'What Ever Happened To Baby Jane?' was released by Warner Brothers in 1962. In the late seventies, a local television station used to run Friday night horror flicks for night owls and this was just one of many films I saw. Even more than a decade after its release, the film was chilling and more than a little frightening to a young girl, watching alone in a darkened room.

The film opens with a young Baby Jane Hudson charming a full house of children accompanied by their parents, with her vaudeville act complete with corny songs and tap dancing. A charming child onstage, that woos the crowd with her adorable smile, curly locks, and syrupy sweet demeanor. However, offstage the sweet and adorable little girl shows her true colors. She is not only an incredibly spoiled little girl that has her daddy wrapped around her little finger but she is a obnoxious child that makes quite the public display in front of adoring fans waiting just outside the stage door. With sister Blanche and mother standing in the shadows, young Baby Jane throws a temper tantrum and is only soothed by her father, Ray (Dave Willock), offering to take her for an ice cream.

Ray is more than happy to oblige his little angel's every want and desire since she is obviously the meal ticket for the family. Baby Jane Hudson dolls, being peddled after every show, are all the rage and with sold out shows wherever she goes, this little girl calls all the shots. Blanche, who is jealous of Jane's success and the attention she receives, is determined to be a shining star one day.

After the girls have grown, Baby Jane (Bette Davis) is no longer the showstopper she once was. The years of drinking (and the makeup artist) weren't at all kind to the washed up starlet. It is now sister Blanche (Joan Crawford) who has stepped out of the shadows and taken center stage to become the golden girl she always wanted to be. Blanche, not as mean spirited as her sister, insists that studio execs keep Jane's career alive. Unfortunately, there is no interest in Baby Jane films and vaudeville acts are a thing of the past so she becomes bitter and envious of her sister's success.

Sadly, Blanche's successful career in film comes to a screeching halt after a fatal car accident leaves her bound to a wheelchair. Jane is held responsible for the accident but was so stinking drunk that she can't recall exactly what happened that night. With their parents gone, Jane is left to care for her crippled sister. The two women live in a large home, with Blanche spending much of her time secluded in a small bedroom upstairs with little interaction except with her sister and the housekeeper, Elvira (Madie Norman).

Blanche becomes increasingly concerned with Jane's drinking problem and her demented state of mind. Jane, who blames Blanche for her failed career, takes great pleasure in tormenting her sister at every turn and makes no attempts to hide her deep seeded hatred for her. Things worsen when a tribute to Blanche Hudson movies is being shown on the local network. During one of the showings, a neighbor lady comes home to find her daughter watching the old movie. This prompts the neighbor to pay a visit to the Hudson household and extend her well wishes to Blanche, but Jane greets her at the door and is not in the least bit pleasant. She rushes her off, insisting that her sister is not well and is not taking visitors.

Jane's treatment of Blanche grows increasingly crueler with each passing day. The mental and physical torture she puts Blanche through will have viewers chopping at the bit with anticipation of what will come next.

With high hopes of reviving her failed career, Jane places an advertisement in the local paper in search of someone to assist her in reintroducing Baby Jane Hudson to her multitudes of adoring fans. The ad is answered by Edwin Flagg (Victor Buono), who is still living at home with his mother and seeking a break into the biz. Will he be instrumental in putting Baby Jane back on top or just another disappointment in a long string of disappointments for Jane?

For the answer to this and other questions about the film, run don't walk to rent or purchase a copy of this classic movie.

Although this film is considered a psychological thriller, there are certainly moments in the film that are downright comical. Imagine Bette Davis sporting curly locks, a frilly dress, and clutching a Baby Jane doll to her chest. That alone is both eerie and hysterical.

Rumored tensions between the two actresses offstage only aided in making the physical and mental torture scenes more believable. Supposedly when Davis slaps Crawford, there was no holding back.

Directed by Robert Aldrich. This film is based on a novel by Henry Farrell.

Available in both VHS and DVD formats.


Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS