a very outlandish cameo has Gabor's lawyer. It's horrible, but by director Gordon's standards it's brilliant.

This is one of schlock producer Bert I Gordon's best films. After watching her mother Jessica (Zsa Zsa Gabor) die in a mysterious fire, young Susan Shelley (Susan Gordon) is sent to a convent/mental hospital where she remains for three years. In the meantime, her father Edward (Don Ameche) has married Susan's former governess, Francene (Martha Hyer) who is also his former mistress. After Susan's release from the hospital, she returns with her father and stepmother to the family estate. Immediately, the familiar surroundings bring back visions of her dead mother, as well as a gnawing suspicion that it was she herself who is responsible for her mother's death. Meanwhile, the money-hungry Francene, who has exhausted her husband's share of his late wife's bequest, begins a campaign to return Susan to the hospital for good--thereby gaining the half million dollar inheritance held in trust for her. Enlisting the help of Susan's cousin Anthony (British actor Maxwell Reed and former husband of Joan Collins), Francene also seeks to learn the whereabouts of a magnificent diamond necklace she is sure Susan has hidden. An atmospheric production, filmed at the old Doheny estate in Beverly Hills, the scene of many subsequent films, an attractive musical score by Robert Drasnin, and fine acting by all (including Miss Gordon, the director's daughter) give this murder mystery spice. And the beautiful Martha Hyer gives it class. Look for screen veterans Signe Hasso (as a nun) Wendell Corey (as the family lawyer) and Anna Lee (as a friend of Jessica). A very good novelization of the screenplay was written by screenwriter Robert Sherman. Incidentally, the pressbook synopsis has a different ending!

I saw this on TV way back when -- it was the only thing on in prime time, so of course we had to watch it -- and had forgotten the title. Then I saw a picture of Martha Hyer on ebay a few minutes ago and wondered where I'd seen her.Ta DAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Also in The Carpetbaggers.This movie was terrible. Don Ameche and Zsa Zsa Gabor were right at home.What other movie this bad sticks in the mind of a boy who was 8 at the time?Martha Hyer was that captivating.The ending is a shock but does not really justify watching the whole thing.And who wasn't happy when Don Ameche finally got his Oscar?If only I could write Martha Hyer a fan letter, I sure would.

During the early 1970's, channel 05 (KTLA-TV) showed the same movie during an entire week. This film was one of them.I always enjoy this un-horror film. It was enjoyable seeing the extravagant life-style of a privileged, but not-so-wealthy dysfunctional family.The late Don Ameche and the not-so-late Zsa Zsa Gabor were a delight. I highly recommend this film for those over 30 years of age.