Characterisation often took a back seat to the heros story.
Being as driven as she was, she was determined not to be put out to pasture.
In 1962 she placed the following advert in Variety Mother of three10, 11 & 15divorcee.
Thirty years experience as an actress in Motion Pictures.
Mobile still and more affable than rumor would have it.
Wants steady employment in Hollywood.
(Has had Broadway).
Its a grand, demented performance.
Its a thriller that makes the most of Davis ability to underplay the character.
So Hammers first collaboration with Davis was a layered, intriguing film.
There are big psychological issues here, but they elicit no sympathy.
The film had difficulties.
Early on original director Alvin Rakoff clashed with Davis and was replaced with Roy Ward Baker.
It does remain quite obviously an adapted stage play, and has that verbose, static feel throughout.
But Davis is marvellous in it, and so is Sheila Hancock.
The two women fight with a real ferocity.
How can she escape from such a place?
What options does she really have in that situation?
Again, the female roles inThe Witchesare generally more rewarding than the male roles.
In particular, Kay Walsh is very good as the woman who owns the private school in the village.
As a final thought, Hammer made a thriller at the end of the 1960s calledCrescendo.
Alas, Crawford wasnt interested, and the project was dropped for a few years.
He had died of a drug overdose months earlier.
If Fontaine and Davis were difficult, Crawford would have been no less demanding.
But then, maybe such great stars were always going to be hard work for Hammer.
