GRAEME

A British horro of the late sixties early seventies, I think. It's an old dark house trying to scare a girl heiress mad type movie. I think there's an apparantly benign uncle figure played by George Saunders (or similar).

She goes mad eventually and goes on a killing spree. As they cart her off to the loony bin she sings a version of the macarbre American children's song:

"The worm crawls in; the worm crawls out
In her tummy and out her mouth"

Or similar.

I was only a kid when I saw this on late night TV.

Can anybody help?

All men leak.

DocRobertPepper

it was used in Picture Mommy Dead
its American but there are a few Brits in the cast

john audley

If we are going over the pond then I must mention a little film of the early 1960s
called The Bad Seed about a nice little girl who inflicted horror within the household.
A very frightening film I thought. In black and white.
I have never seen it since or on television.

The child sang a song that was very concerning throughout the film

'You should be kind to us normals, there are not many of us left you know'!

donna

I thought Night of the Hunter had some haunting eerie music in it too.

GRAEME

Thanks Doc! I think it might be that one. Does she sing it at the end as she's taken away?

I wonder why I thought it was British? I was quite young.

The Bad Seed is a terrific little movie, john, but not the one I was thinking of - which was deffo in colour. I love the way they bring the cast on at the end of The Bad Seed to show they're not all dead and then the screen mom gives girlie a sound spanking! Wouldn't be alowed thesew days!

No, Donna, the movie I was looking for is MUCH schlockier and not at all artisticly worthy.

Thanks all!

All men leak.

batman

There were two Brits in the film .... the lovely Anna Lee and the great Maxwell Reed!

It is schlocky but it is entertaining.

It was Max's last film.

"Do you know why fattries are called fattries .... it's because they are big and people make things in them."

GRAEME

Can you confirm, Bats, that the song is sung at the end as she is taken away?

That's the clincher for me.

All men leak.

batman

I will have a look when I get home and let you know .... I don't recall the sone, but it's a while since I watched the film.

"Do you know why fattries are called fattries .... it's because they are big and people make things in them."

GRAEME

Thanks mate!

All men leak.

Carmel

I have this film on Video and have tried to get it on dvd but i dont think it ever was released on dvd its a shame as its a good film. Great ending.

Live each day to the full because one day it will be your last.

john audley

Thanks Carmel but I was wrong about the date it was released in 1956 so I must have seen it second time around. A very creepy film and the child singing the song made it more so. An eight year old murderess might be a bit non-PC now? Halliwell
calls it 'censor-induced levity'

'You should be kind to us normals, there are not many of us left you know'!

DocRobertPepper

Released in the US as a double bill with Murder Mansion
Amazon.com: PICTURE MOMMY DEAD+MURDER MANSION[DON AMECHE+IDA GALLI][DOUBLE FEATURE][COLOR]: MARTHA HYER--ZSA ZSA GABOR-/-ANALIA GADE-ANNALISA NARDI,BERT I. GORDON'S-/-FRANCISCO LARA POLOP: Movies & TV

Carmel

I think at the time it was going to be banned as it showed a child getting away with murder so the spanking scene came in to get it passed, although the mother seemed more manic than the child in the film she seemed more creepy the way she talked to the child in that squeeky voice.

Live each day to the full because one day it will be your last.

batman

It is Picture Mommy Dead. She sings the song as Don Ameche leads her by the hand to a waiting police car.


The Bad Seed is also available on dvd.

Amazon.co.uk: The Bad Seed [1956] (REGION 1) (NTSC): Nancy Kelly,Patty McCormack,Henry Jones,Eileen Heckart,Evelyn Varden,William Hopper,Paul Fix,Jesse White,Gage Clarke,Joan Croydon,Frank Cady,Frances Bavier,Dayton Lummis,Edna Holland,Kathy Garver,M

"Do you know why fattries are called fattries .... it's because they are big and people make things in them."

GRAEME

Thanks, Bats! That's been bothering me for years.

I was convinced it was British and that made it impossible to find in the usual references.

Thanks everybody...

If only I could find that fossilised baby in the carpet bag, I'd be a happy man...

All men leak.