
What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)
Director: Robert Aldrich
Screenplay: Lukas Heller; based on WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE by Henry Farrell
Stars: Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Victor Buono, Wesley Addy, Anne Barton, Marjorie Bennett, Bert Freed, Anna Lee, Maidie Norman, Dave Willock, Russ Conway, Maxine Cooper, Robert Cornthwaite, Michael Fox and Barbara Merrill.
Tagline: Things you should know about this motion picture before buying a ticket: 1) If you’re long-standing fans of Miss Davis and Miss Crawford, we warn you this is quite unlike anything they’ve ever done. 2) You are urged to see it from the beginning. 3) Be prepared for the macabre and the terrifying. 4) We ask your pledge to keep the shocking climax a secret. 5) When the tension begins to build, try to remember it’s just a movie.
The Plot…
1917. Baby Jane Hudson is a national treasure. The child actress/singer is in such demand that vaudeville stages across the nation are sold out for every performance when she’s in town. Baby Jane dolls are all the rage. Unfortunately success has spoiled the little girl. Little Jane realizes that she’s the family money-maker. She has the power to call the shots. That means bossing her father/manager around, ignoring her mother and mistreating her slightly older sister Blanche.
When movies become all the rage, Baby Jane learns that the magic is gone. She’s aged out of being the cute little girl performing on stage. The Jane Hudson that shows up on screen isn’t a very good actress.
But Blanche Hudson is. Audiences love her and studios want her in their pictures. If her parents were still alive Blanche would be the breadwinner. Thankfully Blanche treats Jane better than she was treated when their roles were reversed.
That was decades ago. A terrible accident crippled Blanche and cut short her movie career. Now it’s just Blanche and Jane living in the big old mansion bought with Baby Jane‘s money. Thankfully Blanche’s movie career provided the funds for Blanche and Jane to survive. But those funds are dwindling. Jane’s drinking and mistreatment of Blanche is getting worse.
Wheelchair bound and confined to the upstairs floor, Blanche is getting worried. Baby Jane is planning a comeback… but has a few things she plans to do first.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? was nominated for five Academy Awards winning one…
- 1963 Nominee Best Sound – Joseph D. Kelly (Seven Arts-Warner Bros. Glen Glenn Sound Department)
- 1963 Nominee Best Cinematography, Black-and-White – Ernest Haller
- 1963 Nominee Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Victor Buono
- 1963 Nominee Best Actress in a Leading Role – Bette Davis
- 1963 Winner Best Costume Design, Black-and-White – Norma Koch
Betty Davis created her own make-up look for the film. She say her character as never washing her face and each day adding another layer of make-up. At first, the director and producers felt it was too over-the-top. When the author visited the set, he said Davis looked just as he imagined Baby Jane. The studio and director made the right decision to keep Davis’ look.
This features Victor Buono’s feature film debut. It was also the only time he was nominated for an Oscar.
If the beach house seen at the end of the movie looks familiar, you may be remembering it from director Robert Aldrich’s 1955 film, Kiss Me Deadly where it was also seen at the end of the movie.
Kudos to Robert Aldrich for another excellent film. More people should be aware of him.
What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962) rates 4 of 5 stars.

