It's October and with Halloween at the end of the month what better way to celebrate than with evil kids. Over at Wandering Through The Shelves, one can see the topic for that week and pick 3 films that work with that week's topic. All in all, these kids need a good spanking!
1. THESE THREE-1936
This time I went with actual scenes not the posters. This film was written by Lillian Hellman who based it on her own book called "The Children's Hour" and was remade by the same director (William Wyler) in 1961. It takes place in a girl's boarding school where the main brat, played brilliantly by Bonita Granville, bullies another student to do her bidding which is to destroy 3 lives through gossip and lies. Even though Hellman had to change the story of lesbianism because of the censors, it is still riveting. It is very well written, wonderfully acted and, apparently based on a true story.
2. THE BAD SEED-1956
Who doesn't want to cuddle a blond child psychopath? This is one freaky film for sure because you see how pure evil this kid is but others do not. It truly lends the question if some of these kids are truly born this way...I actually think they are. This was a must see film for me and I finally was able to see it and it was worth the wait.
3. VILLAGE OF THE DAMMED- 1960
Talk about one of the best Science Fiction films made that is so creepy and with very little special effects. All the people in a little village in England suddenly pass out. They awaken and soon after find all the women of child bearing years, pregnant. They all give birth on the same day and all the kids look very similar and act...without emotion and with a much higher intelligence than their years are to be (OK awkward sentence but you get my drift). Anyhoo-These kids are nasty and can manipulate people just by their thought. What always freaks me out are when eyes glow, especially kids-just freaks me out. So, yup, their eyes glow.
So 3 films all dealing with mean, spoiled little brats who deserve a good spanking, except the last bunch probably won't let you near them. Have you seen any of these films? Which film have you seen that shows an evil kid? I can think of 2 more (from the 70's).
We need to talk about Kevin - a chilling book which I thought I wouldn't like on the screen, but I did. Tilda Swinton had a lot to do with that.
ReplyDeleteAnabel's Travel Blog
Oh my-I have not heard of this so I must check this out
DeleteSeems like interesting movies from way back. Greetings!
ReplyDeleteGreeting as well! They are great
DeleteI've never heard of These Three, but that sounds interesting. I like the other two. I also picked Villiage of the Damned.
ReplyDeleteGreat Minds:) I truly enjoyed These Three and it is a hidden gem in my book
DeleteHi, dear Birgit! Have you watched the Australian or U.S. versions of the miniseries The Slap?
ReplyDeleteOf these three the only one I have seen is Village of the Damned. I enjoyed it and was thoroughly creeped out. As you stated, movies like these lend credence to the belief that some children are born evil. I best remember Bonita Granville from her role as Nancy Drew in the four Warner films of the late 30s. I watched them on TV in the 50s. It makes me sad knowing that Bonita's life was relatively short. She was younger than I am now when she passed away in 1988.
I have not seen "The Slap" Another film to check out. It is a shame how young Bonita was and i remember how much air time she got on the news which i was happy about.
DeleteYou've really peaked my interest with These Three, definitely going to give it a watch now! Great post!
ReplyDeleteOh good-Hope you like it
DeleteI didn't know The Children's Hour had another adaptation! And I can't believe I didn't think of it for this week! I love the Audrey Hepburn/Shirley MacLaine version.
ReplyDeleteI figured The Bad Seed would be all over the place this week but no one else has picked it so far! Rhoda Penmark is a LEGEND. She would be PISSED to find she wasn't on more lists...
Oh Rhoda would be pissed for sure! Yes the "original" film was These Three but, of course they had to steer clear of the lesbian theme
DeleteI've seen the last one and yeah they sure deserve a good spanking, PTA nuts be damned lol
ReplyDeleteWho cares about PTA nuts-they deserve a spanking-all mean brats do:)
DeleteNever heard of these three (I know, I need to get a film life). They do sound interesting and chilling. Makes you wonder about parents allowing their kids to play in such roles.
