I was in the 5th grade at Lighthouse Elementary School when they were filming "The Devil's Daughter" across the street in a beautiful old mansion in Pacific Grove, CA, and also at a cemetery across the street from where I lived. There was a small part of a schoolgirl that I almost got, except they decided to go with a 3rd grader because she was wearing a red sweater which would show up better on screen! I remember going across the street every day, hoping to catch a glimpse of Jonathan Frid whom I loved on "Dark Shadows." I was lucky enough to meet both Jonathan Frid and Shelley Winters, and both were so kind and friendly to a little girl who had dreams of one day being a great actress!! Then when I saw the movie, I was delightedly scared and enjoyed seeing the sites of the town where I lived.
33 Reviews
Not bad considering it was made for TV
The_Void14 December 2006
Well...it seems to me that this film has got something of a better reception than it deserves, but even so; The Devil's Daughter is a more than adequate made for TV story of devil worship. The film takes obvious influence from the likes of Rosemary's Baby as it features a largely innocent character finding herself in the world of demons and their worshippers. The plot focuses on Diane Shaw; a young woman who returns home for her mothers' funeral and is then adopted by a friend of her mother, who also happens to be a devil worshipper. To say any more than that would give too much away, so I won't. The runtime is very short at just 72 minutes, and as such; the film does feel more than a little underdone. However, the just about good enough to hold the audience's attention until the end, which is lucky because The Devil's Daughter's strongest element is its twist ending. The twist at the end is likely to be the only thing you'll remember about the film, and although I wouldn't say it's worth sitting through the entire movie just to see the twist - if you want an example of a made for TV horror movie, you could certainly do a lot worse than this. However, if you want a better version of a similar plot - check out Michele Soavi's excellent 'The Sect'!
After meeting an old friend of her late mother's, a young girl learns that she is part of a pact that her mother made with the devil.
verna5514 September 2000
The plot may sound cheesy, and maybe it is just a little, but this rarely televised made-for-TV horror flick features a marvellous all-star cast, some genuine shocks, and a very surprising ending which all combine to make it a classic horror film worthy of a theatrical release. The wonderful cast includes Shelley Winters, Joseph Cotten, Robert Foxworth, Martha Scott, Jonathan Frid, and Diane Ladd in an early role. It's a nice little gem if you should come across it.
The sort of silly, trashy films that made "The ABC Movie of the Week" so much fun!
planktonrules9 November 2016
If you decide to see "The Devil's Daughter" on YouTube, like I did, be aware that the picture is VERY pink and blurry. It's best watched on a small screen (such as your computer) and as for the pink...well, I guess we're stuck with it unless there's another copy out there somewhere.
When her mother dies, Diane (Belinda Montgomery) is befriended by Lilith (Shelly Winters) who says she is one of her mother's old friends. She invites Diane to live with her and soon she agrees. But Lilith is a weird lady and so are her very odd friends...and Diane is naturally very creeped out by them. So, she moves out and gets a roommate--but she starts having weird dreams. She also is invited to a party at Lilith's home--and she soon discovers these new friends are all Satan worshipers. They also inform her that she's to be wedded to some demon...and not surprisingly, Diane thinks they're all a bunch of nuts.
This is exactly the sort of plot that "The ABC Movie of the Week" did best--and the number of odd, supernatural films they made is huge. Think about it...films about alien impregnation, monsters living in the chimney, aliens turning folks into mindless zombies and witchcraft were the sorts of subjects of many of their productions...so "The Devil's Daughter" seems like a natural! It's creepy, strange and a lot of fun to watch. Not exactly a must see but it sure fits the bill if you want a bit of a fright.
When her mother dies, Diane (Belinda Montgomery) is befriended by Lilith (Shelly Winters) who says she is one of her mother's old friends. She invites Diane to live with her and soon she agrees. But Lilith is a weird lady and so are her very odd friends...and Diane is naturally very creeped out by them. So, she moves out and gets a roommate--but she starts having weird dreams. She also is invited to a party at Lilith's home--and she soon discovers these new friends are all Satan worshipers. They also inform her that she's to be wedded to some demon...and not surprisingly, Diane thinks they're all a bunch of nuts.
This is exactly the sort of plot that "The ABC Movie of the Week" did best--and the number of odd, supernatural films they made is huge. Think about it...films about alien impregnation, monsters living in the chimney, aliens turning folks into mindless zombies and witchcraft were the sorts of subjects of many of their productions...so "The Devil's Daughter" seems like a natural! It's creepy, strange and a lot of fun to watch. Not exactly a must see but it sure fits the bill if you want a bit of a fright.
The Devil takes His due...
