MovieChat Forums > The Anniversary (1968) Discussion > I've seen this film at least 25 times an...

I've seen this film at least 25 times and I still love it!!!!

posted 16 years ago by SAlexLindsay
6 replies | jump to latest

I first saw 'The Anniversary' about 10 years ago, very late on channel 4. Since then I have never grown tired of revisiting it again and again, the whole thing is just so perfectly constructed, right down to the last detail. Every last scrap of dialogue is memorable and brilliant. Reviews tend to say that Davis upstages everyone, but I think that is the whole point of this story- The characters are all very convincing in their own humble place and well developed when they need to be,there is not a weak performance in sight. Every Henry, the shy cross-dresser who doesn't say much, is played with frightening realism by James Cossins, as he fidgits and mumbles in the background.
The direction by Roy Ward Baker is superb too- there are moments in this film which really unnerve me, and it's not because of what we actually see, but rather what is left to our imagination- we never see Henry in woman's underware or Mrs Taggart's glass eye, but only Shirley's terrified reactions to these things. That freaks me out more than most horror films!

[–] WarpedRecord 16 years ago

That's an excellent point about this film conveying the characters' shock of stumbling upon Mrs. Taggart's glass eye of Henry in women's undies without actually showing the scenes.

Thanks to the strong writing and performances, the viewer develops a mental image of the scenes that actual shots could not match. The psychological horror imposed by Mrs. Taggart is much more severe than anything that could be achieved by makeup or special effects.

I could see watching this film again and again, because the barbs are quite rapid-fire and you're not likely to catch everything the first time. I'd love to see this on the stage. It rivals "Glengarry Glen Ross" for dramatic tension.

[–] smjensen312-158-669840 12 years ago

I could watch it more than 25 times, just to hear Bette Davis say, "Would you mind sitting someplace else? Body odor offends me."

[–] jrhpax 10 years ago

For me, seeing it once was more than enough.

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[–] greenbudgie 8 years ago

I like the dialogue in this movie too. I also agree that it's a better film for not being graphic.