The Devil's Daughter (1973)

The lovely and appealing Belinda Montgomery (who may be best known for playing Doogie Howser's mom on TV) stars here as Diane Shaw, whose long unseen mother Alice (Diane Ladd) has just met a bad end. The naive and trusting Diane then meets other people who knew her mom, like the solicitous Lilith Malone (Shelley Winters) and her mute chauffeur / butler Mr. Howard (Jonathan Frid of 'Dark Shadows' fame, stuck in a thankless role). Diane soon learns that these people are part of a Satan worshipping cult who insist that Diane is none other than the spawn of Alice and Old Scratch.For the most part, this is just a little too patently predictable. It reminded this viewer of the later theatrical production "Race with the Devil", where one begins to wonder if most of the characters in this sordid tale are not to be trusted. Also, if one has seen enough 70s movies, both theatrical and made for television, they come to expect a not so happy ending, and 'The Devil's Daughter' (scripted by Colin Higgins, "Nine to Five", "Harold and Maude") doesn't deviate from the formula. It's all given adequate if not inspired treatment by director Jeannot Szwarc ("Bug", "Jaws 2", "Somewhere in Time"). Some horror fans may come away somewhat disappointed as there really aren't that many moments that qualify as scary stuff.The production did cast a number of great faces for roles large and small. Winters is allowed to chew the scenery, as she so often did. Among the co-stars who put on their best poker faces for the material: Robert Foxworth as a boyfriend, Martha Scott as his mother, Joseph Cotten as a judge, Lucille Benson and Thelma Carpenter as the Poole sisters, Abe Vigoda as Alikhine, and Ian Wolfe and Robert Cornthwaite as priests.Worth sitting through for the big finale, which has a surprise in store but a minimum of cheese.Six out of 10.

After her mother's untimely and violent death, Diane Shaw (Belinda Montgomery) meets a woman named Lilith Malone (Shelley Winters) who claims to be one of her mother's old friends. Lilith invites Diane to stay with her for a while. At first things seem almost ideal, but a series of strange events soon puts a different spin on things. Diane decides to leave Lilith's house, but can't seem to escape her control. Is Lilith who and what she claims to be? Or is she the devil in disguise? I just love watching Shelley Winters in a movie like this. Although she's in control most of the time, there's at least one scene where Winters loses it that's too much fun. I don't think her turn in The Devil's Daughter is anywhere near her best, but she always a joy. The rest of the cast is good. Jonathan Frid, Abe Vigoda, Diane Ladd, and Joseph Cotton are all good in their respective roles.I also love these 1970s made-for-TV movies. As I wrote in a comment to another Movie of the Week, young people today would be surprised at how much we enjoyed watching these movies. And if it was horror or horror related, it was something we really looked forward to. Movies like Satan's School for Girls, Gargoyles, and The Night Stalker were the highlights of the television schedule. The Devil's Daughter is another fine example of made-for-TV horror. It's not the best of the bunch, but it is effectively creepy in spots. A few of the scenes, like the party Diane attends where she discovers her titular birthright, are eerily reminiscent of Rosemary's Baby. Overall, it's an enjoyable little film – not great by any stretch of the imagination – just enjoyable. I would rate it even higher if the screenplay weren't so predictable. I defy anyone who has seen more than a handful of horror to find many surprises in the plot. But even as predictable as the film's climax may be, it's still a trip to watch unfold.

Sweet young Diane Shaw (a fine and sympathetic performance by the comely Belinda J. Montgomery) is given a place to stay by the seemingly friendly Lilith Malone (superbly played by the ever reliable Shelley Winters) following the death of Diane's mother (Diane Ladd in a strong cameo). Diane discovers much to her display that her mother was a member of an evil Satanic cult and made a deal with the devil to marry her off to the chosen one when she reaches legal age. Director Jeannot ("Jaws 2") Szwarc does a commendable job of creating and sustaining a compellingly eerie and mysterious atmosphere. J.J. Jones' polished cinematography gives the picture a bright, attractive look. Lawrence Rosenthal's shuddery'n'spooky score likewise does the trick. The bang-up supporting cast qualifies as another major asset: Jonathan Frid (Barnabas on "Dark Shadows") as Lilith's creepy mute chauffeur Mr. Howard, Robert Foxworth as charming architect Steve Stone, Abe Vigoda as sinister anthropologist Aliknine, Joseph Cotten as the amiable Judge Weatherby, Ian Wolfe as the kindly Father MacHugh, and Lucille ("Private Parts") Benson as the flaky Janet Poole. The dark surprise ending is a real corker, too. A very solid and satisfying vintage 70's made-for-TV fright feature.

An aspiring mother makes a pact with The Devil for wealth in exchange for her daughter, who would one day marry Satan's son. She despicably tries to renege on the deal, and is promptly punished for her ingratitude. In an attempt to shoot The Devil, the bullet actually penetrates her own chest. Her daughter 'Diane' {Belinda Montgomery} grows up sheltered in convents and private schools, eventually developing into quite a comely young lady until the day of her mother's funeral, where she meets with Lilith Malone {Shelley Winters}, who graciously offers her to stay at her beautiful home, wherein she begins experiencing nightmares and comes upon little secrets here and there, and her suspicion grows. She becomes fascinated by a certain sigil which she notices being virtually omnipresent at the mansion, on objects, and on jewelry upon suspicious persons, including two rather feather-brained women who act like something out of The Stepford Wives.Upon meeting a new friend Alice Shaw {Diane Ladd}, she decides to be out on her own, and leaves the comfort of this veritable palace for an apartment. Here and there, Lilith and her cohorts begin appearing, monitoring her. Jonathan Frid {of Barnabas Collins / 'Dark Shadows' fame} plays a mute butler / limousine driver, who seems to feel for the young lady's perceived plight, when all she had to do all along is merely accept her birthright as the "Princess of Darkness'. One night while at a party thrown by Lilith, Diane drinks a bit too much wherein her repressed carnal expression breaks free and begins lasciviously dancing in the midst of the crowd, who begin hailing her as the said 'Princess of Darkness', as well as 'The Demon of Endor'. Her denial persists, despite her increasing experiences with her own diabolical powers made manifest. She is summoned by a Judge who informs her that her father set up a trust fund for her; who pleasantly agrees to 'give her away' at her impending whirlwind romance and wedding. I thought it rather interesting that she began dating her now dead friend's man, who perished in a freak horse 'accident' {seems that during one of Lilith's unexpected visits, she stealthily lifted a horse figurine from Alice's collection, obviously using it for a Curse}. She meets Steve Stone {Robert Foxworth} and falls horns over hoofs in love. We later come to discover that she meets her true "soul-mate" in his form. Many surprises await the viewer at the end during The Wedding with a truly delightful twist.The Devil's Daughter was released around the same time as all the legendary 'devil movies' such as The Devil's Rain, Rosemary's Baby, The Exorcist, and later, The Omen were, which also includes an 'all-star' cast, and otherwise served to launch the career of subsequent stars.