Picture Mommy Dead

Picture Mommy Dead

Year: 1966

Runtime: 82 mins

Language: English

Director: Bert I. Gordon

ThrillerHorror

Released from the asylum after her mother’s fiery death, Susan Shelley returns to a family where her father has married a woman driven by the inheritance left by the late spouse. Haunted by her mother’s memory, Susan is used by the step‑mother and her lover, who aim to locate the missing diamond necklace she inherited.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Picture Mommy Dead (1966)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Picture Mommy Dead (1966). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Flagmore Mansion, St. Marie's Convent and Hospital

Set around the opulent Flagmore mansion, the story unfolds as wealth and status collide with hidden crimes. The mansion houses the will, the hefty inheritance, and the clues Susan uncovers while exploring its rooms and memories. The convent/hospital where Susan was treated anchors her return to the family estate, where the truth awaits in the dark corners.

🏰 Mansion 🏥 Hospital 🕊️ Convent

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:43

Main Characters – Picture Mommy Dead (1966)

Meet the key characters of Picture Mommy Dead (1966), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Susan Shelley (Susan Gordon)

An adolescent returning from St. Marie's Convent and Hospital after a nervous breakdown, Susan remains unsettled about her mother's death. Curious and resolute, she pieces together visions and clues to uncover that Jessica was murdered. Her clever, determined nature drives the investigation and the ultimate confrontation with her family's secrets.

🕵️‍♀️ Detective 💪 Resilient 🧭 Curious

Edward Shelley (Don Ameche)

A wealthy, controlling father who will do anything to protect his family's fortune. He hints at marital murder as a way to maintain control and is later revealed to have killed Jessica. He ultimately kills Francene in a fit of rage, sealing his own complicity in the deadly family drama.

💰 Wealthy 🤐 Secretive 🔪 Murderer

Francene Shelley (Martha Hyer)

Edward's ambitious wife, a schemer who plots to seize Susan's fortune. She colludes with Anthony to steal the inheritance, and her actions escalate to murder. She culminates in a violent pursuit through the house, where she is ultimately killed by Edward.

💎 Greed 🗡️ Manipulative 🔥 Dangerous

Jessica Flagmore Shelley (Zsa Zsa Gabor)

The late socialite mother whose murder drives the mystery. Her portrait bleeds, and her necklace becomes a key clue in the search for truth. Jessica's legacy looms over the estate and the will, shaping the actions of those who remain.

🎀 Socialite 🔥 Tragic 🧭 Influence

Anthony Flagmore (Maxwell Reed)

Cousin and Francene's lover, a schemer aiming to exploit Susan's fortune. He is involved in the conspiracy and meets his end when Francene murders him with a fishing hook. His role exposes the incestuous web of relationships within the family.

💰 Ambitious 💘 Lover 🗡️ Violent

Sister René (Signe Hasso)

A nun who appears in the aftermath of the tragedy, offering a tempered, spiritual counterpoint to the family’s machinations. Her presence underscores the contrast between faith and the corrupt quest for wealth.

🙏 Faith 🕊️ Calm 🕯️ Mystery

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:43

Major Themes – Picture Mommy Dead (1966)

Explore the central themes of Picture Mommy Dead (1966), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💰 Inheritance

A vast inheritance and a trust fund drive motives and power dynamics within the Flagmore family. The prospect of hundreds of thousands of dollars creates tension between Edward, Francene, and Susan, pushing them toward manipulation and coercion. The will and the looming age of 25 become catalysts for conflict as characters scheme to control the fortune. The money tests loyalty and exposes who can be trusted.

🔎 Secrets

Hidden memories and physical clues drive Susan's investigation. The bleeding portrait and the necklace act as talismans of a past crime that someone wishes to bury. The mansion's rooms become traps for misdirection as Francene and Anthony's conspiracy unfolds. Susan's search for truth reveals that appearances mask fatal secrets.

🕯️ Betrayal

Loyalties fracture as lovers plot to exploit a vulnerable heiress. The revelation of past murders and present conspiracies leads to violence, including Francene murdering Anthony and Edward admitting responsibility for Jessica's death. In the end, Susan aligns with her father to cover up the truth, while the mansion burns around them.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:43

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Picture Mommy Dead Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Picture Mommy Dead, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Picture Mommy Dead Summary

Picture Mommy Dead Timeline

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Picture Mommy Dead Timeline

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Picture Mommy Dead (1966) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

Picture Mommy Dead (1966) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

Picture Mommy Dead (1966) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow