Perky college co-ed (Sian Barbara Allen, who looks a bit like Jessica Harper) talks her way into job as housekeeper for a famous sculptor and his elderly mother; soon, she's curious about the person living in the room over the garage, a woman she's told is incurably insane. TV-made extension of "Psycho"'s theme, lacking at the very least one big jolt (no shower scene here). Instead, "Scream, Pretty Peggy" is full of chit-chat, relying on a single plot-hook in which to hang all its weary exposition. The performances are unusually strong for a television feature, particularly by Ted Bessell as the artist, but the reedy-thin story is stretched to the breaking point. Interesting location, appropriately scary music from Bob Prince, pithy supporting work from Bette Davis. Otherwise, pretty tame.
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preppy-36 April 2007Jeffrey Elliott (Ted Bessell) hires college student Peggy John (Sian Barbara Allen) to take care of his elderly mother (Bette Davis!) in their creepy old mansion. It also seems there's a deranged sister wandering around...and Peg starts getting glimpses of a person with long blonde hair and a white dress. Peg becomes curious and starts looking into the family history and things start to get strange...
Saw this only once on TV when I was about 11 or 12. I was scared out of my mind! The glimpses Peg got of the sister really creeped me out and the ending horrified me. I also remember Davis giving a restrained (for her) performance and given nothing to do. Still it was creepy, atmospheric and well-acted. Another great old made for TV movie that's impossible to see today. I give it a 7. -
Rainey-Dawn4 December 2016I don't know about "Pretty Peggy" but I did notice a "Pushy Peggy" in the film. Peggy has a way of pushing, she pushed herself in to the lives of the Elliott family... even pushing her way to stay with them and using the car when she wants to most of the time. Peggy's pushing almost got her killed as she tried to push her way into finding out more about Jennifer Elliott, the sister of the man Peggy is falling in-love with, Jeffrey.
This is a decent made for TV mystery-thriller, horror film. The movie is worth a looksy. Bette Davis is great as usual, this time playing the weird, drunk mom of Jeffrey & Jennifer.
7/10 -
staytherelass15 June 2004A creepy 1973 TV movie that seems to give nods to PSYCHO and William Castle's HOMICIDAL.Pretty Peggy,a college student and budding artist,goes to work in an old mansion as a housekeeper for a mysterious old lady(Bette Davis) and her oddball sculptor son(Ted Bessell).There is also a deranged daughter who lives in a room above the garage.Peggy starts become more unnerved when a man visits the house looking for his daughter who was the previous housekeeper.He sees a light shining above the garage and,well,is not seen again.Jimmy Sangster worked on the script,and he's infamous for many Hammer horror classics and a lot of American TV.Very atmospheric and spooky,I haven't seen this movie on TV since I was a kid.A darn shame!Good TV horror is not exactly plentiful,so it's very sad that movies like this remain unseen by new generations of horror fans.
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toolkien2 October 2006Spoilers 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. -
BandSAboutMovies8 March 2018The ABC Movies of the Week for November 24, 1973, Scream, Pretty Peggy was directed by Gordon Hessler, who was behind films as diverse as In 1969, The Oblong Box, Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park and Sho Kosugi's introduction to the U.S., Pray For Death. It was written by Jimmy Sangster (who directed Hammer's Lust for a Vampire and wrote The Curse of Frankenstein, Who Slew Auntie Roo? and many more), so this film has a much better pedigree than you'd expect.
Peggy is a college student who wants to be an artist, so she applies for a job at the home of noted sculptor Jeffrey Elliott (Ted Bessell, TV's That Girl) and his mother (Bette Davis!). Peggy is also one of the most annoyingly chipper heroines ever.
Let me give you some advice, in case you are a young girl and looking for a housekeeping job and find yourself in a 1970's TV movie. If the house you're working in has an Old Hollywood actress in it, run (refer back to my past rules of always avoiding Old Hollywood actors and actresses). And if you find out that there's a room that you aren't allowed to go into, don't try and go into that room. Just get away as fast as you can.
Peggy is too dumb to do that. No, she finds all of Jeffrey's crazy demon sculptures. And she meets George Thornton, whose daughter used to work in the house. And she runs afoul of Mrs. Bette Davis and you simply do not do that.
Turns out that Jessica, Jeffrey's sister, is living in that room above the garage that Peggy isn't allowed into. Again, get out. Now.
