Scream, Pretty Peggy

I'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!

A 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.

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.

Bette 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.

Jeffrey 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.