The Bad Seed (1956)

Director:

Mervyn LeRoy

Writers:

William March (novel)
Maxwell Anderson (play)
(more)

Release Date:

12 September 1956 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

A WOMAN'S SHAME...Out in the Open!

Plot:

An ideal housewife begins to suspect her loving adolescent daughter may be a heartless killer.

Plot Keywords:

Dream | Colonel | Medal | Handyman | Picnic

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Nancy Kelly	...	Christine Penmark
Patty McCormack	...	Rhoda Penmark
Henry Jones	...	Leroy Jessup
Eileen Heckart	...	Hortense Daigle
Evelyn Varden	...	Monica Breedlove
William Hopper	...	Col. Kenneth Penmark
Paul Fix	...	Richard Bravo
Jesse White	...	Emory Wages
Gage Clarke	...	Reginald 'Reggie' Tasker
Joan Croydon	...	Claudia Fern (as Joan Croyden)
Frank Cady	...	Henry Daigle
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Frances Bavier	...	Woman in dinner party scene (uncredited)
Violet Cane	...	Teacher (uncredited)
Vivian Clermont	...	Mary Beth Musgrove (uncredited)
Shelley Fabares	...	Margie (uncredited)
Kathy Garver	...	Rhoda's Classmate (uncredited)
Don C. Harvey	...	Guard in Hospital Corridor (uncredited)
Edna Holland	...	Saleslady (uncredited)
Dayton Lummis	...	The Doctor (uncredited)
Natalie Masters	...	Nurse (uncredited)
Patricia Morrow	...	Ginny (uncredited)
Adele Taylor	...	Teacher (uncredited)
John Truax	...	The Sergeant (uncredited)

Directed by
Mervyn LeRoy

Writing credits
William March		(novel)
Maxwell Anderson		(play)
John Lee Mahin		(screenplay)

Produced by
Mervyn LeRoy	....	producer

Original Music by
Alex North

Cinematography by
Harold Rosson		(as Hal Rosson)

Film Editing by
Warren Low

Art Direction by
John Beckman

Set Decoration by
Ralph S. Hurst		(as Ralph Hurst)

Costume Design by
Moss Mabry

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mel Dellar	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Stanley Jones	....	sound

Music Department
Maurice De Packh	....	orchestrator (as Maurice de Packh)

Production Companies

• Warner Bros. Pictures

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1956) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1973) (USA) (TV) (network premiere)
• Warner Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (video)

Runtime:

129 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

Canada:14A (Ontario) | Germany:18 (DVD) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved

Filming Locations:

Burbank, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Rosalind Russell was originally considered for role of the mother (played by 'Nancy Kelly'), until studio decided to go with Broadway cast.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Christine is reading the book to Rhoda and the shot is behind Rhoda, the covers are down around her waist and she is lying on her side. When the shot is in front or Rhoda, the covers are tucked up under her chin and she is lying more on her back. In the next shot, behind her again, the covers are again around her waist and she's on her side.

Quotes:

Christine Penmark: Rhoda, what happened to old Mrs. Post in Witchita?
Rhoda: There was ice on the steps and I slipped and fell against her, and that was all.
Christine Penmark: That was all?
Rhoda: No. I slipped on purpose.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Mommy (1995)

Soundtrack:

Au clair de la lune

Very good

I thought this movie was made very well. Despite what another had commented about this movie, I do feel that her facial expressions were very much eerie and the girl did a very good job as "the bad seed". The way she would look and smile whenever she lied made me think about how bad of a person she was and the look in her eyes also would show how she knew that she could manipulate anyone who got in her way. feel that for it's time it was a very good movie. It had to do something right, since it was nominated for an Oscar. So in all despite the comment prior to this one, I do feel that it was a very good movie. I thought that the ending was good too, since it gave people a sense of reality to the people who played the characters(some can't see past a character that a person plays).