DBlackthorne11 May 2006
An aspiring mother makes a pact with The Devil for wealth in exchange for her daughter, who would one day marry Satan's son. She despicably tries to renege on the deal, and is promptly punished for her ingratitude. In an attempt to shoot The Devil, the bullet actually penetrates her own chest. Her daughter 'Diane' {Belinda Montgomery} grows up sheltered in convents and private schools, eventually developing into quite a comely young lady until the day of her mother's funeral, where she meets with Lilith Malone {Shelley Winters}, who graciously offers her to stay at her beautiful home, wherein she begins experiencing nightmares and comes upon little secrets here and there, and her suspicion grows. She becomes fascinated by a certain sigil which she notices being virtually omnipresent at the mansion, on objects, and on jewelry upon suspicious persons, including two rather feather-brained women who act like something out of The Stepford Wives.
Upon meeting a new friend Alice Shaw {Diane Ladd}, she decides to be out on her own, and leaves the comfort of this veritable palace for an apartment. Here and there, Lilith and her cohorts begin appearing, monitoring her. Jonathan Frid {of Barnabas Collins / 'Dark Shadows' fame} plays a mute butler / limousine driver, who seems to feel for the young lady's perceived plight, when all she had to do all along is merely accept her birthright as the "Princess of Darkness'.
One night while at a party thrown by Lilith, Diane drinks a bit too much wherein her repressed carnal expression breaks free and begins lasciviously dancing in the midst of the crowd, who begin hailing her as the said 'Princess of Darkness', as well as 'The Demon of Endor'. Her denial persists, despite her increasing experiences with her own diabolical powers made manifest. She is summoned by a Judge who informs her that her father set up a trust fund for her; who pleasantly agrees to 'give her away' at her impending whirlwind romance and wedding. I thought it rather interesting that she began dating her now dead friend's man, who perished in a freak horse 'accident' {seems that during one of Lilith's unexpected visits, she stealthily lifted a horse figurine from Alice's collection, obviously using it for a Curse}. She meets Steve Stone {Robert Foxworth} and falls horns over hoofs in love. We later come to discover that she meets her true "soul-mate" in his form.
Many surprises await the viewer at the end during The Wedding with a truly delightful twist.
The Devil's Daughter was released around the same time as all the legendary 'devil movies' such as The Devil's Rain, Rosemary's Baby, The Exorcist, and later, The Omen were, which also includes an 'all-star' cast, and otherwise served to launch the career of subsequent stars.
Upon meeting a new friend Alice Shaw {Diane Ladd}, she decides to be out on her own, and leaves the comfort of this veritable palace for an apartment. Here and there, Lilith and her cohorts begin appearing, monitoring her. Jonathan Frid {of Barnabas Collins / 'Dark Shadows' fame} plays a mute butler / limousine driver, who seems to feel for the young lady's perceived plight, when all she had to do all along is merely accept her birthright as the "Princess of Darkness'.
One night while at a party thrown by Lilith, Diane drinks a bit too much wherein her repressed carnal expression breaks free and begins lasciviously dancing in the midst of the crowd, who begin hailing her as the said 'Princess of Darkness', as well as 'The Demon of Endor'. Her denial persists, despite her increasing experiences with her own diabolical powers made manifest. She is summoned by a Judge who informs her that her father set up a trust fund for her; who pleasantly agrees to 'give her away' at her impending whirlwind romance and wedding. I thought it rather interesting that she began dating her now dead friend's man, who perished in a freak horse 'accident' {seems that during one of Lilith's unexpected visits, she stealthily lifted a horse figurine from Alice's collection, obviously using it for a Curse}. She meets Steve Stone {Robert Foxworth} and falls horns over hoofs in love. We later come to discover that she meets her true "soul-mate" in his form.
Many surprises await the viewer at the end during The Wedding with a truly delightful twist.
The Devil's Daughter was released around the same time as all the legendary 'devil movies' such as The Devil's Rain, Rosemary's Baby, The Exorcist, and later, The Omen were, which also includes an 'all-star' cast, and otherwise served to launch the career of subsequent stars.
Play with Rosemary's Baby
wes-connors12 November 2012
After her mother is shot dead by a mysterious disabled man, aspiring artist Belinda Montgomery (as Diane Shaw) meets late funeral attendee Shelley Winters (as Lilith Malone). Sweetly sympathetic, Ms. Winters claims she's a close friend of Ms. Montgomery's mother. With no place to stay in the California town, Montgomery moves in with Winters and her mute chauffeur companion Jonathan Frid (as Mr. Howard). Something sinister is in the works when Winters gives Montgomery a ring designed with an emblem that matches one in a portrait of Satan, hanging prominently above her fireplace...
