What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)
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An aging former child star torments her paraplegic sister in a dilapidated Hollywood mansion.
The story
In 1962, sisters Blanche and Jane live together in a mansion purchased with Blanche's film earnings. Blanche's mobility is limited by reliance on a wheelchair, while Jane has become a grotesque, mentally unstable alcoholic who regularly abuses Blanche. When Blanche's old films begin airing on television, renewing her popularity among her fans, Jane becomes increasingly jealous and resentful. She fixates on the success and adoration she once had as a child star, deciding to revive her old act with hired pianist Edwin Flagg. When Blanche informs Jane she intends to sell the house, Jane correctly suspects Blanche will commit her to a psychiatric hospital once the house is sold.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
The story begins in 1917 with 'Baby Jane' Hudson, a spoiled child star, and her sister Blanche. By 1935, Blanche becomes a successful actress but is paralyzed in a car accident allegedly caused by Jane. In 1962, the sisters live in a mansion where Jane, a mentally unstable alcoholic, abuses Blanche. When Blanche's popularity rises via television, Jane's jealousy peaks. Fearing Blanche will commit her to a hospital upon selling the house, Jane cuts off Blanche's communication. After a series of escalations, including Jane murdering their housekeeper Elvira and kidnapping Blanche to a beach, the truth is revealed: Blanche actually caused her own accident to frame Jane. In the end, a devastated Jane realizes they could have been friends, and the two are eventually found by police on a beach.
- First release year
- 1962
- Runtime (minutes)
- 134
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Robert Aldrich
- Writers
- Lukas Heller · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Bette Davis · Jane; Joan Crawford · Blanche; Victor Buono · Edwin Flagg; Maidie Norman
- Genres
- psychological horror; thriller
- Themes
- sibling rivalry; obsession; alcoholism; fame; mental instability
- Tone and mood
- dark; campy; gothic
- Premise and plot tags
- psycho-biddy; hagsploitation; cult classic
- Source material / true-story basis
- novel by Henry Farrell
- Reception
- The film was met with critical acclaim and was a box office success, later becoming a cult classic noted for its camp appeal and role in creating the 'psycho-biddy' subgenre.
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Costume Design, Black-and-White · won
- Production trivia
- The film was the first to benefit from a 'guaranteed bookings' program.; Bette Davis's character was ranked #44 on the AFI's list of the 50 Best Villains of American Cinema.; The film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry in 2021.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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