{"id":2144,"date":"2007-01-23T19:48:03","date_gmt":"2007-01-24T02:48:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=2144"},"modified":"2020-12-27T01:10:41","modified_gmt":"2020-12-27T08:10:41","slug":"what-ever-happened-to-baby-jane-1962","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=2144","title":{"rendered":"What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;Blanche, you aren&#8217;t <em>ever<\/em> going to sell this house &#8212; and you aren&#8217;t ever going to leave it, either!&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/What-Ever-Happened-to-Baby-Jane-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/What-Ever-Happened-to-Baby-Jane-Poster-195x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"195\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-23250\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/What-Ever-Happened-to-Baby-Jane-Poster-195x300.jpg 195w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/What-Ever-Happened-to-Baby-Jane-Poster-83x128.jpg 83w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/What-Ever-Happened-to-Baby-Jane-Poster.jpg 491w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 195px) 100vw, 195px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nAging former child star &#8220;Baby Jane&#8221; (Bette Davis) resents having to care for her invalid sister, Blanche (Joan Crawford). When she meets a pianist (Victor Buono) who promises to help her revive her career, she makes plans to get rid of Blanche &#8212; once and for all.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Actors and Actresses<\/li>\n<li>Anna Lee Films<\/li>\n<li>Bette Davis Films<\/li>\n<li>Disabilities<\/li>\n<li>Has-Beens<\/li>\n<li>Jealousy<\/li>\n<li>Joan Crawford Films<\/li>\n<li>Mental Illness<\/li>\n<li>Psychological Horror<\/li>\n<li>Robert Aldrich Films<\/li>\n<li>Siblings<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary&#8217;s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nAs Peary notes, this &#8220;scary, perverse character study&#8221; &#8212; a &#8220;Grand Guignol&#8230; of personality-disorder horror films&#8221; &#8212; is too well made on too many counts to be considered a <em>true <\/em>camp classic (though it&#8217;s certainly enjoyed by many on that level as well). It features stellar performances by all those involved (especially Davis and her &#8220;business partner&#8221;, the inimitable Victor Buono); beautiful black-and-white cinematography; appropriately creepy sets; and a storyline which manages to elicit both genuine fright <em>and<\/em> concern for its protagonists.<\/p>\n<p>There are countless memorable moments in <em>Baby Jane<\/em>: Jane taunting Blanche by serving her a dead canary &#8212; and later a dead rat &#8212; for dinner; Jane coyly asking a young man behind the counter at the newspaper office if he recognizes her; Jane taking delight in building sandcastles on the beach; all of Jane&#8217;s interactions with Buono (whose use of subtle facial twitches is truly hilarious). Perhaps most interesting, however, is the fact that while director Robert Aldrich appears to be ridiculing his stars &#8212; they&#8217;re looking their absolute worst here &#8212; he also manages to generate genuine sympathy for their plights. Crawford and Davis may have been the unfortunate inspiration for, as Peary puts it, &#8220;a whole slew of fright films in which humor came from looking at grotesquely made-up faces of [once beautiful] old women&#8221;; but in this film, they&#8217;re the real deal: broken, tragic women whose jealousy and vanity have forced them both onto an inescapably disastrous trajectory.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> In his review, Peary points out the many similarities between <em>What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?<\/em> and Billy Wilder&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=3986\"><em>Sunset Boulevard<\/em><\/a>; take note especially of the final scene on the beach.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Bette Davis&#8217;s Oscar-nominated performance (one of her finest) as the delusional &#8220;Baby Jane&#8221;<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Whatever-Happened-Davis.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Whatever-Happened-Davis.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-59882\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Whatever-Happened-Davis.jpg 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Whatever-Happened-Davis-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Whatever-Happened-Davis-128x72.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Whatever-Happened-Davis-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Whatever-Happened-Davis-480x270.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Crawford&#8217;s less dramatic, but equally impressive, performance as the wheelchair-bound Blanche<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Whatever-Happened-Crawford.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Whatever-Happened-Crawford.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-59881\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Whatever-Happened-Crawford.jpg 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Whatever-Happened-Crawford-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Whatever-Happened-Crawford-128x72.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Whatever-Happened-Crawford-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Whatever-Happened-Crawford-480x270.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Many delightfully sinister moments between Davis and Crawford (notorious rivals in real life as well)<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Whatever-Happened-Sisters.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Whatever-Happened-Sisters.