She doesn't bat an eye at the portrait of Satan, but Montgomery decides to move in with perky Barbara Sammeth (as Susan Sanford), a young woman closer to her own age, This drives Winters nuts. She arranges for fishy friends led by Abe Vigoda to have a devilish "coming out" party for Montgomery. Late in the running time, Montgomery begins a seemingly diversionary romance with architect Robert Foxworth (as Steve Stone). This ludicrous ABC-TV "Movie of the Week" wastes the efforts of a good cast. Especially slighted is Mr. Frid; the popular star of "Dark Shadows" barely registers.
**** The Devil's Daughter (1/9/73) Jeannot Szwarc ~ Belinda Montgomery, Shelley Winters, Robert Foxworth, Jonathan Frid
She doesn't bat an eye at the portrait of Satan, but Montgomery decides to move in with perky Barbara Sammeth (as Susan Sanford), a young woman closer to her own age, This drives Winters nuts. She arranges for fishy friends led by Abe Vigoda to have a devilish "coming out" party for Montgomery. Late in the running time, Montgomery begins a seemingly diversionary romance with architect Robert Foxworth (as Steve Stone). This ludicrous ABC-TV "Movie of the Week" wastes the efforts of a good cast. Especially slighted is Mr. Frid; the popular star of "Dark Shadows" barely registers.
**** The Devil's Daughter (1/9/73) Jeannot Szwarc ~ Belinda Montgomery, Shelley Winters, Robert Foxworth, Jonathan Frid
"Hail Diane - Princess of Darkness"
bensonmum224 February 2008
Warning: Spoilers
After her mother's untimely and violent death, Diane Shaw (Belinda Montgomery) meets a woman named Lilith Malone (Shelley Winters) who claims to be one of her mother's old friends. Lilith invites Diane to stay with her for a while. At first things seem almost ideal, but a series of strange events soon puts a different spin on things. Diane decides to leave Lilith's house, but can't seem to escape her control. Is Lilith who and what she claims to be? Or is she the devil in disguise?
I just love watching Shelley Winters in a movie like this. Although she's in control most of the time, there's at least one scene where Winters loses it that's too much fun. I don't think her turn in The Devil's Daughter is anywhere near her best, but she always a joy. The rest of the cast is good. Jonathan Frid, Abe Vigoda, Diane Ladd, and Joseph Cotton are all good in their respective roles.
I also love these 1970s made-for-TV movies. As I wrote in a comment to another Movie of the Week, young people today would be surprised at how much we enjoyed watching these movies. And if it was horror or horror related, it was something we really looked forward to. Movies like Satan's School for Girls, Gargoyles, and The Night Stalker were the highlights of the television schedule. The Devil's Daughter is another fine example of made-for-TV horror. It's not the best of the bunch, but it is effectively creepy in spots. A few of the scenes, like the party Diane attends where she discovers her titular birthright, are eerily reminiscent of Rosemary's Baby. Overall, it's an enjoyable little film not great by any stretch of the imagination just enjoyable. I would rate it even higher if the screenplay weren't so predictable. I defy anyone who has seen more than a handful of horror to find many surprises in the plot. But even as predictable as the film's climax may be, it's still a trip to watch unfold.
I just love watching Shelley Winters in a movie like this. Although she's in control most of the time, there's at least one scene where Winters loses it that's too much fun. I don't think her turn in The Devil's Daughter is anywhere near her best, but she always a joy. The rest of the cast is good. Jonathan Frid, Abe Vigoda, Diane Ladd, and Joseph Cotton are all good in their respective roles.
I also love these 1970s made-for-TV movies. As I wrote in a comment to another Movie of the Week, young people today would be surprised at how much we enjoyed watching these movies. And if it was horror or horror related, it was something we really looked forward to. Movies like Satan's School for Girls, Gargoyles, and The Night Stalker were the highlights of the television schedule. The Devil's Daughter is another fine example of made-for-TV horror. It's not the best of the bunch, but it is effectively creepy in spots. A few of the scenes, like the party Diane attends where she discovers her titular birthright, are eerily reminiscent of Rosemary's Baby. Overall, it's an enjoyable little film not great by any stretch of the imagination just enjoyable. I would rate it even higher if the screenplay weren't so predictable. I defy anyone who has seen more than a handful of horror to find many surprises in the plot. But even as predictable as the film's climax may be, it's still a trip to watch unfold.