No, Peggy decides she wants to make a new friend. And what if that friend is really Jeffrey, who killed his sister and has split his personality with her inside his head? Oh Peggy. You brought this on yourself.
Scream, Pretty Peggy is a fine little slice of 70's TV movie thrills. Any time you have Ms. Davis deigning to be in a TV movie, you're going to get something good. But seriously, I wish these girls would wise up. There are better things to do in this world than live in a house of manaics! -
Bunuel197621 October 2011Hammer 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. -
christopher-underwood6 October 2015Low budget TV movie and even if it is a bit derivative not a bad effort at all. Sian Barbara Allen doesn't impress and was probably a bit too old at 27 to convince as the young student. Ted Bessell is OK but both were destined to have careers restricted to TV. Bette Davis on the other hand, professional to the end, seems to struggle at times but always maintains that menacing presence. Indeed although 64 here would go on to make almost twenty more films before her death some 16 years later. Very early on when we see Bessell as the home based sculptor I'm already thinking of Corman's 1959 Bucket of Blood. Little do I know that by the end we shall see the influence of the following year's, Psycho as well. Nothing to get particularly excited about but enjoyable enough, thanks mainly to Bette Davis.
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adriangr1 June 2023This movie tells the story of a girl called Peggy who takes up working in a remote house inhabited by an artist and his elderly mother. She soon starts to think something strange is going on there.
This could have been good if it had been better made and better scripted. Peggy is a very irritating heroine, because she really pushes herself into the lives of the sculptor and his mother. The character comes across as annoying and manipulative, when I think she's supposed to be endearing. The lines the actors read out all sound unfinished and unrealistic. The part of the mother is played by the legendary Bette Davis but she is the most hammy and over dramatic of all the cast.
Very few scares and no screaming. -
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. -
mark.waltz28 August 2015Could curiosity kill the pesky female college student (Sian Barbara Allen)? Could giving maimed Bette Davis a bell to ring when she needs her drive her crazy? Will she heed Ted Bessel's advice and stay out of the room above the garage? Will you be able to make it through this unsuspenseful thriller made for 1970's T.V.? For me, the answer to this last question was just barely because I was bored out of my mind waiting for something to happen. I've always been curious about the first decade of the T.V. movie where fading veteran stars like Bette Davis took on projects that 20 years ago they would have sneered at. Wearing a wig that is obviously far too young for her face, Davis is perhaps the only reason to tune into this with sitcom veteran Bessell a combination of cheery and moody as the artist who hires the eager Allen to be their new housekeeper against his mother's will. Davis isn't thrilled by this news and even more so when she is injured. Allen becomes obsessed with the alleged presence of Bessell's supposedly insane sister living above the garage, and Davis accuses her of trying to steal her son out from under her nose. So for nearly an hour, there is really nothing happening, and it is on the verge of becoming sleep-inducing when the weak plot begins to wrap up.
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Sian Barbara Allen stars as Peggy...a rather odd and pushy college student. When she sees an ad for a housekeeper offering ridiculously low wages, she jumps to the opportunity! The home is an odd place...and the sculptor (Ted Bessell) lives with his rather unfriendly mother (Bette Davis). But she still wants the job because she knows who Jeffery Elliot (Bessell) is...he's a famous sculptor and she is a bit of a groupie who is infatuated with him. But as I said, it's an odd house...and it has a secret called 'Jennifer'. Peggy's told that Jennifer is his insane sister...and she's kept hidden in an upstairs room much like Mr. Rochester's wife in "Jane Eyre". But you keep getting the impression that there is far, far more to the story than all this. But what? What is really going on here?!
