What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)

Director:

Robert Aldrich

Writers:

Henry Farrell (from the novel by)
Lukas Heller (screenplay)

Release Date:

31 October 1962 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Sister, sister, oh so fair, why is there blood all over your hair?

Plot:

A former child star torments her crippled sister in a decaying Hollywood mansion.

Plot Keywords:

Hollywood | Sibling Rivalry | Wheelchair | Aging | Former Child Star

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 2 wins & 10 nominations

Cast

Bette Davis	...	Baby Jane Hudson
Joan Crawford	...	Blanche Hudson
Victor Buono	...	Edwin Flagg
Wesley Addy	...	Marty Mc Donald
Julie Allred	...	Baby Jane Hudson, in 1917
Anne Barton	...	Cora Hudson (as Ann Barton)
Marjorie Bennett	...	Dehlia Flagg
Bert Freed	...	Ben Golden (as Robert Freed)
Anna Lee	...	Mrs. Bates
Maidie Norman	...	Elvira Stitt
Dave Willock	...	Ray Hudson
William Aldrich	...	Lunch Counter Assistant at Beach
Russ Conway	...	Police Officer
Maxine Cooper	...	Bank Teller
Robert Cornthwaite	...	Dr. Shelby
Michael Fox	...	Motorcycle Cop at Beach
Gina Gillespie	...	Blanche Hudson, in 1917
Barbara Merrill	...	Liza Bates (as B.D. Merrill)
Don Ross
James Seay	...	Police Officer
John Shay
Jon Shepodd	...	Police Officer
Peter Virgo
Bobs Watson	...	Clerk in Newspaper Classified Ad Department
Debbie Burton	...	Singing Voice (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ernest Anderson	...	Ernie, Ice Cream Vendor at Beach
Robert Aldrich	...	Himself - Director - in Trailer (uncredited)
Steve Condit	...	Boy in Audience (uncredited)
Andrew Duggan	...	Trailer Narrator (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
Robert Aldrich

Writing credits
Henry Farrell		(from the novel by)
Lukas Heller		(screenplay)

Produced by
Robert Aldrich	....	producer
Kenneth Hyman	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Frank De Vol		(as DeVol)

Cinematography by
Ernest Haller

Film Editing by
Michael Luciano

Casting by
Jack Murton

Art Direction by
William Glasgow

Set Decoration by
George Sawley

Makeup Department
Jack Obringer	....	makeup artist
Robert J. Schiffer	....	makeup artist
Monty Westmore	....	makeup artist
Beau Wilson	....	key makeup artist
Peggy Shannon	....	hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Jack R. Berne	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
William Aldrich	....	third assistant director
Tom Connors Jr.	....	assistant director (as Tom Connors)

Art Department
John Orlando	....	props

Sound Department
Harold E. McGhan	....	sound editor
Jack Solomon	....	sound

Special Effects by
Donald Steward	....	special effects

Stunts
Carol Daniels	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Til Gabani	....	camera operator (as Till A. Gabbani)
Richard Borland	....	grip (uncredited)
Don Christie	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Norma Koch	....	wardrobe designer
Angela Alexander	....	wardrobe (uncredited)
Vou Lee Giokaris	....	wardrobe (uncredited)
Kathleen McCandless	....	wardrobe (uncredited)
Eric Seelig	....	wardrobe (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Nick Archer	....	assistant film editor

Music Department
George F. Marni	....	music editor
Michael Andersen	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)
Sidney Cutner	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)
Ruby Raksin	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)
Albert Woodbury	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Adell Aldrich	....	script apprentice
Robert Altman	....	dialogue supervisor
Walter Blake	....	assistant to producer
Robert Gary	....	script supervisor
Alex Romero	....	choreographer

Production Companies

• Associates & Aldrich Company, The
• Seven Arts Productions
• Warner Bros

Distributors

• Warner Bros (1962) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. Films (1963) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1963) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1967) (USA) (TV)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1974) (Finland) (TV)
• TV3 (1988) (Finland) (TV)
• Warner Home Video (1991) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Warner Home Video (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Vídeo (2001) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Park Circus (2004) (UK) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Warner Bros. Entertainment Finland Oy (2006) (Finland) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Seven Films - Spentzos Film (2012) (Greece) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Warner Home Video (2012) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-Ray)
• Warner Home Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Berliner Synchron  German dubbing

Also Known As:

Runtime:

134 min | Argentina:135 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:12A (re-rating) (2004) | UK:X (original rating) (cut) | USA:Unrated | UK:18 (1988 rating) | Canada:14+ (Ontario) | Portugal:M/12 | France:-12 | Ireland:12 | Spain:18 | Germany:16 (f) | South Korea:15 | Netherlands:18 (orginal rating)

Filming Locations:

172 S. McCadden Pl., Hancock Park, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Associates & Aldrich Company, The

Trivia:

While touring the talk show circuit to promote the movie, Bette Davis told one interviewer that when she and Joan Crawford were first suggested for the leads in this film, Warner Bros. studio head Jack L. Warner replied: "I wouldn't give a plugged nickel for either one of those two old broads." Recalling the story, Davis laughed at her own expense. The following day, she reportedly received a telegram from Crawford: "In future, please do not refer to me as an old broad!"

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Daddy Hudson announces that Baby Jane dolls can be purchased after the show and guarantees them to be exact duplicates of Baby Jane Hudson. The dolls in the foyer do not look like Baby Jane and are not identical to each other.

Quotes:

Jane:I didn't bring your breakfast, because you didn't eat your din-din!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Animaniacs: The Warners' 65th Anniversary Special (#1.65)" (1994)

Soundtrack:

I'VE WRITTEN A LETTER TO DADDY

A compelling movie; Davis and Crawford tear each other apart

Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? might seem dated, but it is still an extremely riveting watch. I literally could not look away, as soon as the movie started, I couldn't stop until it had finished. Not a lot of movies can do that to me. The acting is extremely good, Bette Davis and Joan Crawford are just so good as the main focus of the movie. The chilling score is suits the movie and the camera-work reminds me a lot of Hitchcock.

The story focuses on two sisters, Blanche Hudson (Joan Crawford) who was crippled in an accident awhile ago and "Baby" Jane Hudson (Bette Davis). Jane used to be a big child star, she even had a doll brand after her. Now, though, she is no longer recognised while her sister has recently become very famous. They live in an old mansion, with Blanche confined to her room upstairs while Jane gets madder and more cruel by the day.

Bette Davis gives the star performance here, some may call it over-acting but it is far from. She really makes Jane as mad, cruel and sad as possible. Joan Crawford is equally good in a very different role. She is much more timid then Jane and quite scared. The supporting cast are all good as well, especially Victor Buono as Victor Flagg, an odd pianist that befriends Jane. The black and white really are used to full effect, they make the mansion look extra creepy. Robert Aldrich's direction is fine.

To today's modern audience, this may seem boring as it does not have any action. Most of the movie is dialogue, but I do urge those who haven't seen it to do so, as it is a truly excellent movie.

A solid 5/5!