Here's the twist ending!
bribabylk19 January 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Because some people, like me, like to know EVERYTHING about a movie even if they plan to see it, including the ending. Anyway, here's the ending as I remember it, because I couldn't have been more than 8 yrs old when I saw it for the first and only time on TV. But I'll tell ya, it sure scared the little kid that I was, and I thought about it for days afterward, and it still stands out in my mind to this day, even though some of the details are a little vague. Abe Vigoda was in this movie? I don't remember that! I didn't even remember that ol' Barnabus was in this movie, and I LOVED Dark Shadows. So, at the end, the lead character (Belinda Montgomery?) is lured by the Judge (Joseph Cotton, I'm guessing, even though I remember it as him being an old family physician or something instead of a judge; see how memory fades?) to the wedding place, which as I remember it is in a cavern of some kind? Maybe I've got that wrong; and Shelley Winters is there laughing, and the Judge has a cape on, and the camera angle is kind of looking up at him, and he throws back the cloak, and he has goat legs, and he announces he's actually her father, the Devil, and she's played right into their (the satanic cult's) hands, because the "mortal" guy she has fallen in love with (I guess that's Robert Foxworth) turns out also to be the guy Satan wants to marry her off to, The Demon with Yellow Eyes, and yep, sure enough, they show Robert Foxworth, and his eyes glow yellow. There are a lot of close-ups in the last few minutes of the film. Everyone is laughing and rejoicing, except for Belinda Montgomery, who is very unhappy, and cries or screams or something, and that's the end. The bad guys win.
Interesting TV Terror Tale
jimmyhoover-5586117 October 2021
After her mother dies in an apparent suicide, a young woman is taken in by one of her mother's mysterious friends where she meets an array of oddball characters who seem a little too enamored with her from out of the gate. Unfortunately for her, it turns out that she's the daughter of Satan and her new friends want to give her the royal treatment they believe she deserves.
Shelley Winters is fun as the "friend" and a veteran cast of character actors lends great support.
Shelley Winters is fun as the "friend" and a veteran cast of character actors lends great support.
Cheap and Boring Story with Boring Acting. Simply Nothing Here! So ridiculous and boring. I couldn't even laugh at it. It's so bad it's bad.
Bababooe5 June 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Best part is the beginning with the mother begging for her daughter's life. Good sound fx with the cripple dragging his legs. That's it.
All the actors were passable, but boring. Their characters were lame. Diane, the daughter, is jut plane. Her roommate is a bit too happy. Lilith, her mother's friend, was over the top ridiculous. Lilith's man servant is mute but not deaf. We know because Lilith has a big mouth and tells us everything. This butler tries to help Diane, but that leads to nothing. We get the weird white and black sisters, later each holding a cat. The white woman holding a black cat, the black woman with a white cat. Who came up with this genius set? Someone actually thought this was clever and the producers rolled with it. Fish (Abe Vigoda) shows up with a funky accent and a dance routine. A complete joke. Then we have to witness Diane trip dance and the cult chanting.
What an amateur pile of garbage. Diane's roommate dies, then she dates her roommate's boyfriend, and they get married, only to find that her lawyer is actually the devil and everybody is a cult member, including her new husband with the glowing eyes, and his mother.
I've read the other reviews and it seems there are people who like or love this. Some mention Rosemarie's Baby. For the record I think that's a garbage movie as well. Please seek out my review for a complete takedown and analysis why it's trash. Yes, both movies deal with the Devil and their DNA. Both are trash. At least this one is shorter. Both contribute to film pollution.
Boring and simpleton trash. Best to turn it off after watching the beginning, the watch something else or read a book or listen to some John McLaughlin or Black Sabbath.
All the actors were passable, but boring. Their characters were lame. Diane, the daughter, is jut plane. Her roommate is a bit too happy. Lilith, her mother's friend, was over the top ridiculous. Lilith's man servant is mute but not deaf. We know because Lilith has a big mouth and tells us everything. This butler tries to help Diane, but that leads to nothing. We get the weird white and black sisters, later each holding a cat. The white woman holding a black cat, the black woman with a white cat. Who came up with this genius set? Someone actually thought this was clever and the producers rolled with it. Fish (Abe Vigoda) shows up with a funky accent and a dance routine. A complete joke. Then we have to witness Diane trip dance and the cult chanting.
What an amateur pile of garbage. Diane's roommate dies, then she dates her roommate's boyfriend, and they get married, only to find that her lawyer is actually the devil and everybody is a cult member, including her new husband with the glowing eyes, and his mother.
I've read the other reviews and it seems there are people who like or love this. Some mention Rosemarie's Baby. For the record I think that's a garbage movie as well. Please seek out my review for a complete takedown and analysis why it's trash. Yes, both movies deal with the Devil and their DNA. Both are trash. At least this one is shorter. Both contribute to film pollution.
Boring and simpleton trash. Best to turn it off after watching the beginning, the watch something else or read a book or listen to some John McLaughlin or Black Sabbath.
For a 70s horror movie, this one rocked
sgage-19 March 2006
I have remembered that ending for over 30 years.
WAY worth watching.
Chilling.
Anytime I can watch a movie without expecting the ending, which is so common in so many movies, I have to say it's worth watching.
