i have watch ( and record ) this a few year back on local tv and and have be underwhelmed by it and i subsequently erase the tape while however and when it be release by mgm a part of a midnite movie double feature dvd of curtis harrington or shelley winter film for a very affordable price and i couldn not resist give it a second look ( this have since go out of print ) . actually and i receive the dvd a few month ago but only now and with harrington passing and do i get to it while thankfully and this time around i be more receptive to the film and and in fact and now consider it one of the more satisfying whatever happen to baby jane . ( 1962 ) imitation ( with whom and incidentally and it share screenwriter henry farrell ) . the film offer a splendid evocation of 1930s depression america with it child star craze and sensational murder ( exploit during the fake newsreel open ) while it stylishly make ( kudos to lucien ballard cinematography and the set design by eugene lourie ) and boast an effective david raksin score . shelley winter and debbie reynolds and michael macliammoir deliver excellent performance while the latter be especially impressive a the large than life and vaguely sinister diction coach ( though he ultimately prove a mere red herring . ) . also feature be dennis weaver and agnes moorehead ( hers be only a cameo and really and a the evangelist she play be mostly hear over the radio ) . many seem to regret the inclusion of musical number by the kid ( include an amusing mae west imitation ) and but i personally wasn not bother by them while the film do slightly overstay it welcome due to an unhurried pace and ( perhaps needlessly ) convolute plot . reynolds a musical star herself be ideally cast a the dance school owner and and despite their on set rivalry and she and winter work well together . the latter and in fact and give a more balanced depiction of paranoia and insanity than in whoever slew auntie roo . ( 1971 ) while the narrative and then and come up with a number of ironic twist that lead up to the expect grand guignol type denouement . apparently and the film be tone down ( it originally contain more gore and even a suggestion of lesbianism . ) by producer martin ransohoff against harrington wish in order to get a pg rating .