What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

1962
12A
2h 14m

IMDb RATING

8.0/10

64K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

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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

4,169

539

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
In the 1935 time line (11 minutes into the film), Ben Golden (Bert Freed) and Marty McDonald (Wesley Addy) are walking past a row of buildings in the studio discussing Baby Jane's acting. There are window air conditioners in almost every upper floor window of the 2-story building behind them. But the first window air conditioner wasn't marketed until 1938, and it wasn't until 1947 that they were mass-produced.

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 reviews311

Review

Featured review

You didn't eat your dindin, Blanche

I have seen this movie at least two dozen times, and I will see it at least that many times again. It's such a Bette Davis feast. Of course, she was nominated for an Oscar. And she should have won it! There was a lot of 'history' between Miss Davis and Miss Crawford going way back to the 1940s, when Crawford was let go from M-G-M and went to work at WB where Bette Davis was Queen of the lot. The stories behind the making of the film are as interesting as the movie, with Miss Crawford demanding the set be kept at a breezy 55 (but preservative) degrees causing all kinds of problems with Miss Davis's bronchitis. One only wonders how much 'acting' was involved as Miss Davis tortures Miss Crawford emotionally and, later, physically. Miss Crawford suffers grandly and has her mandatory telephone scene, big eyes tremulous with fear. She is great, but it is a Bette Davis tour-de-force and she wipes every other actor off the screen. Full 10 of 10 for this one, and recommended to everyone who wants to see what the great actresses of the 1930s and 1940s could and would still do, albeit in minor-A productions, as the requests for their services dwindled, but wanted to keep on working.