Seventies movies seem to have a "feeling" or "atmosphere" about them that generally make them unpalatable to me. In this case, however, it enhances the storyline to such a degree that I think if it had been made in any other decade, it wouldn't have been as good.
I was 7 when I first saw it and I can tell you it really scared me back then.
WAY worth watching.
Chilling.
Anytime I can watch a movie without expecting the ending, which is so common in so many movies, I have to say it's worth watching.
Seventies movies seem to have a "feeling" or "atmosphere" about them that generally make them unpalatable to me. In this case, however, it enhances the storyline to such a degree that I think if it had been made in any other decade, it wouldn't have been as good.
I was 7 when I first saw it and I can tell you it really scared me back then.
Who could your father possibly be? Could it be SATAN????
mark.waltz8 March 2018
Warning: Spoilers
So would say Dana Carvey's "Church Lady" if he were to meet Belinda J. Montgomery's Diane in this over-the-top macabre horror drama from the golden age of the TV movie: 90 minutes (with commercials) and little to no frills. The frills here are saved for the superb cast which is headed by the mysterious Shelley Winters as Lilith, the friendly old pal of Montgomery's recently deceased mother who had a pact with the devil himself to raise their daughter and turn her over to him after 21 years. That time has passed, and while they haven't seen much of each other, Montgomery is beside herself with grief with the old woman suddenly dies in a horrific accident. The overly friendly Winters (think of her as an over caffeinated Ruth Gordon of "Rosemary's Baby") immediately offers Montgomery a room, but soon, Montgomery wants to find her own independence, something the hot tempered Winters will not hear of. Calming down briefly, Winters decides that these things must be done delicately as to not hurt the spell, and sets into motion her plan of action that indeed will turn Montgomery into the living, breathing, earthbound daughter of the prince of darkness and future empress of the underworld.
The cast is filled with some great veteran actors, with Joseph Cotten as the attorney for Montgomery's mothers estate, Robert Foxworth as the man of Montgomery's dreams (whom she intends to marry to get away from crazy Shelley), Martha Scott as Foxworth's sophisticated mother, Abe Vigoda as one of the members of Winters' circle of friends, Lucille Benson (taking over where Patsy Kelly left off as Gordon's knitting pal in "Rosemary's Baby") as a nosy neighbor, Thelma Carpenter as another pal of Winters (who makes a great apple strudel), and Ian Wolfe as the Catholic priest who tries to steer Montgomery to making the right choices. Winters eats these types of parts for breakfast, so all eyes are on her when she is on screen. Poor Jonathan Frid, aka Barnabas Collins, is completely wasted as Winters' mute chauffer, having no purpose here other than keeping an eye on Montgomery when Winters is busy stirring her cauldron elsewhere. Coming out just as the supernatural craze of films was taking off with "The Exorcist" (and "The Omen" yet to come), this leaves the story open for a sequel, just as "Rosemary's Baby" had done five years before. Even if this could be considered disturbing for its view of seemingly kindly neighbors being involved in such an evil cult, it is best viewed from a camp perspective.
The cast is filled with some great veteran actors, with Joseph Cotten as the attorney for Montgomery's mothers estate, Robert Foxworth as the man of Montgomery's dreams (whom she intends to marry to get away from crazy Shelley), Martha Scott as Foxworth's sophisticated mother, Abe Vigoda as one of the members of Winters' circle of friends, Lucille Benson (taking over where Patsy Kelly left off as Gordon's knitting pal in "Rosemary's Baby") as a nosy neighbor, Thelma Carpenter as another pal of Winters (who makes a great apple strudel), and Ian Wolfe as the Catholic priest who tries to steer Montgomery to making the right choices. Winters eats these types of parts for breakfast, so all eyes are on her when she is on screen. Poor Jonathan Frid, aka Barnabas Collins, is completely wasted as Winters' mute chauffer, having no purpose here other than keeping an eye on Montgomery when Winters is busy stirring her cauldron elsewhere. Coming out just as the supernatural craze of films was taking off with "The Exorcist" (and "The Omen" yet to come), this leaves the story open for a sequel, just as "Rosemary's Baby" had done five years before. Even if this could be considered disturbing for its view of seemingly kindly neighbors being involved in such an evil cult, it is best viewed from a camp perspective.
Satan claims his own
bkoganbing6 January 2019
The 70s were the decade of The Exorcist and The Omen which spawned dozens
of imitations, films about devil worship. The Devil's Daughter is one of the
illegitimate offspring of these two classics.
Way back in the day Diane Ladd made a deal with old Scratch that he could have her daughter when she came of age. Now that she's grown up to become Belinda J. Montgomery it's time to collect. The leader of his local cult group Shelley Winters acts as the enforcement agent.
