What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

1962
Approved
2h 14m

IMDb RATING

8.0/10

64K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

2,553

Bette Davis and Joan Crawford in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)

Home Video Trailer from Warner Home Video

Play trailer5:12

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Psychological Horror Psychological Thriller Drama Horror Thriller

A former vaudeville child star torments her paraplegic sister, who eclipsed her as a movie star, in their decaying Hollywood mansion while desperately clinging to hopes of a comeback.A former vaudeville child star torments her paraplegic sister, who eclipsed her as a movie star, in their decaying Hollywood mansion while desperately clinging to hopes of a comeback.A former vaudeville child star torments her paraplegic sister, who eclipsed her as a movie star, in their decaying Hollywood mansion while desperately clinging to hopes of a comeback.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

8.0/10

64K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

2,553

See production info at IMDbPro

Won 1 Oscar
- 5 wins & 11 nominations total

Trivia
According to Bette Davis in her book "This N' That," the film was originally going to be shot in color. Davis opposed this, saying that it would just make a sad story look pretty.

Goofs
Jane's newspaper ad only gives the phone number. When she makes the appointment with Edwin she never mentions an address but he shows up anyway.

Quotes
Blanche: Jane, do you remember when I first came back after the accident?
Jane: You promised you wouldn't ever talk about that again.
Blanche: I know I did. But I'm still in this chair. After all those years, I'm still in this chair. Doesn't that give you some kind of responsibility? Jane, I'm just trying to explain to you how things really are. You wouldn't be able to do these awful things to me if I weren't still in this chair.
Jane: But you *are*, Blanche! You *are* in that chair!

Alternate versions
The original British release was cut in two places: in Reel Four, where Jane kicks Blanche only once instead of multiple times, and Reel Six, which eliminated some shots of Blanche tied up to the bed and writhing. Both cuts were mandated by the BBFC in order to receive an "X" certificate. Subsequent reissues restored the footage.

Connections
Edited into The Time That Remains (2012)

Soundtracks
I've Written a Letter to Daddy
Music by Frank De Vol
Lyrics by Bob Merrill
Performed by Bette Davis
Also performed by Julie Allred (dubbed by Debbie Burton)

User reviews309

Review

Featured review

9/10

One of the Best Movies of the 1960's

In 1917 "Baby Jane" Hudson is an adored vaudevillian child star, while her sister Blanche Hudson lives in Jane's shadow. By 1935, both sisters are movie actors, but their fortunes have reversed: Blanche is a successful film actress, while Jane is forgotten and languishes in little-seen B-movies. One night, an inebriated Jane mocks Blanche at a party, provoking Blanche into running away in tears. That night, Blanche is paralyzed from the waist down in a mysterious car accident that is unofficially blamed on Jane, who is found three days later in a drunken stupor.

In 1962 Jane has descended into alcoholism and mental illness, and treats Blanche with cruelty.

What happens is a waking nightmare but the ending is more shocking than Bette Davis appearance.

Now this film is fun to watch. You need to see this. This was an instant classic upon its release. In 2017 the film returned to public conscienceless because of the Ryan Murphy Mini Series "Feud". That mini series is all about "Betty & Joan". It details the making of this film and all the events that surrounded it.