Scream, Pretty Peggy (1973)

I love this movie so much

Touches You

The Age of Commercialism

Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

College student Peggy (Sian Barbara Allen) takes a job doing some light cleaning at the home of sculptor Jeffrey Elliot (Ted Bessell) and his mother (Bette Davis). Peggy begins to notice some strange goings-on in a room above the garage. Jeffrey tells her to stay away. He tells her that the room is home to his mentally deranged sister. Peggy suspicions grow when she learns about the disappearance of the girl who previously had her job. What's going on?Scream, Pretty Peggy is probably one of the better made-for-TV films from the 70s. I remember seeing this one when I was about 10 and it scared the pants off me. That's not saying much, though, because back then pretty much anything scared the pants off me. Today, while I still enjoy Scream, Pretty Peggy, I realize that the plot lacks originality. If you've seen Psycho or Homicidal, you can pretty much guess where this thing is headed and how it's going to end. It's still a lot of fun, though. I credit director Gordon Hessler for keeping things lively and interesting along the journey. I also credit Hessler for creating a film filled with atmosphere. There's more atmosphere in Scream, Pretty Peggy than in a lot of better known horror movies with big budget theatrical releases. Like I always say, atmosphere is key to an effective horror movie. Most of the acting is okay. Bette Davis really has little to do and pretty much sleepwalks through the movie. But who cares, she's Bette Davis and she's always a good watch regardless of what she's doing (or not doing). Bessell is solid. My only issue with Bessell is that it's impossible not to think of That Girl when you see him. Allen is the weakest cast member. She just has a grating quality about her. And, it doesn't help matters that her character is super annoying. Appropriately enough, the film's finale is a highlight. The killer's reveal is nice and creepy. The sculptures add an especially atmospheric touch.

Hammer scribe Jimmy Sangster must have felt vindicated with this made-for-TV effort since his influential TASTE OF FEAR aka SCREAM OF FEAR (1961) script for the famed British horror stable had always been likened to Alfred Hitchcock's even more seminal PSYCHO (1960) – which this apes to a considerable extent – when it had owed so much more to Frenchman H.G. Clouzot's classic suspenser DIABOLIQUE (1955)! Linking the film under review to yet another popular title in the Grand Guignol vein, i.e. Robert Aldrich's much-imitated WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE? (1962), is the casting of an ageing Bette Davis – though, coming at the tail-end of the cycle, she is only allotted "Guest Star" status here…even if the legendary actress contrived to appear in 4 more similar outings before she was out! The third notable name in the credits is that of director Hessler, who had helmed a quartet of stylish and entertaining genre pictures at AIP. This was his first official bow to the small-screen where, by and large, he would thrive for the rest of his career – curiously enough, Hessler's movie debut was yet another DIABOLIQUE-inspired chiller, namely CATACOMBS aka THE WOMAN WHO WOULDN'T DIE (1965; which I have immediately opted to acquire)! Anyway, SCREAM PRETTY PEGGY is a decent shocker with a plot that keeps one watching despite not being hard to figure out: Davis was basically playing herself – domineering and with a fondness for the bottle (if Sangster's own accounts in the Audio Commentaries for her two vehicles at Hammer are to be believed!). Unfortunately, however, bland Ted Bessell is no Anthony Perkins, while heroine Sian Barbara Allen is a bit too-good-to-be-true! Events kick-off with a murder outside the garage of a remote country estate perpetrated by what appears to be a blonde-haired madwoman melodramatically wielding a knife, followed by an advertisement at a nearby school for a house-keeping job at that very residence – one Allen is eager to take on, even though the rate is well below the minimum wage (which she then persuades Bessell to increase). Davis is not keen on having another girl around so soon but, hampered by advancing age, booziness and, eventually, a broken leg, she soon realizes that opposition to Allen's buoyancy (and, apparently, greater ability to cook) is pretty much futile! The latter and the old woman's son actually hit it off well since he is a sculptor of modest fame, while she is an art student. Allen is particularly drawn to life-size figures of demons he has molded which, of course, ultimately reveal a terrible secret! The past comes back to haunt the household in the form of the murder victim's father who became worried and went to look for the girl at her last-known address. Before long, he too is missing…though Allen discovers his spectacles near the garage door and his own car parked inside! Besides, she sees the killer herself when the garage door keeps banging during the night on account of the wind and the latter ascends from the room above to close it firmly! When querying about her, she is told that that girl is Davis' daughter and Bessell's sister who was supposed to have gone away and got married but who is mentally unstable and they have hidden her away rather than being committed! The naïve Allen determines to befriend her, but she gets a lot more than she bargained for... As I said, the plot is too familiar for the twist not to be obvious, as is the identity of the person to finally put the killer to rest but, for what it is, the trim 73-minute picture is entertaining and features enough embellishments (spunky heroine, indomitable matriarch, victims ingeniously disposed of) to counter a basically hackneyed formula.

Spoilers ahead....This movie scared the biscuits out of me as a 5 year old in 1973, Ted Besell with the makeup on at the end haunted me for months. Very tense and scary for a made for TV movie in the 70's.But now as a hoary old adult, the college broad comes off as a bit stupid and altogether pushy, knowingly doing things that she would be better off not doing. Perhaps a little sharp blade to the kidney would have done her good.The problem that really prevents this from getting a higher rating is that the boogey man of the movie kills so swiftly and silently, which sets up the thrill. But when Peggy is about to get hers, is it quick and deadly? No! She.....drum roll please.....DUCKS! And runs away. The Phantom was so deadly and stealthy for so long, makes a long introduction of its presence then proceeds to MISS! Sort of lets the air out of the whole production.But for all that, it was a nice trip down memory lane. Decent suspense on a small budget.

This movie scared the CRAP out of me when I was a kid; I loved it! I was getting it confused with another t.v. movie from the same period--"Let's Scare Jessica to Death" (1971); not nearly as good--since I really don't remember it. What confused me, is that I think the name Jessica appears in this movie as well. I tracked this down because I remembered it stars "Don-nald!"--the boyfriend from THAT GIRL. I had forgotten that the great Bette Davis is also in this film. I would love to see it again now as an adult and see if it is as effective as I remember. I recommend this film as a fun scary t.v. movie from the 70's with some great suspense and shocks.