Besides those mentioned a lot of players like Joseph Cotten and Martha Scott were looking for work and took what they could. They and younger folks like Jonathan Frid and Robert Foxworth and Abe Vigoda look mighty silly in this one. Shelley Winters overacts outrageously as did Bette Davis of old because she knows this one's a Thanksgiving special.
Way back in the day Diane Ladd made a deal with old Scratch that he could have her daughter when she came of age. Now that she's grown up to become Belinda J. Montgomery it's time to collect. The leader of his local cult group Shelley Winters acts as the enforcement agent.
Besides those mentioned a lot of players like Joseph Cotten and Martha Scott were looking for work and took what they could. They and younger folks like Jonathan Frid and Robert Foxworth and Abe Vigoda look mighty silly in this one. Shelley Winters overacts outrageously as did Bette Davis of old because she knows this one's a Thanksgiving special.
Of the genre, not bad at all
willowgreen23 February 2003
Only having seen this TV movie once, back in 1973 when it originally aired, I can only say that it did a commendable job entertainment-wise, it being rather unusual in its day for depicting the theme of witchcraft. Belinda Montgomery is lured by the seemingly charming Shelley Winters (as Lilith) - a "friend" of her deceased mother - into a ghastly nightmare. I vaguely remember Winter's performance as being marvelously hammy: it seemed she relished playing this off-beat role. And I remember being semi-thrilled at seeing Jonathan Frid (Barnabas Collins in the cult TV favourite gothic soap DARK SHADOWS) cast in a bit as the mute chauffeur. Interestingly enough, I was visiting my Grandparents in Pacific Grove, California when this movie was shot there. Scenes were shot on location in the cemetery across from Point Pinos Lighthouse and at a mansion & elementary school on Lighthouse Avenue.
Rosemary's 21-year-old Babe
Coventry5 February 2017
Why is Roman Polanski's "Rosemary's Baby" one of the greatest and most atmospheric horror classics in history? Because the suspense broods slowly and the direction the story is heading towards to remains mysterious
Very mysterious! For most of the running time, you didn't have a clue that we were dealing with an almost entire cast full devil-worshipers because they were behaving so damn normal and civilized. Of course, Polanski's original classic was the only movie that could benefit from this surprise twist and you can't really blame "The Devil's Daughter" (or any of the other two-hundred "Rosemary's Baby" rip-offs, for that matter) for knowing from beforehand that every cast-member is a Satanist. So, no matter how hard Shelley Winters and Abe Vigoda try to come across as gentle and friendly elderly folks, they simply have "evil disciple" written all over their forehead! This naturally doesn't take away the fact that "The Devil's Daughter" is an enjoyable and competently made TV-movie from the early 70s; complete with an impressive ensemble cast and a more than talented director behind the cameras (Jeannot Swarc, who would later direct the fantastic but underrated creature-feature "Bug" and the first and only worthwhile sequel to "Jaws"). The story opens with a cameo appearance by Diane Ladd as the mother who refuses to keep a promise she made to Satan the Dark Lord himself around 21 years ago when her only daughter Diane was born. Satan, who doesn't show his face but walks around on crutches, obviously doesn't like betrayal and orders his minions to kill her. At her funeral, the unsuspecting Diana accepts an invitation from the caring Lilith Malone – allegedly a close friend of her mother – to move in with her. Lilith throws many parties and introduces Diane to several of her prominent friends, but she also gets very mad when the young girl announces that she wants to move in with her friend Susan. But then, Diane falls in love with Susan's hunky boyfriend Steve
"The Devil's Daughter" occasionally gives the impression of being very tedious and drawn-out, but that's probably just because you know exactly what will happen. The last 10-15 minutes, on the other hand, are very intense and chilling. There's even an ingenious mini-twist just before the climax that I really appreciated! The cast is a pleasure to glaze at, with stellar performances from the aforementioned Winters and Vigoda, but also from Jonathan Frid ("Dark Shadows"), Ian Wolfe, Robert Foxworth and the fantastic classic actor Joseph Cotton.
Love Shelley Winters
colbertmark-6590116 April 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Shelley is gold in this. She really plays these type of characters well.
Not a bad film. A little over an hour long. I was a little confused why Diane immediately started dating her dead friends' boyfriend. Didn't quite feel right.
Lots of known great actors, i enjoyed it.
Watched it for free on Youtube.
Not a bad film. A little over an hour long. I was a little confused why Diane immediately started dating her dead friends' boyfriend. Didn't quite feel right.
Lots of known great actors, i enjoyed it.
Watched it for free on Youtube.
Disappointed In This One
Rainey-Dawn5 September 2019
This one was a big let down... I expected more I guess because usually the 1970s made-for-TV films are usually pretty good but I was disappointed with this one.
A woman finds out that he's married a cult member and the devil is her father... great idea but it dragged on in several places... should have cut out some of those drawn out scenes and added some thing to the ending after the marriage.
