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Movies / On DVD / What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?
What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

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What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)

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Reviews Counted:37

Fresh:33

Rotten:4

Average Rating:7.6/10

Runtime: 2 hrs 15 mins

Genre: Horror/Suspense

Synopsis: As a child, Jane Hudson (Bette Davis) was a pampered vaudeville star known to the world as Baby Jane while her younger sister, Blanche (Joan Crawford), led a quiet life in her considerable shadow.... As a child, Jane Hudson (Bette Davis) was a pampered vaudeville star known to the world as Baby Jane while her younger sister, Blanche (Joan Crawford), led a quiet life in her considerable shadow. Decades have passed and now Blanche is a beautiful, talented movie idol and Jane a lowly extra. When a car accident cripples Blanche, binding her to a wheelchair, Jane sees her opportunity for revenge and assumes the role of caretaker. Her newly gained power completes the transformation of the sugar-sweet child star into a nightmarish caricature of Baby Jane. As she does everything she can to make her sister's life a living hell--including feeding Blanche a dead rat and brutally beating her when she tries to phone for help--Jane plots a comeback, aided by shifty musical director Edwin Flagg (Victor Buono). Director Robert Aldrich (KISS ME DEADLY) composes the strangest and most unsettling film of his career, creating a blueprint for future psycho-thriller filmmakers to follow. Renowned offscreen rivals Davis and Crawford revived their flagging careers with two stunning performances, and Buono received an Academy Award nomination for his supporting role. Creepy, campy, grotesque, and terrifying, the wildly over-the-top WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE? is a disturbing and unforgettable film. [More]

Starring: Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Victor Buono, Anna Lee

Starring: Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Victor Buono, Anna Lee, Maidie Norman, Marjorie Bennett, Dave Willock, Bert Freed

Director: Robert Aldrich

Director: Robert Aldrich
Producer: Robert Aldrich
Screenwriter: Lukas Heller
Composer: Frank DeVol

[See More Credits]

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Release:

May 30, 2006

No Details Exist
 
 

Reviews for What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

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1 - 20 (sorted by date)
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Depending on your sensibilities, the film is either a black camp comedy or psychological horror %u2013 either way, it's hugely entertaining

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
02/20/09
Andrew L. Urban
Andrew L. Urban
Urban Cinefile

The 1930s Lugosi/Karloff match-ups at Universal Studios only suggested the potential of what a decades-long feud like Bette Davis and Joan Crawford could produce.

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
06/21/08
Matthew Sorrento
Matthew Sorrento
Film Threat

It's still vivid, barnstorming stuff.

Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
09/24/07
Peter Bradshaw
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian [UK]

For the viewer, too, this creepy mood-piece is far from a comfortable watch.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
09/24/07
Kim Newman
Kim Newman
Empire Magazine

Creepy, freaky and memorably histrionic.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
09/24/07
Daniel Etherington
Daniel Etherington
Channel 4 Film

Aldrich's direction and dynamite performances from the two old troupers make this film an experience.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
09/24/07
Don Druker
Don Druker
Chicago Reader
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Crawford wisely underacts -- if her performance isn't as showy as Davis's, it's not any less accomplished.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
09/24/07
TV Guide's Movie Guide

The chain of circumstances grows, violence creating violence. Once the inept, draggy start is passed, the film's pace builds with ever-growing force.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
09/24/07
Variety Staff
Variety Staff
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Sick! Sick! Sick!

comment Comment
09/24/06
Cole Smithey
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com

While Crawford is rather subdued throughout the film, Davis chews up the scenery as one of the most bizarre, depraved villainesses you'll ever encounter.

Full Review Source: DVDTown.com | comment Comment
05/26/06
John J. Puccio
John J. Puccio
DVDTown.com

the grandious acting makes up for every flaw

Full Review Source: sbs.is | comment Comment
04/03/06
Stefan Birgir Stefansson
Stefan Birgir Stefansson
sbs.is

The Grand Guignol elements themselves are relatively forced and unconvincing.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
01/26/06
Time Out

as close to genre perfection as one is likely to come

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
11/16/05
Joel Meares
Joel Meares
Filmcritic.com

No review available.

comment Comment
10/09/05
Chuck O'Leary
Chuck O'Leary
Fantastica Daily

No review available.

comment Comment
08/12/05
Philip Martin
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

A Gothic Hollywood horror tale at its most grotesque, Robert Aldrich's Oscar-nominated film revitalzed the careers of both Bette Davis (overacting) and Joan Crawford (underacting), turning them into campy horror queens.

Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | comment Comment
07/01/05
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

comment Comment
04/26/05
Jonathan R. Perry
Jonathan R. Perry
Tyler Morning Telegraph (Texas)

A chilling, disturbing movie.

comment Comment
12/04/04
Alex Sandell
Alex Sandell
Juicy Cerebellum

No review available.

comment Comment
10/21/04
Mark R. Leeper
Mark R. Leeper
rec.arts.movies.reviews

No review available.

comment Comment
06/04/04
Jake Euker
Jake Euker
F5 (Wichita, KS)
 
 
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