Home > The Bad Seed

The central character of the story is Christine Penmark, a young mother who is horrified by her daughter Rhoda's misbehavior. Influenced by a landlady's dalliance in psychiatric theories and a chance visit from her father, Christine begins to recall her own childhood, which brings back memories of bad behavior which is strikingly similar to Rhoda's...

The play was adapted by John Lee Mahin for the screenplay of a 1956 movie directed by Mervyn LeRoy and starring Nancy Kelly, Patricia McCormack , Henry Jones , Eileen Heckart, Evelyn Varden , William Hopper , Paul Fix and Jesse White .

The movie was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actress in a Leading Role (Nancy Kelly), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Eileen Heckart and Patricia McCormack, separately) and Best Cinematography, Black-and-White.

Although the novel and play had the mother dying and the evil child surviving, the Hays Code did not allow for "crime to pay". The ending of the film thus has it the other way around.

The Bad Seed was made for television in 1985, adapted by George Eckstein and directed by Paul Wendkos . It starred Blair Brown, Lynn RedgraveLynn Redgrave (born March 8, 1943) is a British actress. Born Lynn Rachel Redgrave in London, she is a member of the famous acting Redgrave family. Her parents are Michael Redgrave and Rachel Kempson, her brother is Corin Redgrave and her sister is Vaness, David CarradineDavid Carradine (born John Arthur Carradine 8 December, 1936 in Hollywood, California USA) is an American actor and ex- Marine. He is the son of actor John Carradine, the brother of Keith Carradine, and half-brother of Robert Carradine. He starred in the, Carrie Wells , Richard KileyRichard Paul Kiley ( 31 March 1922 5 March 1999) was an American stage, television, and film actor, though he is best known for his voice work, as narrator of various documentary series. In Jurassic Park the impresario boasted, "We've spared no expense., Chad AllenChad Allen (born Chad Allen Lazzari on June 5, 1974) is an American actor who is most famous for his television roles in the series Our House and Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman''. A tabloid newspaper published compromising photographs of him in a hot tub with and Christa Denton .

"Bad Seed" is also the name of the Nick CaveNicholas Edward Cave (born September 22, 1957) is a musician, songwriter, poet, author, and actor. Cave was born in Warracknabeal, Australia, the son of (librarian) Dawn and (English-teacher) Colin Cave, brother of Tim (b. 1952), Peter (b. 1954) and Julie biography by Ian Johnston.