What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

Genre: psychological horror movie (in black and white, appropriately enough)

With: Bette Davis (‟Baby Jane” Hudson), Joan Crawford (her sister Blanche), Victor Buono (Edwin Flagg), Maidie Norman (Elvira Stitt), Marjorie Bennett (Dehlia, Edwin’s mother), Anna Lee (Mrs. Bates, the neighbour)

Director: Robert Aldrich

Screenplay: Lukas Heller (based on Henry Farrell’s novel)

Release: 1962

Studio: Associates and Aldrich

Rating: PG

MBiS score: 8.4/10





She Was Cute Back Then. She Ain’t Cute No More.





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Story-line: the relationship between Blanche Hudson, a Hollywood actress, and her sister Jane, a former child star, takes a tragic turn when a car accident confines Blanche to a wheelchair and casts Jane as her caregiver.

Pluses: pitch-perfect performances by Bette Davis (in a nasty, showy role) and Joan Crawford, smart support from Victor Buono and cast, a spellbinding and tightly-wound screenplay, implacable direction, Frank De Vol’s hyperactive and highly effective musical score, impressive production values (Jane’s makeup, the Hudsons’ fortress-like house) and a stupefying ending.

Minuses: although rich in protein, Jane’s cooking may not cater to all tastes.    

Comments: WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE? is an unsettling film that all movie buffs should see at least once in their lifetime. Pay close attention to the accident scene at around the 15-minute mark and to the car interior especially. Whatever you think of that pivotal scene, there’s one thing we will all agree on: Baby Jane Hudson will forever be one of the silver screen’s most celebrated kooks, along with SUNSET BOULEVARD’s Norma Desmond.





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