My Halloween movie line-up . . . and Joseph Cotten

[The Burgomaster]

On Halloween, I watched the following DVDs:

* HUSH, HUSH, SWEET CHARLOTTE
* PINK FLAMINGOS
* ISLAND OF THE FISH MEN

The first two on my list are, of course, classics.  ISLAND OF THE FISH MEN (which was released as SCREAMERS in the U.S., with additional scenes tacked on) is a cheesy Italian movie that seems like a cross between THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND and THE ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU.  The fish men are actors in terrible rubber suits that look like leftovers from those Amicus/Edgar Rice Burroughs movies starring Doug McClure.  The cast includes Richard Johnson, Barbara Bach, and Joseph Cotten . . . wait a minute . . . didn't I just see Joseph Cotten in a very good performance in the classic HUSH, HUSH, SWEET CHARLIOTTE?  What the hell is he doing in this Italian stink-fest?  Poor guy . . . he fell victim to the "late career blues" where his previous performances in respected movies (for example, CITIZEN KANE, SHADOW OF A DOUBT, and GASLIGHT) were forgotten and he had to act in lower-tier movies and TV shows like THE LOVE BOAT and FANTASY ISLAND.  In any event, I salute you, Joseph Cotten!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxBvn_-WIo4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7EPMHgSjms

[Jack]

Shock!  That will leave you speechless. 

[BoyScoutKevin]

Oh, yes. Bette Davis, Olivia De Havilland, Joseph Cotten, Agnes Moorehead, Cecil Kellaway, Victor Buono, Mary Astor, William Campbell, Bruce Dern, and George Kennedy, among others. Yes, I like "Hush . . . Hush, Sweet Charlotte." Actually, I like it better than "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?"

Supposedly, or so I have heard, both Davis and Joan Crawford, after they made "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?" were suppose to appear in "Hush . . . Hush, Sweet Charlotte" together, but Davis and Crawford hated each other so much, that Crawford faked being ill to get out of the film, and she was replaced by Havilland, which no doubt made everyone happy.

[Allhallowsday]

JOSEPH COTTEN certainly made an exceptional showing in genre flicks late in his career, some really bad, some classic: FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON,  THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES, LADY FRANKENSTEIN, AIRPORT '77 bat an eye and you'll miss him in SOYLENT GREEN... 

He was also in some high caliber films throughout his career, like you mentioned Burgomaster, including SINCE YOU WENT AWAY, DUEL IN THE SUN, THE MAN WITH A CLOAK, THE FARMER'S DAUGHTER, THE MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS, PORTRAIT OF JENNIE, THE THIRD MAN...

... and SHADOW OF A DOUBT is one of my favorite films. 

[Trevor]

My Mom is in her seventies, mention the name Joseph Cotten to her and she'll faint like a love sick schoolgirl.