4/10
A woman finds out that he's married a cult member and the devil is her father... great idea but it dragged on in several places... should have cut out some of those drawn out scenes and added some thing to the ending after the marriage.
4/10
Hail Diane, Princess of Darkness.
Hey_Sweden14 October 2016
Warning: Spoilers
The lovely and appealing Belinda Montgomery (who may be best known for playing Doogie Howser's mom on TV) stars here as Diane Shaw, whose long unseen mother Alice (Diane Ladd) has just met a bad end. The naive and trusting Diane then meets other people who knew her mom, like the solicitous Lilith Malone (Shelley Winters) and her mute chauffeur / butler Mr. Howard (Jonathan Frid of 'Dark Shadows' fame, stuck in a thankless role). Diane soon learns that these people are part of a Satan worshipping cult who insist that Diane is none other than the spawn of Alice and Old Scratch.
For the most part, this is just a little too patently predictable. It reminded this viewer of the later theatrical production "Race with the Devil", where one begins to wonder if most of the characters in this sordid tale are not to be trusted. Also, if one has seen enough 70s movies, both theatrical and made for television, they come to expect a not so happy ending, and 'The Devil's Daughter' (scripted by Colin Higgins, "Nine to Five", "Harold and Maude") doesn't deviate from the formula. It's all given adequate if not inspired treatment by director Jeannot Szwarc ("Bug", "Jaws 2", "Somewhere in Time"). Some horror fans may come away somewhat disappointed as there really aren't that many moments that qualify as scary stuff.
The production did cast a number of great faces for roles large and small. Winters is allowed to chew the scenery, as she so often did. Among the co-stars who put on their best poker faces for the material: Robert Foxworth as a boyfriend, Martha Scott as his mother, Joseph Cotten as a judge, Lucille Benson and Thelma Carpenter as the Poole sisters, Abe Vigoda as Alikhine, and Ian Wolfe and Robert Cornthwaite as priests.
Worth sitting through for the big finale, which has a surprise in store but a minimum of cheese.
Six out of 10.
For the most part, this is just a little too patently predictable. It reminded this viewer of the later theatrical production "Race with the Devil", where one begins to wonder if most of the characters in this sordid tale are not to be trusted. Also, if one has seen enough 70s movies, both theatrical and made for television, they come to expect a not so happy ending, and 'The Devil's Daughter' (scripted by Colin Higgins, "Nine to Five", "Harold and Maude") doesn't deviate from the formula. It's all given adequate if not inspired treatment by director Jeannot Szwarc ("Bug", "Jaws 2", "Somewhere in Time"). Some horror fans may come away somewhat disappointed as there really aren't that many moments that qualify as scary stuff.
The production did cast a number of great faces for roles large and small. Winters is allowed to chew the scenery, as she so often did. Among the co-stars who put on their best poker faces for the material: Robert Foxworth as a boyfriend, Martha Scott as his mother, Joseph Cotten as a judge, Lucille Benson and Thelma Carpenter as the Poole sisters, Abe Vigoda as Alikhine, and Ian Wolfe and Robert Cornthwaite as priests.
Worth sitting through for the big finale, which has a surprise in store but a minimum of cheese.
Six out of 10.
Old Nick really gets around you know!
hitchcockthelegend14 October 2014
Little known and under seen, this is an efficient "Devil's Spawn" movie that admittedly features stars working for food. Shelley Winters, Joseph Cotten and Diane Ladd head the cast list as a young woman comes to realise that her guardians are devil worshipping nutters!
It's all a bit "Rosemary's Baby" lite, but there's a splendid array of off-kilter characters and bizarro abodes. Director Jeannot Szwarc (Jaws 2) is clever enough to use canted angles to enhance the trippy black arts undercurrents, while Winters is having a grand old time of it. The big telegraph pole pointing the way to the finale is hard to miss, but surprisingly the denouement still packs a worthwhile punch.
You would be very angry if you based your Halloween night around this viewing, but as TV Satan Worship movies go, it's not half bad. 6/10
It's all a bit "Rosemary's Baby" lite, but there's a splendid array of off-kilter characters and bizarro abodes. Director Jeannot Szwarc (Jaws 2) is clever enough to use canted angles to enhance the trippy black arts undercurrents, while Winters is having a grand old time of it. The big telegraph pole pointing the way to the finale is hard to miss, but surprisingly the denouement still packs a worthwhile punch.
