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Thanks for the memories!

Such a frustrating disappointment

I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.

I have been a huge Bette Davis fan for as long as I can remember. I had seen almost all of her films, but when this one popped up on a choice of possible rentals, I thought, "Oh, I must add this one to the list." Wrong. It is incomprehensible to me why Bette agreed to do this POS. It is beyond awful. Yes, there are funny lines throughout; it's what one might call a "black comedy." But from the beginning to end, the production values are so incredibly cheap that my main thought was "Bette must have been desperate." From the quality of the film, to the lighting, to the ghastly, hideous "locations," to the "story," everything was wrong. My husband and I decided that a baboon could have shot a better movie than this. Since this was originally a play, apparently the powers that be felt it should also be a play on screen. People stand in one place for a long time. The "shocking moments" (the older brother playing "dress up" and the young fiancée finding Bette's glass eye in bed) are not seen, only screamed at. For inexplicable reasons, there is a stuffed cockatoo in the garden... because...? Then... watch Bette as she sets off firecrackers!Watch people scream and shout at each other and walk from room to room!As others have pointed out, this film was surely a must-see for any budding female impersonator who wanted to hone his "Bette" skills. It's all there: the big eyes! (or in this case, "eye"), the grand, sweeping, over-the-top sashaying , the scenery chewing, the hard, staccato delivery, the hideous tight wigs! There is not one redeemable moment in this whole film. Not a single person is likable nor could you relate to any of them -- unless you are deficient in character. Watching this was like having an awful meal; you've paid for it, you suffer through it, you ask yourself why you did it, you are haunted by it, and for the rest of your life it will float to the top of your memory banks, jeering at you, reminding you of how stupid you were to participate in it. I am fairly certain this is the worst "film" I have ever seen. If you love Bette Davis, like I used to, do yourself a favor and do not ever, ever, ever watch this pathetic, horrible, insulting POS. You are missing nothing , unless you like watching garbage for two hours.

The Anniversary was made at a time where Hammer took a break from monsters and Gothic horrors, and a good example of Hammer excelling at doing something different from what they usually do.On the most part, it is a very good film, and at its best great. It occasionally gets a little too theatrical and stagy, and the ending makes most wish that such a monstrous character got what she deserved, it just felt too convenient.It is very well-made though, with Harry Waxman's excellent cinematography with lush use of colour being one of the best things about the film, and costumes and sets suitable for both stage and film and in a way that fit with the atmosphere well. The music refrains from being too melodramatic, and matches the fun and scary factors just fine. The Anniversary is very well scripted by Jimmy Sangster, with some bleakly funny moments and lots of chilling scares while not being afraid in giving the film some nuances, and expertly directed by Roy Ward Baker. The story is not always perfectly executed, but on the most part it is interesting and has some intelligently done conflicts and a good atmosphere. Plays don't always translate well into films, but The Anniversary does, even if you can tell where it came from.Bette Davis has never had a more monstrous character, and she sinks her teeth into the role and easily is the one that makes the film. Her performance is chillingly vicious and dominates the film brilliantly. She is well-supported by Sheila Hancock, Jack Hedley and particularly James Cossins, who while nowhere near in the same ball-park as Davis still more than hold their own against her.All in all, a very good and well done film, that is worth watching for the cinematography and especially Davis' performance. 8/10 Bethany Cox

I'm a big Bette Davis fan but for the life of me I can't understand how anyone can see this as a triumph or one of her best.Saying this film is great is like saying the nazi's were just kidding around. How anyone can like a film where this character she plays is this nasty and miserable is beyond my comprehension. I mean I know this is simply for entertainment value but god almighty, where is this a good film? Ms. Davis plays a matriarchal character who has a son who has a transvestite fetish and proceeds to get caught stealing some womans undies. He tries to get away but he's leaves his brothers car behind cause he cant find the keys. The mother proceeds to tell the other son, who owns the car, that she will turn him into the police because she doesn't want him to go to Canada. What a Mother.The son with the car is so scared of his mother that it's just pathetic. She finally proceeds to tell him in the end that she never loved/liked him so he goes off with is wife, who hates the mother more than anyone, to Canada. The mother proceeds to call her lawyer to tell her she's filing a $5,000 suit against them and to also call immigration on them before they go to Canada. What a mother.The last son brings home a future bride who the mother doesn't take too kindly too much the girl stands her ground. Then the mother proceeds to see the future brides ears and endlessly harps on those viciously. To get back at his mother the last son convinces his future bride to have sex in his mothers bed. The mother leaves her glass eye(dear ole mom has one eye BTW) under her pillow and the future bride finds it, and almost has a miscarriage where the response by dear ole mom is...oh well, didn't want her to have it any way.How can anyone like this? I mean this film is decently made and casting isn't too bad but geez, how could anyone root for someone this cruel?

"Whatever happened to baby Jane" was a turning point in Bette Davis's career."Hush hush sweet Charlotte "was almost as good ,and she got first-class support from De Havilland,Cotten and Moorehead.With "the nanny" ,and without a Robert Aldrich to direct,the formula began to wear thin."The nanny" is an interesting work for fantasy and horror buffs though.I expected much of "the anniversary" probably too much.This movie comes one or two decades too late.All we see on the screen ,Tennessee Williams had invented it long before ,with his classy plays such as "the cat on the hot tin roof" and "suddenly last Summer" .Is there only a director here?It's so talky that it looks like a bad filmed stage production.One-eyed Davis overacts (why do you suppose she's like that?don't worry,you will find out) and as she has no Crawford or De Havilland to counterbalance ,she becomes a caricature of herself.There are so many films where Davis is brilliant! Why would you chose this one among all her awesome filmography?