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-59879\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Whatever-Happened-Sisters.jpg 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Whatever-Happened-Sisters-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Whatever-Happened-Sisters-128x72.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Whatever-Happened-Sisters-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Whatever-Happened-Sisters-480x270.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Victor Buono&#8217;s wonderfully comedic turn as Edwin, Jane&#8217;s would-be salvation<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Whatever-Happened-Buono.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Whatever-Happened-Buono.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-59880\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Whatever-Happened-Buono.jpg 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Whatever-Happened-Buono-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Whatever-Happened-Buono-128x72.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Whatever-Happened-Buono-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Whatever-Happened-Buono-480x270.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Maidie Norman as Blanche&#8217;s concerned housemaid<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Whatever-Happened-Maid.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Whatever-Happened-Maid.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-59883\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Whatever-Happened-Maid.jpg 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Whatever-Happened-Maid-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Whatever-Happened-Maid-128x72.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Whatever-Happened-Maid-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Whatever-Happened-Maid-480x270.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Many moments of genuine terror &#8212; as when Blanche cries out for help by tossing a crumpled piece of paper down to their neighbor, only to watch Jane picking it up instead<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Whatever-Happened-Note.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Whatever-Happened-Note.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-59884\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Whatever-Happened-Note.jpg 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Whatever-Happened-Note-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Whatever-Happened-Note-128x72.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Whatever-Happened-Note-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Whatever-Happened-Note-480x270.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Appropriately baroque set designs<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Whatever-Happened-Set.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Whatever-Happened-Set.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-59878\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Whatever-Happened-Set.jpg 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Whatever-Happened-Set-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Whatever-Happened-Set-128x72.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Whatever-Happened-Set-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/01\/Whatever-Happened-Set-480x270.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>An effectively creepy musical score<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nDefinitely. In addition to featuring Oscar-nominated performances by both Davis and Buono, this infamous camp classic inspired (for better or for worse) a spate of similarly-themed &#8220;aging hag&#8221; films, and thus holds a special place in cinematic history.  <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Cult Movie<\/li>\n<li>Historically Relevant<\/li>\n<li>Noteworthy Performance(s)<\/li>\n<li>Oscar Winner or Nominee<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> (<span style=\"color:red;font-weight:bold;\">Listed in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-static\/1001Movies.htm\"><em>1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die<\/em><\/a><\/span>) <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/imdb.com\/title\/tt0056687\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1962\/11\/07\/archives\/screen-bette-davis-and-joan-crawfordthey-portray-sisters-in.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.moriareviews.com\/horror\/what-ever-happened-to-baby-jane-1962.htm\">Moria Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.digitallyobsessed.com\/showreview.php3?ID=8688\">Digitally Obsessed Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.timeout.com\/film\/64407.html\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Blanche, you aren&#8217;t ever going to sell this house &#8212; and you aren&#8217;t ever going to leave it, either!&#8221; Synopsis: Aging former child star &#8220;Baby Jane&#8221; (Bette Davis) resents having to care for her invalid sister, Blanche (Joan Crawford). When she meets a pianist (Victor Buono) who promises to help her revive her career, she makes plans to get rid of Blanche &#8212; once and for all. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Actors and Actresses Anna Lee Films Bette Davis&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=2144\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2144","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-responses-to-peary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2144","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2144"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2144\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":59886,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2144\/revisions\/59886"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2144"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2144"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2144"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}