Agnes casts her spell

The mass of fiery red hair...eyes painted a campy blue...billowy parfait-colored dresses...You may automatically associate Agnes Moorehead with the 1960s mischievous comedy, "Bewitched," in which she portrayed the acid-tongued mother-in-law to Samantha's blubbering husband Darrin, but this seasoned actress can conjure up more than just witchcraft on the small screen. With her trademark smoldering gaze and sky-high cheekbones, this unconventional beauty has played every kind of character imaginable ranging from a haughty mystery writer in "The Bat," to her Oscar-nominated performance as a scraggly housekeeper in "Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte." Even Moorehead's booming voice and unadulterated bravado landed her the role of a larger-than-life evangelist in "What's the Matter With Helen?," heard only through a spiritual radio show played during the movie. 

Thus far, I'm most enamored by Moorehead's knockabout spin as the stealthy Madge Rapf in the 1947 film noir, "Dark Passage." This stylish drama pairs legendary Hollywood couple Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall as a convicted killer on the lam and the heroine who stows him away in her home while naturally falling for his je ne sais quoi.  Moorehead's Madge is the best friend to Bacall's Irene and the former lover to Bogart's Vincent. To ward off suspicions from passersby and the police, Vincent undergoes plastic surgery to alter his face.  If you don't mind discovering the movie's "big reveal," witness this bone-chilling scene when Vincent drops into Madge's apartment to surprise her with his minty-new mug. Moorehead's drawn-out diction and dramatic facial expressions bring an authentic realism to the character's unsavory ways. I love how Madge's disposition drastically jumps from comfortably coquettish to nervously fearful in just a matter of minutes. Notice how her neck jerks the second Vincent hints around to his true identity. Now listen to her stammer and watch her recoil as she fruitlessly defends herself. The once stalwart woman turns into a vulnerable soul. And don't panic or recoil yourself: this particular clip involves some "Bewitched" antics at the end thanks to modern technology.

When the Loew's Jersey screened this movie, the host asked the audience afterwards if they thought Madge hurled herself off of the balcony intentionally or if she accidentally fell toward her demise. The moviegoers were split in their assessment.  I concluded that she adored herself too much to commit suicide. You'll have to see “Dark Passage” in full to grasp the concept of this calculating narcassist  and the brilliant way the movie tucks her into the story.  Incidentally,  the taffeta dress becomes this character.  The bold stripes and colossal hoop represent her proud and demanding personality. Even her taut bun embodies a lethal sharpness. Thank you, Agnes, for living out a character we love to loathe!