Review
What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?
- Director
- Robert Aldrich
- Year
- 1962
- Rating
- Reviewed by
- José Ruiloba a.k.a. Morris
- Review date
- Tuesday, May 14, 2002
Bette Davis plays Baby Jane Hudson, a once-famous vaudeville whose career went down once she grew up. Joan Crawford plays his actress sister Blanche, who had exactly the opposite luck and overshadowed Jane as she became a big movie star. It wasn’t like that forever though, since she was the victim of a terrible accident that left her crippled for life. Jane, absorbed by jealousy and bitterness, simply makes her sister’s life impossible.
What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? is a mixture between black comedy and thriller that was made when Davis and Crawford were not the hottest tickets in town. It proved to be a smash and it deserved to be. No matter how much publicity went to the on-set feud between the actresses, this movie definitely stands on its own.
The movie reminded me a lot of Misery, although I obviously saw them in the wrong order. It works impressively well as a nail-biting thriller about a person who is definitely going mad and whose acts worsen by the minute. The way she keeps making her sister suffer to such extreme levels is excruciating, but so are all the moments when Blanche may have a chance of being saved and the way they all go wrong!
There’s also the biting look at Hollywood and stardom that is so common to this world. When a child artist gets to be famous it’s always a happy thing, but when the same child can’t still do it when growing up can be a pretty traumatic experience. Even more so when their sibling is receiving all the accolades now and they know how that feels. That makes for a very interesting psychological study that is very well portrayed here. Not until the end will you know the entire truth about these sisters’ story.
Bette Davis is unforgettable as the over-the-top Baby Jane who borders a close line between sanity and madness. She never ceases to surprise us and makes of this a full-bodied character with all the ramifications it implies. Crawford, on the other hand, delivers a low-key restrained performance that is just as good. Worthy of mention as well is Victor Buono in his film debut as a man who kind of befriends Jane and whose presence is also very important to the story.
A must!
“I’ve written a letter to Daddy. His address is heaven above.”
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Comments
Morris wrote at 6/22/2002:
I didn't know you had seen it bud!!! That's so great. It's definitely a must.And yes, that plot twist certainly rules!
Groucho wrote at 6/22/2002:
How could you not know? I saw it as a child, then years later, then again a few years later. I've seen it many times now and I love it!And yes, it IS a must!
Morris wrote at 6/22/2002:
Well, how would I know? Hehe. Leave a comment
Groucho wrote at 6/22/2002:
Friend, you did wonders at talking about this movie. It is indeed a great one, especially considering the real-life despise these actresses had for each other. However, I saw this one long ago without knowing that and it was still a maddening experience. Davis sure goes gradually mad!Loved that plot twist!