This is EXACTLY the sort of crazy, scary plot folks looked for and expected with installments of "The ABC Movie of the Week". Subtle and sophisticated, this and most of their films were NOT....and instead they went for the weird, twisted and downright odd. This film has this in spades but I don't want to say too much more as it might spoil the film. Just be sure to watch it and try not to laugh too much at the surprise ending!! -
There are quite a few interesting names linked to this delightfully titled "ABC Movie of the Week", both in front as well as behind the camera. Although a 100% American TV-production, the script was penned down by the multi-talented British writer Jimmy Sangster, who was responsible for a few dozen amazing screenplays for the legendary Hammer Studios including "Horror of Dracula" and "The Curse of Frankenstein". Director Gordon Hessler has always been a very underrated but professional genre expert, with awesome titles on his repertoire like "The Oblong Box", "Cry of the Banshee" and "Murders in the Rue Morgue". The most exhilarating name in the cast list is undoubtedly Bette Davis. What with her notoriously penetrating eyes and natural charisma, she single-handedly made all the movies she ever starred in somewhat creepy and unsettling! When I browse through the user-comments around here, I notice that "Scream, Pretty Peggy" is very popular and several people even refer to it as one of the best made-for-TV movies that got released during the 1970s. I honestly can't agree with the latter statement, therefore the subject material is too derivative and the denouement too predictable, but I will definitely emphasize that it's a very atmospheric and absorbing thriller that'll keep you glued to the screen throughout its (short) running time. The cute, cherubic and over-enthusiast art-class student Peggy Johns is delighted when she finds a job as a housekeeper in a remote and creepy old house. For you see, her employer is the bizarre sculptor Jeffrey Elliot, who happens to be one of young Peggy's idols. He lives in the house with his scary and tyrannical mother and Peggy also soon discovers that there's another secret inhabitant, namely Jeffrey's mentally unstable and unreliable sister Jennifer. An obtrusive man often visits the house, because his daughter Agnes disappeared and he claims that she was last seen here, but naive little Peggy blindly trusts her mentor Jeffrey and even tries hard to become friends with his creepy mother. If you're even just slightly familiar with the horror genre's greatest and most influential classics, you'll guess the twist-ending of this film in a matter of mere seconds. Still, I didn't mind for one second that the film was predictable, thanks to the fast pacing and the spirited acting performances. Bette Davis is great as always, Ted Bessell is intriguingly mysterious and particularly the young Sian Barbara Allen gives a very likable performance.
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bkoganbing19 September 2020Scream Pretty Peggy casts Ted Bessell as a famous sculptor who hires college student Sian Barbara Allen as a housekeeper and to help tend to his mother played by Bette Davis. As Allen is an art major she initially is quite simpatico with Bessell and Davis. Soon enough she feels something just ain't quite right in this house.
This film is a small screen ripoff of Psycho and if you've seen the Hitchcock classic you know how this ends. Bessell who was most famous for being Marlo Thomas's boyfriend on That Girl can't and could never escape his image from That Girl as Mr. Nice Guy.
Davis does some of her shtick which she always did to make bad films palatable. This one is for Bette Davis completists. -
hillari31 July 2001Bette Davis, a great actress, unfortunately has nothing to do in this one except give dire warnings to the heroine. After the first half-hour, you know how this one is going to end; the clues are just that easy. I give it high marks for atmosphere, but other than that, this made-for-TV chiller doesn't do much. Good for wasting time on a Saturday afternoon if nothing else is on.
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Bette Davis and Ted Bessell are delightful as mother and son. His sculptures are whimsically demonic. Their house is pretty cool.
The story is relatively simple. The college student is slightly better than generic.
There is a twist. It's not phenomenal but it is something.
For a TV movie, it has some things to keep you watching. -
Hey_Sweden3 October 2022An upbeat, eager college student, Peggy Johns (Sian Barbara Allen, "You'll Like My Mother") hires on as housekeeper to sculptor Jeffrey Elliot (Ted Bessell, 'That Girl') and his elderly, cranky mother (the legendary Bette Davis, "All About Eve"). As time goes on, she realizes that this cagey twosome are not being forthright with her, and have some pretty big skeletons in their closet.
As these ABC TV movies of the week go, this is a pretty good spook show from genre specialist Gordon Hessler ("Scream and Scream Again"). It gets off on the right foot with a very atmospheric opening, and does deliver some genuine suspense and creepiness as it plays out. It travels far on Allens' effervescent, appealing personality, Bessells' engaging performance, and that old Davis fire; the screen veteran brings a lot of spark to the proceedings. The script was co-written by noted genre scribe Jimmy Sangster ("The Curse of Frankenstein") and Arthur Hoffe, and unfortunately, it's the kind of story that any savvy movie watcher should be able to predict before the climax arrives. This viewer could say which movie most clearly inspired Sangster, but that would constitute a major spoiler, so...
The music score by Robert Prince ("Squirm") has just the right sinister quality, as does the cinematography by Leonard J. South ("Family Plot"). Overall, the movie is well paced (these TV genre movies of the 70s typically run about 74 minutes without commercials, so you do expect a certain snappiness to the story), and solidly entertaining. Ultimately, it's also twisted stuff, so viewers should be quite amused with the big reveals late in the game.
