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Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audience Rating: Unrated
Binding: DVD
Brand: STARZ HOME ENTERTAINMENT
EAN: 0013131320893
Format: Color, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC
Label: Starz / Anchor Bay
Manufacturer: Starz / Anchor Bay
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Starz / Anchor Bay
Region Code: 1
Release Date: April 04, 2006
Running Time: 95 minutes
Sales Rank: 27148
Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay
Theatrical Release Date: February 07, 1968
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Editorial Review:
Product Description:
The legendary Bette Davis stars as Mrs. Taggart a venomous one-eyed matriarch who despite her husband being long dead demands her three grown sons gather for her 40th anniversary. Eldest Henry is a mild-mannered cross-dresser; middle child Terry is a henpecked weakling; and carefree youngest son Thomas arrives with his pregnant fianc e. But this bumpy night has only just begun as family secrets will be revealed cruel insults hurled and frilly underwear stolen. Even if the siblings can survive the festivities unscathed does the biggest mother of them all have a shocking final surprise for everyone? Christian Roberts (TO SIR WITH LOVE) and Sheila Hancock co-star in this deranged black comedy written and produced by Jimmy Sangster (THE NANNY WHO SLEW AUNTIE ROO?) and directed by Roy Ward Baker (DON T BOTHER TO KNOCK A NIGHT TO REMEMBER) that Bette Davis fans still call one of her most outrageous performances ever!DVD Features:Audio Commentary with Director Roy Ward Baker Writer/Producer Jimmy Sangster and DVD Producer Perry MartinTrailerTV SpotPoster & Still GalleryTalen Bios Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY Rating: NR UPC: 013131320893 Manufacturer No: DV13208
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Great Family Farce Movie Starring Bette Davis
A farce is a comedy involving a series of ridiculously unlikely turns of events. With Miss Bette Davis playing the lead actor, the story is about what she and her family do on an anniversary of her husband's death. The farcical aspects begin from the start when Bette Davis makes her appearance at the top of her home's staircase dressed in all red, including purse and eye patch, as if she were the belle of some major ball. Instead, she is just coming out of her bedroom to the top of the stairs where her family can see her. It's totally ridiculous and hysterically funny. Davis' comical timing is like the rest of her dramatic performances: done to perfection.
Everything about Davis' character as the head of the family during this 'festive' family gathering is just about as unlikely as it gets. When the rest of her family's actions and lines are added, the quality of the farce is intensified, complicated, truly twisted, and yet, somehow true to real life families in quite a few ways that we might like wanting to admit.
I can't imagine "The Anniversary" carrying out the farce to high comedy without Bette Davis playing the lead character who is way seriously into this dramatic death ritual. It's because Davis' is such the ultimate actor that her character has to be taken seriously and laughed at, simultaneously.
Rating:  - Bette Davis in an eye patch
You might think an eye patch would be over the top, well not for Bette Davis. This tale of family in-fighting and treachery is led by the legend on a romp through a family function gone terribly wrong. Although Hammer made this film and their reputation was in horror the film itself is more of a drama, although it does have a very dark side. A good script and a sufficient supporting cast round out the production making it worth the watch.
Rating: - June Cleever with a cleaver
"The Anniversary" is certainly engaging, but it's also somewhat depressing. The vitriol and narcissism fly from all directions, not just from Bette Davis' "Mother from Hell" character (though she does get the top award in the "reprehensible" category here). But if you can take all the hate, the movie delivers good banter, some funny moments, and a nice sheen of sophistication. You could certainly do worse things for ninety-five minutes or so than watch this movie.
A quick word about Ms. Davis' performance in "The Anniversary". Some here have called it hammy and over-the-top, but I didn't find it so. I think that Ms. Davis wisely saw that the material was often outrageous, over-the-top, etc., so she didn't need to be. She just calmly delivered her lines with just the right emphasis and underscoring and let the material basically speak for itself. I found it to be a nicely modulated performance.
The commentary track, featuring director Roy Ward Baker; an executive from Anchor Bay Entertainment (the DVD company); and one of the film's producers, is also a lot of fun, mainly due to the fact that it's so candid. The word "battleaxe" is actually used to describe Ms. Davis' personality on the set. But the producer and director also say nice things about her, which come off as credible because they didn't hold back on the bad stuff.
The film print employed here is sharp and clear, and the colors are vibrant. Kudos to Anchor Bay for producing such a nice DVD... ... Read More
Rating: - Different
This is a rather bizarre movie all the way around. Bette Davis, as always, rises to the challenge. She is an overbearing mother who rules her brood with a twisted sense of humor. It is an english movie, which I very much enjoy. It is a must see for any Bette Davis fan.
Rating: - fine Bette Davis vehicle from the '60s
Bette Davis stars in The Anniversary, a black campy comedy from the 1960s. She is ably assisted by other supporting actors; and if you like movies that are somewhat off the beaten path, this one's for you!
When the action starts, Mrs. Taggart (Bette Davis), the wealthy and highly manipulative matriarch of the Taggart family, demands that her three sons help her "celebrate" her anniversary to their father--even though he's been dead for ten years. Of course, this being a Bette Davis vehicle, the three sons aren't exactly the strongest. Henry (James Cossins) is a cross dresser and rather wimpy; and her other son Terry (Jack Hedley) doesn't have much backbone either. The youngest son Tom (Christian Roberts) brings his pregnant fiancée Shirley (Elaine Taylor) along for the celebration, which is sure to cause some friction.
Well, if you read that insults fly and family secrets become public information, you read correct information. Mrs. Taggart, who is so wicked and cold that she isn't even given a first name by the writers, carries on throughout the evening like a woman obsessed with humiliating and manipulating people as things as well as events so that she can always stay close to her three sons.
Of course, the plot can go anywhere from here. Will Mrs. Taggart get her way the whole night long? Will any or all of her sons ever stand up to her? What about Terry's wife Karen--will she stand up to Mrs. Taggart? What will Mrs. Taggart do when she finds out Tom's fiancée ... Read More
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