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Following the unexpected box-office hit What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962), director Robert Aldrich wanted to re-team stars Joan Crawford and Bette Davis. He thought he had the perfect property in Hush…Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964), based on the short story Hush NowSweet Charlotte by Henry Farrell who had also written What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?. The working title was What Ever Happened to Cousin Charlotte?, which was changed because Bette Davis thought the public would think it was a sequel. Davis herself said, “They had already composed a song for the film, and I liked it. It was sort of a lullaby that started off with Hush, hush, sweet Charlotte, and I suggested that might be a better title.
Since Davis and Crawford did not get along despite their very public denials, it is not surprising that Joan quit the film, claiming she was ill. She had accepted the role only on the condition that her name come first in billing. Davis agreed, but only if she were paid more and she ended up making the same as Aldrich who directed and produced it.
Alain Silver and James Ursini wrote in their book Whatever Happened to Robert Aldrich?, “Reputedly, Crawford was still incensed by Davis attitude on Baby Jane and did not want to be upstaged again, as Davis nomination for Best Actress convinced her she had been. Crawford worked only four days in all of July. Because she had told others that she was feigning illness to get out of the movie entirely, Aldrich was in an even worse position”…Desperate to resolve the situation, “Aldrich hired a private detective to record her [Crawfords] movements.” When shooting was suspended indefinitely on August 4, the production insurance company insisted that either Crawford be replaced or the production cancelled. Aldrich approached Katharine Hepburn, who didnt return the studios calls, and Vivien Leigh, who demurred, saying, “No, thank you. I can just about stand looking at Joan Crawfords face at six oclock in the morning, but not Bette Davis.” Barbara Stanwyck and Loretta Young also said no thanks. Bette Davis immediately suggested her good friend Olivia de Havilland. “Having ruled out or been turned down by Vivien Leigh, Loretta Young and Barbara Stanwyck, Aldrich flew to a remote resort in Switzerland and somehow cajoled Olivia de Havilland, the last acceptable actress, into taking over the part. I spent four terribly difficult days with all the persuasion I could command…I dont believe half of the things I said myself; but I knew there was no other place to go. If I came back without de Havilland, we wouldnt have a picture, because we had gone through all the other people that [20th Century] Fox would live with.”
Olivia de Havilland later remembered, “I always thought it would be fun if [Bette and I] could work together. Then, I was offered the chance to work with her on the film that became Hush…Hush, Sweet Charlotte when Joan Crawford withdrew. I knew Bette wanted badly to work, and Jane had been such a success that Bette was quite anxious. They had to find the replacement, and Bette wanted me. The problem was I wasnt as anxious to work as she was. I didnt need to. I wasnt thrilled with the script, and I definitely didnt like my part. I was reverse-typecast, being asked to be an unsympathetic villain. It wasnt what people expected of me. It wasnt really what I wanted to do. Bette wanted it so much, so I did it. I cant say I regretted it, because working with her was special, but I cant say it was a picture I am proud to put on my rйsumй. Given the choice, I wouldnt have deprived Joan Crawford of the honor.”
She did have positive things to say about the experience: “Hush…Hush, Sweet Charlotte was full of traps, it was a delicate tight-rope walking assignment. I found that very interesting. Aldrich gave it a very special style, a kind of dark glittering style which fascinated me. Its always the charming ones of evil intent who are the dangerous ones; the others you can see coming. But you cant see Miriam [de Havillands character] coming, and shes really dangerous.” Joseph Cotten who also starred in the film, was also happy with the replacement, as he wrote in his autobiography, “[After Crawfords departure] The story, the project, everything about