Co-starring Charles Drake ("It Came from Outer Space"), Allan Arbus ("Coffy"), German beauty Christiane Schmidtmer ("The Big Doll House"), and Tovah Feldshuh ("Stephen Kings' Silver Bullet"). Jessica Rains, who plays the woman in the employment office, is the daughter of the great Claude Rains.
Seven out of 10. -
"Scream Pretty Peggy" was an ABC Movie of the Week broadcast Nov. 24, 1973, combining the talents of Hammer screenwriter Jimmy Sangster (permanently relocated to Hollywood) and American International director Gordon Hessler, at the helm for "The Oblong Box," "Scream and Scream Again," "Cry of the Banshee," and "Murders in the Rue Morgue." Legendary Grande Dame Bette Davis, no stranger to Hammer in a pair of Sangster productions, "The Nanny" and "The Anniversary," is not the top billed star here, Sian Barbara Allen the not very endearing Peggy, whose insistent ways get her a part time job as housekeeper in the Hollywood Hills mansion of Bette's often inebriated Mrs. Elliot, living alone with her renowned sculptor son Jeffrey (Ted Bessell). A more unexpected arrival proves to be more problematic, Charles Drake as the father of the film's first murder victim (Tovah Feldshuh in her debut role), said to have left weeks earlier but seemingly vanished without a trace (he shows up after dark and meets the same fate, stabbed to death by a woman with long blonde hair). The unsurprising revelation that Jeffrey's missing sister Jennifer is secretly living in a room above the garage is less obvious with the acknowledgement that she is certifiably insane, one final twist in the closing moments preceded by one unforgivable cheat. Shopworn material can be overcome by strong performances and direction, the main weakness its unappealing lead actress, Allen making a far stronger impression opposite Patty Duke in "You'll Like My Mother," somewhat hapless as a wannabe artist suffering from misplaced hero worship. Ted Bessell is well cast in a different kind of role than he played on THAT GIRL, and the incomparable Bette Davis delivers more than expected with her stock character, both restrained and frightened.
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The_Void4 November 2007I've seen a handful of seventies TV movies, and I've found that even the lesser ones are usually enjoyable enough; but until I saw Scream, Pretty Peggy: I couldn't say that I'd seen a great one. Director Gordon Hessler (who previously directed a few above average Vincent Price movies) manages to make a very simple and run of the mill tale highly suspenseful and interesting, and that is where Scream, Pretty Peggy's main strengths lie. The title is somewhat misleading if you ask me; as lead actress Sian Barbara Allen is not particularly pretty, but on the plus side; she is one of this film's main strengths. The plot focuses on a young girl named Peggy. She sees a job advertisement for a housekeeper and decides to take the job, in spite of the fact that it pays less half the minimum wage. Upon arriving at the house, she is soon introduced to an elderly woman, as well as her son; a sculptor who put out the advertisement for a housekeeper. It soon becomes apparent that something is not quite right at the house; and there's something strange about the rooms above the garage...
The plot is not particularly original, and it's not hard to pin down the film that had a direct influence on this one (I wont spoil it). However, the fact that the film is derivative is not a problem as few will be going into this expecting something groundbreaking anyway; and as seventy five minutes of entertainment; Scream Pretty Peggy more than does its job. The plot is simple in the way that it plays out, but there's always enough going on to keep the audience interested. The way that the mystery surrounding the garage rooms builds is really good - the plot twist does become obvious before it's unveiled, but the film keeps the last piece of the puzzle secret for long enough. The atmosphere is foreboding, and while the film doesn't feature any gore; the scenes involving the main antagonist are creepy and effective. Sian Barbara Allen keeps the audience's attention well, though at times that has more to do with the fact that she's rather irritating. Ted Bassell is good in his role as the charming/mysterious sculptor; and the cast is rounded off by a snarling Bette Davis. Overall, this little TV flick is well worth seeing and I wont hesitate to call it the best seventies TV horror movie that I've seen! -
verna5522 September 2000Fairly competent early '70's, made for TV suspense flick is notable mainly for the presence of Bette Davis who breathes some much needed life into Jimmy Sangster's ultra-conventional script that was apparently written after too many viewings of PSYCHO. This small screen release can't hold a candle to that classic chiller, but at least director Gordon Hessler does an adequate job of handling the familiar material, and this is undeniably one of the most stylish and professional-looking TV films ever.
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christopherleebrick23 February 2005This 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.