ReplyDeletebetty
I never thought of it in that way. The girl who played the psycho kid turned out wonderful but her career never really went anywhere. I know she was on Love Boat and Fantasy Island. As for the evil glowing eyed kids-I wonder how they felt
DeleteNever heard of These Three (the film not the three picks you chosen haha), but I do like William Wyler so I may check it out.
ReplyDeleteThe Bad Seed is a good choice, I chose it for another Thursday Movie Picks. Actually I think the girl in this did get the spanking she deserved!
However, I did choose Village of the Damned as well this week. Quite a popular film.
Village seems to be popular. These Three, I think, is a hidden gem. Yes Rhoda got a really good spanking at the end(both actresses were smiling)
DeleteTwo of your picks were the first ones that came to mind when I thought about films for this week but I assumed they would be all over, I was right about Village of the Damned but this is the first mention of Bad Seed that I've seen.
ReplyDeleteAll great picks. The reserved English movie making process suited the story of Village of the Damned so well relying on dread far more than scares and George Sanders is a strong anchor for the picture.
The Bad Seed relies very much on the same sense of ominous fear and while it plays to the rafters at points, especially Nancy Kelly's mother, it is quite hypnotic once you start watching. Have you ever read the novel the movie is based on? It sticks pretty close to it though it has a different resolution. Did you know that both Bette Davis and Rosalind Russell were considered for the role of Christine Penmark before Mervyn LeRoy decided to go with the stage cast. Also the film was offered to Alfred Hitchcock to direct before LeRoy came aboard. Patty McCormick gives such a chilling performance, it seems odd since she had such an adult persona that she wasn't able to make that leap into adult stardom but while she's had a steady career and acts still her uniqueness vanished as she matured and she became just another ingenue.
We match in a roundabout way on your third. I chose Wyler's remake of These Three but this one even with all its changes due to the production code is a very good film and Bonita is vivid as the evil Mary.
I went the suspense route vs. horror this week.
The Other (1972)-Eerie chiller about identical twins Niles and Holland Perry and a string of "accidents" that befall their family tied to a game they play. Can the game be stopped? Filled with moody dread and excellent acting from the entire cast.
The Children's Hour (1961)-Two young women friends, Karen and Martha (Audrey Hepburn & Shirley MacLaine), run an elite girl’s school with the assistance of Martha’s aunt. One of the girls is a vicious, cruel bully who when she is disciplined for tormenting the other children spreads a lie that ultimately devastates the lives of all involved.
The Innocents (1961)-Deborah Kerr stars as a governess in Victorian England who becomes convinced that the unnerving children in her charge are possessed by evil spirits and sets out to help them. Superb rendition of Henry James's novella The Turn of the Screw with a brilliant, award worthy performance by Kerr.
I have not read the book but I know the ending is different and i prefer the movie ending-just desserts and all that. I didn't know that Roz and Bette were thought of and Hitch also. I wonder how different the film would have been in Hitchcock's hands. As for Roz and Bette-I think they would have taken that kid over their knee long time ago. I have not heard of The Other at all. You know...I have yet to see The Children's Hour. I would love to see it once and have missed many chances to see it-reason-I'm a dope head:) Brilliant picking The Innocents. I'm not sure if the kids are truly villains but they can do bad things and that film totally freaked me out. Deborah Kerr was excellent in this finely nuanced performance. It totally freaked me out when one could see the woman at the lake. I read the book as well and it's chilling
DeleteThese are really good, really creepy picks! I'm startled by how the kids in the last 2 photos resemble each other - apparently we have strong opinions on what evil children look like!
ReplyDeleteI know-blond kids are not nice...wait! I'm blond and I might be naughty but I'm not evil:)
DeleteI can't even say those kids look cute. They scare the crap outta me. I'll let you cuddle them, Birgit. You're a much braver woman than I.
ReplyDeleteI may want to cuddle them to death. They are creepy
DeleteHaven't seen any of these. Must change that, especially Village of the Damned.
