Stay in Touch
Get sneak previews of special offers & upcoming events delivered to your inbox.
Sign in
07-01-2019 05:07 PM
Was based on a true story? I didn't until yesterday. I caught the last 45 minutes that it was on TCM yesterday (I have seen the whole movie before and really like it - it's kind of a departure role for Bette Davis).
I did a little research about the movie and discovered that the screenplay was adapted from the novel by Rachel Field. Rachel Field's novel is based on the true story of her great-aunt Henriette Deluzy Desportes who was a nanny to the Duc and duchesse dePraslin. The murder of the Duchesse dePraslin was a real life scandal in France in the 1840's.
Henriette did leave France and came to America. She married the Reverend Henry Field in 1851 and they lived in New York and Massachusetts (at the end of the movie Bette Davis and Jeffrey Lynn are standing at the window and the audience assumes they'll get married). Henriette died in 1875, about 62 years old. The Reverend married a second time after Henriette's death. (He was 9 years younger than her).
I never would have guessed the movie was based on a true story!
07-01-2019 05:16 PM
Nor would I have, @cimeranrose. That's some fascinating piece of research you did!
07-01-2019 05:17 PM - edited 07-01-2019 05:18 PM
Very interesting!
I happened to watch most of this yesterday, as I love Bette D. and had never seen the movie. Not a fan of Charles B., but....still enjoyed the "story telling" aspect of the movie.
I loved her relationship with the children and the way they responded to her. That little boy was an angel.
The Duke poisoning himself annoyed me. Why didn't he just confess? He had to have known she would be considered a suspect? It just aggravated me.
And the wife was a B on wheels! I wanted to strangle her myself
But, then, I reminded myself it was long ago and worlds away.
I did enjoy that the ending gave her promise!
07-01-2019 05:21 PM
Yes, I have always known the movie was based on a true story.
What Henriette Deluzy Desportes looked like as a young nanny.....
"Never argue with a fool. Onlookers may not be able to tell the difference."
07-01-2019 06:25 PM
Ah yes, @Witchy Woman , little Reynald stole my heart too, especially when he said "mademoiselle." I felt so bad for the children at the end of the movie because they lost not only both parents but their nanny who showed them love and kindness.
07-01-2019 06:55 PM
ATAHT is one of my favorite Bette Davis movies. The story was a bit of a tear jerker along with the fact that June Lockhart from the classic tv shows Lassie and Lost In Space, plays the oldest daughter and Richard Nichols, who plays the son Reynauld, calls Bette Davis' character "Mamselle" throughout the entire film with a southern accent!
Get sneak previews of special offers & upcoming events delivered to your inbox.
*You're signing up to receive QVC promotional email.
Find recent orders, do a return or exchange, create a Wish List & more.
Privacy StatementGeneral Terms of Use
QVC is not responsible for the availability, content, security, policies, or practices of the above referenced third-party linked sites nor liable for statements, claims, opinions, or representations contained therein. QVC's Privacy Statement does not apply to these third-party web sites.
© 1995-2024 QVC, Inc. All rights reserved. | QVC, Q and the Q logo are registered service marks of ER Marks, Inc. 888-345-5788