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Scream Pretty Peggy (1973)
** 1/2 (out of 4)
Famous sculptor Jeffrey Elliot (Ted Bessell) hires college student Peggy (Sian Barbara Allen) to take care of the house work, which includes looking after his elderly mother (Bette Davis). Soon Peggy learns about Jeffrey's sister who is locked up in an attack after suffering a mental breakdown years earlier.
SCREAM PRETTY PEGGY is a decent made-for-television film that benefits greatly from three very good performances and some nice direction by Gordon Hessler. The film manages to build up a rather creepy atmosphere but there are some issues that prevent it from being much better. I will get that issue out of the way and it's the screenplay by Jimmy Sangster and Arthur Hoffe. The film borrows from a couple other more famous movies and this here takes away any major suspense with the twist that you'll see coming from a mile away.
Still, if you enjoy these made-for-television movies then this one here is certainly worth watching. The three leads are certainly what keep the film so entertaining and especially Allen who is extremely good in her role. She really does come across as a somewhat naive college student who isn't quite smart enough to know she should be getting the hell away from this house and the family. Bessell is also very good in his role and the great Bette Davis always knows how to steal a scene.
Director Hessler was very familiar with the horror genre and he does a nice job here by building up some great atmosphere and bringing a Gothic feel to the material. I thought there were some creepy scenes dealing with the sister and this stuff makes the picture worth sitting through. -
gladys-lillian17 September 2018I watched this as a child with my dad. I use to love watching these sorts of movies, but this was my FAV. it SCARED me to death when i was younger and out of a lot of other films this was the one i always remembered being freaked out by for some reason. the whole lady upstairs in a room above the garage and the freaky nightly glimpses of Jenifer with her night dress and long blonde hair YIKES, but the worse bit for me was the end part when Jeffery turns around wearing makeup and says "i am Jenifer" in that freaky voice chilled me as a child. I always wanted to see this again googled tried to find out what it was called but never could remember, then stroke of luck was watching u tube last night and there is was, by mistake i started watching it and thought could this be it and then i knew. I have to say it never scared me, and i have watched so many scary films through the years and i am 42 now, so it was just another film, but it brought back so many memories of childhood. and finally i can i have found and watched this great classic again.
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Woodyanders25 October 2021Sweet and perky college student and aspiring artist Peggy Johns (a delightfully spunky portrayal by the adorable Sian Barbara Allen) takes a job as a housekeeper at a mansion where sculptor Jeffrey Elliott (an excellent and engaging performance by Ted Bessell) lives with his elderly mother (a splendidly snippy turn by Bette Davis). It turns out that there's a third secret resident in the form of Jeffrey's insane sister Jennifer.
Director Gordon Hessler relates the absorbing story at a steady pace, adroitly crafts a spot-on spooky atmosphere along with an intriguing aura of mystery, and makes good use of the sprawling estate main location. The clever script by Jimmy Sangster and Arthur Hoffe offers a pretty predictable, but sill effective twist at the end along with exceptionally well-drawn characters. The three leads all do top work, with sturdy support from Charles Drake as a devoted father looking for his missing daughter. A solid 70's made-for-TV thriller. -
I never got to see "Scream, Pretty Peggy" when it first aired, but many years later I watched it on TV here in Chicago. I taped it, luckily, I was happy to have a copy, because this movie is one of the best TV movies of our time.
SUMMARY: Peggy Johns (Sian Barbara Allan) takes a job as housekeeper from a college employment department in a old mansion owned by Mrs. Elliot (Bette Davis) and her son Jeffrey (Ted Bessel). Jeffrey is an artist who works in the creepy old mansion. Peggy finds out about his deranged sister who lives in the mansion above the garage. She suspects something is wrong when George Thornton (the former housekeeper's father) comes to the mansion to look for his daughter. The daughter is missing. Peggy get suspicious and looks further into the history of the family. Mrs. Elliot warns Peggy to leave because she is in danger. Peggy does not listen to her and stays. But there's a murderer and he's after Peg.
I love the setting in the creepy old mansion. The killer still gives me chills every time you see her in the white cloak. I really love this movie. The acting is so-so, Bette Davis has a hard time though. If you liked this movie check out "The Dark Secret of Harvest Home". It's another horror TV movie starring Bette Davis. I think this one if my favorite TV movie after "Stranger In Our House". *** 1/2 stars, 10/10. SEE THIS MOVIE IF THE CHANCE COMES UP!!!!!!