ReplyDeleteOh yes-Village is excellent. I love These Three and The Bad Seed really takes you in
DeleteI remember village of the damned. I think having a blond kid after seeing that film would've been cause for concern.
ReplyDeleteHmmm....maybe that's what happened to my parents after I was born:)
DeleteThese movies sound quite creepy, but so is the TV series (can't think of the name) about the children possessed by the ET.
ReplyDeleteThey are creepy and I have no clue what TV show you are talking about. Hopefully you will remember
DeleteHaven't seen these, though I did read The Children's Hour back in high school or college. I think high school. It was very good.
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw the subject matter for today's list it made me think of this movie:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pP4P-VgcM4s
I haven't read the book but you might enjoy the film even if they changed the lesbian motif because of the censors. It was written by the same lady(The screenplay)-Now off to see your pick
DeleteAha...The Good Son-Other have chosen that film as well
DeleteThese Three is SO GOOD! The Children's Hour was better...closer to the original material, but both are very good...and The Bad Seed...what a chilling child!
ReplyDeleteI still have to see The Children's Hour and that kid from The Bad Seed needed that great whollop:)
DeleteI've seen The bad Seed but it was so long ago I don't remember much. I probably should watch it again.
ReplyDeleteYes you just want to smack that kid-oops did i write that out loud:) Hope you get to see it again
DeleteI remember Village of the Damned. Think I still have the book, The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham. The kids were not as nasty in the book (as I recall) they changed it quite a bit. How unusual. John Wyndham was one of my favourite authors in the day. He also wrote The Day of the Triffids which was very different in the movie version. Pity.
ReplyDeleteOften the books are better than the films which always makes it sad for the person watching the film.
DeleteIn my writers group one of the books being written is about a child a la The Bad Seed. I stay far, far away from evil children movies. I get enough of that in the day job. (And I just had a doozy of a two day assignment.)
ReplyDeleteOh my-yes I bet you stay away and probably have seen your share of bad seeds.
DeleteThe Bad Seed is one movie that I love in ALL of its remakes. The original, however, was primo!
ReplyDeleteI have only seen the original-that girl was nasty!
DeleteI came across These Three several months ago, going back to it between commercials for a show I can't recall. I wondered if it was "The Children's Hour." The girls were horrible. I've seen parts of the "The Bad Seed." Movies with bad kids creep me out. Your last movie has me thinking of Stephen King books, which, of course, I don't read because I'm a chicken. I did watch "The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane" all the way through and promptly forgot the story line.
ReplyDeleteI love the forgotten memories:) I still have to see The Children's Hour.
DeleteI've seen all of these, but the one that stands out the most in my mind is The Bad Seed. That girl was the very definition of evil. The remake of These Three called The Children's Hour (1961) did touch on the real subject matter and I think it's a better film becasue of it. Great selections and suitably creepy for October. ☺
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen The Children's Hour yet and one day I will! The kid in the Bad Seed is one mean Bitcharoo!
DeleteBIRGIT ~
ReplyDeleteI think the only one I've seen on your list here is 'THE BAD SEED'.
These types of movies aren't really in my wheelhouse. War, SciFi, Fantasy, Action, and Horror are not genres I gravitate toward, although there are a few in each category that I really do like quite a bit.
Can't wait to see your 25 FAVORITE MOVIES list! And feel free to encourage anyone you know to submit a list to me as well. I don't need to know a person in order to accept a list from them. All your bloggy movie pals are welcome... even encouraged. (Please just make sure they know the rules, as posted on my blog.)
~ D-FensDogG
'Loyal American Underground'
I like almnost all genres except the typical Romance ones but there are exceptions there as well:) I will inform all the movie people to participate!
DeleteThe Bad Seed - oh that ill-manneresd selfish, self centred little madam. She's called Rhoda or Rhonda or some such equally obnoxious name! Spoilt to the core! Aaaaagh!
ReplyDeletehugs, Asha
You picked some old ones there. Have to check them out one of these days.
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