You would be very angry if you based your Halloween night around this viewing, but as TV Satan Worship movies go, it's not half bad. 6/10
Creepy Shelley Winters!
staytherelass7 April 2004
From 1973 and obviously ROSEMARY'S BABY inspired,this has a great cast:Shelley Winters,Belinda Montgomery,Robert Foxworth,Joseph Cotton,and Jonathan"Barnabas"Frid as a mute butler.The 70s tv devil movies are all creepy.Very eerie in atmosphere with a young and pretty Diane attending her mother's funeral where she meets a very friendly Lillith who offers the girl a place when she lears Diane has nowhere to go.Unknown to Diane was that her mother used to be in a satanic cult with Lillith and her daughter was wanted by the cult.Diane discovers the truth,but,of course,too late.With a great spooky ending you'll never forget,TDDD is a neat little slice of tv horror.
Hammy Rosemary's Baby type horror
Leofwine_draca5 July 2015
THE DEVIL'S DAUGHTER is one of those atmospheric US TV movies that were churned out in the early to mid 1970s across the Atlantic. These films have invariably held up well for modern audiences, making up for their lack of budget and explicitness with a ton of spooky atmosphere and interesting stories. THE DEVIL'S DAUGHTER is no exception, exploring the fate of a beautiful young woman who gradually comes to learn that her soul was sold to Satan at birth.
Much of the film consists of the girl being tormented and haunted by a group of very sinister neighbours, led by the expert ham Shelley Winters whose larger-than-life personality dominates every scene in which she appears. Belinda J. Montgomery is an acceptable heroine, but it's the weird characters in support who really stick out here: Jonathan Frid (DARK SHADOWS) as a mute, Abe Vigoda and Rozelle Gayle as a sinister double act. It's also great fun to see Joseph Cotten in his minor role as a kindly friend of the family, and Diane Ladd has a cameo at the start.
THE DEVIL'S DAUGHTER is a slow moving movie that gradually builds up its tension to be unleashed at a low key but surprisingly impressive climax that manages to reach the pinnacle of true horror in just a few brief scenes. Special effects here are kept to a minimum, but that spooky atmosphere just doesn't let up.
Much of the film consists of the girl being tormented and haunted by a group of very sinister neighbours, led by the expert ham Shelley Winters whose larger-than-life personality dominates every scene in which she appears. Belinda J. Montgomery is an acceptable heroine, but it's the weird characters in support who really stick out here: Jonathan Frid (DARK SHADOWS) as a mute, Abe Vigoda and Rozelle Gayle as a sinister double act. It's also great fun to see Joseph Cotten in his minor role as a kindly friend of the family, and Diane Ladd has a cameo at the start.
THE DEVIL'S DAUGHTER is a slow moving movie that gradually builds up its tension to be unleashed at a low key but surprisingly impressive climax that manages to reach the pinnacle of true horror in just a few brief scenes. Special effects here are kept to a minimum, but that spooky atmosphere just doesn't let up.
"Hail Diane, princess of darkness..."
Vince-51 May 2001
Obviously inspired by Rosemary's Baby, this obscure ABC-TV movie is still quite entertaining in its own right. The amazing cast goes full tilt, with the ever-delightful Shelley Winters taking top honors as Lilith. Though slightly hampered by overall TV stylings, it features an ample amount of tension, an imaginative opening credits sequence of flames and silhouettes, and an explosive, nightmarish twist ending. Be warned, though--The Devil's Daughter is very difficult to find. I saw it on the Sci-Fi Channel a few years ago and haven't been able to locate it since. Interestingly, it runs an hour and a half with commercials, whereas most TV movies run two hours. Fun, scary, and short!
Benefited from the Eerie Atmosphere and Subtle Horror
Uriah4318 December 2018
This film begins with a woman named "Alice Shaw" (Diane Ladd) walking home from church only to find two strange men in her living room waiting for her. When they tell her they are here for her daughter she refuses to tell them anything. Then when another man comes in on crutches she becomes exceedingly fearful and threatens to shoot him. Unfortunately, when she fires the bullet kills her instead. The next scene has a young woman named "Diane Shaw" (Belinda Montgomery) at the cemetery where her mother is being laid to rest. As she turns to walk away she is greeted by a woman named "Lilith Malone" (Shelley Winters) who claims to be a good friend of her mother and offers to let Diane stay at her house since she has come from another city for the funeral. Diane accepts the invitation but soon begins to realize that things are not as they seem. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this was a pretty good made-for-television movie which benefited from the eerie atmosphere and subtle horror from start to finish. Admittedly, there were parts which were quite predictable but it was still a decent film all the same and I have rated it accordingly. Slightly above average.
Classic 1970's, made for TV horror film supports a great cast and a memorable surprise ending!
cerebral-329 September 2000
Although the "devil's gonna get you" plot may have been an over-kill of the 1970's horror flicks, this film deserves merit for a memorable surprise ending and a seasoned cast including: Shelley Winters, Joseph Cotton, Robert Foxworth, Jonathan Frid and Martha Scott. It would have been a worthy film to make into video!
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