The third in Robert Aldrich's psycho biddy trilogy although he didn't direct this, just produced it. Bernard Girard originally directed and was replaced by Lee Katzin.
The plot has recently widowed Genevieve Page realise she's short of cash so she starts murdering housekeepers who have savings, and lives off said savings. A new housekeeper (Ruth Gordon) proves troublesome because she's looking into the death of a friend.
Page and Gordon are great fun - Page is clearly a bit too young but plays the role to the manor born. You know something, though? This really needed Bette Davis and Joan Crawford and it's a shame Aldrich found both so hard to work with. They simply have more charisma, and were more compelling on screen.
there's also far, far too much time devoted to Page's dull neighbour (Rosemary Forsyth), her young son, and Forsyth's romance with Gordon's nephew (Robert Fuller). Peter Brandon and Joan Huntington are better value as Page's nephew and his wife - but even with them the punches are pulled. If you make a film like this you've got to go for it.
I do love how Page is so smart and figures out Gordon's antics fairly early and Gordon's death is a genuine surprise. It's a solid film, worth watching, but falls short of a classic.
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