Widowed construction czar keeps her three grown sons (one a husband and father, another recently engaged, and the third a cross-dresser) squirming under her thumb--but on the anniversary of her marriage to their father, the daughter-in-law and the fiancée attempt to trump the queen bee. Well-produced and directed adaptation of Bill MacIlwraith's play is predictably stagy but also quite lively, with claws out. Bette Davis (in an eyepatch!) was poised to tear down the scenery in the leading role, yet she's more than just a camp monstrosity here. One would be hard-pressed to say that Davis brings dimension and shading to her domineering tyrant, however she does give us a maniacally clever, tightly-wound woman, and it's a memorable portrait. The supporting cast is equally good, and some of the dialogue has bite, however these selfish, repulsive people eventually wear out their welcome. ** from ****
Review of The Anniversary
The Anniversary
(1968)
"Clobbered into silence at last!" .. "No, she's up to something."
18 June 2016