The Bad Seed
“Talk all you want about the man and the woman -- but please don't tell about the girl!”
Synopsis
Air Force Colonel Kenneth Penmark and his wife, Christine, adore their daughter Rhoda, despite her secret tendency for selfishness. Christine keeps her knowledge of her daughter's darker side to herself, but when a schoolmate of Rhoda's dies mysteriously, her self-deception unravels.
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Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
The Bad Seed (1956) Official Trailer - Nancy Kelly, Patty McCormack Movie HD
Type: Trailer • Published 2016-06-08
Top Cast
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Patty McCormack
Rhoda Penmark
Nancy Kelly
Christine Penmark
Henry Jones
Leroy Jessup
Eileen Heckart
Hortense Daigle
Evelyn Varden
Monica Breedlove
William Hopper
Col. Kenneth Penmark
Paul Fix
Richard Bravo
Jesse White
Emory Wages
Gage Clarke
Reginald "Reggie" Tasker
Joan Croydon
Claudia Fern
Frank Cady
Henry Daigle
Frances Bavier
Woman at Dinner Party (uncredited)
Violet N. Cane
Teacher (uncredited)
Vivian Clermont
Mary Beth Musgrove (uncredited)
Shelley Fabares
Margie (uncredited)
Kathy Garver
Rhoda's Classmate (uncredited)
Don C. Harvey
Guard in Hospital (uncredited)
Edna Holland
Saleslady (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
Washington, D.C.
Festival / Special Debut
September 12, 1956
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$1M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
Pending
Total global ticket sales
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Mervyn LeRoy
- Screenplay & Story
- John Lee Mahin
- Original Score
- Alex North
- Original Title
- The Bad Seed
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 2h 9m
- Production Budget
- $1M
- Production Studios
- Warner Bros. Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Mervyn LeRoy
John Lee Mahin, Maxwell Anderson, William March
Alex North
Harold Rosson
Warren Low
Mervyn LeRoy
Department Leadership Roster
Mervyn LeRoy
Director
John Lee Mahin
Screenplay
Harold Rosson
Director of Photography
Mervyn LeRoy
Producer
Warren Low
Editor
Alex North
Original Music Composer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Bad Seed.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Bad Seed
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Bad Seed about?
Air Force Colonel Kenneth Penmark and his wife, Christine, adore their daughter Rhoda, despite her secret tendency for selfishness. Christine keeps her knowledge of her daughter's darker side to herself, but when a schoolmate of Rhoda's dies mysteriously, her self-deception unravels.
Who directed The Bad Seed?
The Bad Seed was directed by Mervyn LeRoy.
Who stars in The Bad Seed?
The principal cast of The Bad Seed includes Patty McCormack, Nancy Kelly, Henry Jones, Eileen Heckart, Evelyn Varden.
When was The Bad Seed released and how long is it?
The Bad Seed was released in 1956 with a total runtime of 2h 9m.
Who composed the musical score for The Bad Seed?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Bad Seed was composed by Alex North.
Is The Bad Seed based on a book or true story?
The Bad Seed is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "William March".
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Bad Seed?
The Bad Seed holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).