Product Details

• Actors: James Villiers, Maurice Denham, Bette Davis, Wendy Craig, Jill Bennett
• Directors: Seth Holt
• Producers: The Nanny
• Format: Digital Sound, Full Screen, HiFi Sound, Import, PAL
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 2 (Read more about DVD formats.)
• Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: Fox
• Run Time: 89 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000N1AJYI
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #483,866 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Spain released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), German ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), Spanish ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), Danish ( Subtitles ), English ( Subtitles ), Finnish ( Subtitles ), German ( Subtitles ), Norwegian ( Subtitles ), Spanish ( Subtitles ), Swedish ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (1.85:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Black & White, Interactive Menu, Trailer(s), SYNOPSIS: 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. ...The Nanny

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars NANNY DEAREST..., January 20, 2002

By 

Lawyeraau (Balmoral Castle) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Nanny [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is an excellent psychological thriller in which Bette Davis plays the part of a nanny in a household where a little girl, one of her charges, drowned in the bathtub and her older brother was blamed, even though he claimed that the nanny did it. After two years time spent in a therapeutic setting, the boy returns home, only to find the despised nanny still there. A cat and mouse game ensues between the two, and when his mother is poisoned, all eyes turn to him, though he once again insists that the nanny did it.

Deftly directed, with a well written, intelligent screenplay by Jimmy Sancster, who also wrote the screenplay for the Bette Davis vehicle, "The Anniversary", this is an engrossing film with a twist at the end that is sure to catch the viewer by surprise. The black and white cinematography adds to the atmosphere of suspense. Bette Davis is first rate as the nanny, and fine performances by the supporting cast contribute to its overall success.

This is a film that fans of Bette Davis are sure to enjoy, as will all those who like well done, psychological thrillers.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A rarely seen horror film starring Bette Davis, February 1, 2008

By 

calvinnme - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Nanny (DVD)

This is a Bette Davis film that you don't see very often anywhere. In fact it's been years since I've seen it and I can't even remember where. Ten year old Joey has a new nanny, Bette Davis. I don't think she even had a name in this one, just "the nanny". Nobody believes disturbed Joey when he claims that the nanny is evil and wants to kill him - she's such a sweet old lady. You know where this one is probably going from the start, but it's interesting to watch it play out. However, there is some very disturbing stuff in this one, so note that it might be difficult to watch. It takes real advantage of the fact that Davis could play anything from the sweetest to the most evil person in the world, and turn on a dime at either end of the scale.

This film is being released separately and also as part of the Bette Davis Centenary Collection from Fox in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Davis' birth. This DVD contains no extras besides some trailers, a photo gallery, and a before/after split screen showing the video restoration results.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Arguably Bette Davis' last good picture..., March 14, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: The Nanny [VHS] (VHS Tape)

After doing "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?" and the equally terrific "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte", Bette Davis went to England to do a thriller for Hammer Productions that was quieter than "Jane/Charlotte" (and much lesser-known today) but very effective, and may be her last genuinely good movie-role.

Playing a maid to a disturbed 10-year old a couple of years after his sister dies in a suspicious accident, Davis gives a taut, subtle performance that ranks right up there with her best--- the film's direction and co-stars matching her scene for scene. It's as poignant as it is suspenseful, and far above the level of other sub-par thrillers and dramas Miss Davis would be forced to take over the the next couple of decades of her career.

Don't miss this often overlooked gem.