Viewers may be tempted to tune out after an overdose of hideous acting, 1950's style. If you can look past the histrionics and EMOTING, especially of Nancy Kelly in the role of the Mother, the payoff in the ending is worth it. There are a couple of unexpected twists at the end, so shocking for the time, there is a plea at the end of the movie that viewers not reveal the 'shocking ending'.

This is a story about the motivations of a murderer. The question is raised in the movie about Nature vs Nurture. Christine Penmark (Nancy Kelly) grows increasingly concerned that her daughter Rhoda (Patty McCormick) is not the perfect 8 year old angel she appears-- particularly after the mysterious death of the little girl's school-mate. When Christine finds one of the dead child's belongings hidden in Rhoda's room, and hears of strange markings left on the victim that exactly match Rhoda's shoes, she becomes convinced of her child's guilt. But she uncovers a long-buried secret about her own past which implies her own guilt.

Christine's musings and travel on the road to conclusions are a bit painful to watch (see above remarks on Hysterical Emoting), but if the viewer suspends disbelief long enough to get involved in the plot, it challenges the the moral high ground one tends to adopt.

Christine's guilt about her own part in passing murderous genes onto her daughter overtakes her better judgment so that even when the child (creepily played to perfection by McCormick in her introductory role) confesses to her, the protective mother instinct takes over and evidence is destroyed, another murder follows (truly, the kid is on a roll), and finally, she decides there is only one (permanent) answer.

The twists come fast and furious after a botched murder-suicide, and the movie ends in redemption (for Christine) and retribution (for Rhoda)

Pretty heavy-handed acting and directing, and creepy and twisty enough to keep your interest. A remake of this movie would be completely pointless-- a big part of its attraction is the absurdity of the medium in 1956.

Be sure to watch to the very end-- the actors are introduced, and there is ONE last twist.....

 

Awards for
The Bad Seed (1956)

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Academy Awards, USA
Year	Result	Award	Category/Recipient(s)
1957	Nominated	Oscar	Best Actress in a Leading Role Nancy Kelly
			Best Actress in a Supporting Role Eileen Heckart
			Best Actress in a Supporting Role Patty McCormack
			Best Cinematography, Black-and-White Harold Rosson
Golden Globes, USA
Year	Result	Award	Category/Recipient(s)
1957	Won	Golden Globe	Best Supporting Actress Eileen Heckart
	Nominated	Golden Globe	Best Supporting Actress Patty McCormack