HUSH...HUSH SWEET CHARLOTTE
Composed and Conducted by FRANK DEVOL
INTRADA Special Collection Volume 26
HUSH...HUSH SWEET CHARLOTTE is set in the deep South on a nearly
abandonded, eerie mansion, with Bette Davis playing Charlotte Hollis, a
former debutante long suspected of the brutal murder of a two-timing
suitor (Bruce Dern) in 1927. Since the murder, Charlotte has lived as a
recluse, attended to by her loyal housekeeper Velma (Agnes Moorehead).
When her mansion is threatened by road construction, Charlotte’s cousin
Miriam (Olivia de Havilland) arrives to convince her to leave the
property...but it turns out that Miriam and her doctor friend Drew
Bayliss (Joseph Cotten) have more nefarious plans for Charlotte.
HUSH...HUSH, SWEET CHARLOTTE was a major success for 20th Century Fox.
Amongst its 1964 Academy Award nominations were two for composer Frank
DeVol for both original score and theme song. DeVol's warm main theme
was a forerunner for numerous future horror films where soothing
lullabies set the scene before the shrieks begin. The score's many
highlights include a complete restoration of the opening title sequence,
including music box and wild, taunting children's chorus. There are
numerous scary sequences where DeVol creates complex, multiple layers of
spooky material with then-state-of-the-art electronic effects, a full
orchestra, piano and harpsichord -- plus ghostly female chorus in tow.
Intrada is proud to present the world premiere release of this classic
spook score, featuring 70 minutes of DeVol's original music and hit song
in full stereo, mixed directly from the original scoring session
masters. While some deterioration has occurred with the magnetic masters
over the years, every individual layer of DeVol's complicated scary
sequences has survived. Even with the occasional warble or wow, the
score is quite suitable for listening, and it is another long overdue
showcase of the partnership between director Robert Aldrich and his
composer-of-choice, Frank DeVol.
This edition is limited to 1200 copies.
INTRADA Special Collection - Volume 26
Available November 2005
For cover art, track listing, and sound samples, please visit
http://shopping.netsuite.com/s.nl/c.ACC ... id.4542/.f