Whatever Happened to Aunt Alice? (1969)

This Robert Aldrich production is a second-tier version of the thrills he pioneered in his self-directed film What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? The problem is simple: Whatever Happened to Aunt Alice? has the stars right, but the material is underdeveloped. The script has an engaging premise that would be a perfect vehicle for all sorts of creepy thrills, but the story never capitalizes on the possibilities of its memorable lead character duo. Instead, it wastes time on a soap opera-esque romantic subplot and limps to an anti-climactic ending that doesn't deliver the expected battle royale. Still, Whatever Happened to Aunt Alice? delivers some fun moments despite its mediocre storyline, thanks to powerhouse performances from Geraldine Page and Ruth Gordon. Page is deliciously evil as the ultimate example of social-climbing greed gone bad, and Gordon provides an equal match as the tough, temperamental old biddy determined to bring her to justice. The film around them feels like a TV-movie version of its Aldrich-helmed predecessors, but Page and Gordon's performances ensure that Whatever Happened to Aunt Alice? will inspire a few smiles in fans of the "murderous matriarchs" genre. ~ Donald Guarisco, All Movie Guide