The Nanny (1965)
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91% of critics liked it
(11 reviews) -
75% of users liked it
(869 ratings)
In this thriller (which represented something of a departure for Hammer Films, noted for their gothic period pieces), Joey Fane (William Dix) has returned home after two years in an institution for mentally ill children. His sister drowned, and his family believes that Joey was to blame, despite his… More In this thriller (which represented something of a departure for Hammer Films, noted for their gothic period pieces), Joey Fane (William Dix) has returned home after two years in an institution for mentally ill children. His sister drowned, and his family believes that Joey was to blame, despite his claims of innocence. Joey is convinced that the family's Nanny (Bette Davis) was responsible and refuses to have anything to do with her, but only neighbor girl Bobby (Pamela Franklin) agrees that there's something sinister about the woman minding the house. When Joey's neurotic mother Virginia (Wendy Craig) nearly dies after eating tainted food prepared by the Nanny, Virginia's sister Penelope (Jill Bennett) comes by to help. Penelope soon witnesses the bad blood between Joey and the Nanny, though before long she begins to think that the boy might be right about her after all. Jimmy Sangster adapted the screenplay from a novel by Evelyn Piper. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Directed By
- Seth Holt
- Genres
- Mystery & Suspense, Classics
- In Theaters
- Oct 27, 1965 Wide
- On DVD
- Dec 21, 2006
Critic Reviews
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Jeremy Heilman, MovieMartyr.com
The Nanny is not especially ambitious, so one must settle for the small pleasures and chills that it offers.
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Felix Gonzalez Jr., DVD Review
... The Nanny holds up considerably well today as a slight, but unsettling, thriller.
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Dan Callahan, Slant Magazine
A rather quiet, cautious thriller that gives Davis more room for characterization than most of her later films.
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John Wirt, Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA)
Bette Davis as the baddest of nannies. Scary in its modest way.
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Christopher Smith, Bangor Daily News (Maine)
Fantastic. Davis is perfectly creepy.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Bette Davis
as Nanny
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Wendy Craig
as Virginia Fane
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Jill Bennett II
as Penelope Fane
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James Villiers
as Bill Fane
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William Dix
as Joey Fane
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Pamela Franklin
as Bobby
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Jack Watling
as Dr. Medman
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Alfred Burke
as Dr. Wills
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Maurice Denham
as Dr. Beamaster
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Nora Gordon
as Mrs. Griggs
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Harry Fowler
as Milkman