Whatever Happened to Baby Jane

Rating 5+/5

Though Whatever Happened to Baby Jane is drastically different from the dozens of motion pictures that sculpted both Joan Crawford's and Bette Davis' careers, Baby Jane is probably one of the most well known movies to be added to two women's film history.

Blanche Hudson (Crawford), is a former star from the glorious golden days of Hollywood. She rose out from the shadow of her sister Jane's childhood stardom, and made a name for herself on the big screen. Jane (Davis), struggles with her sister's past success as a movie star, and can only rely on the memories of her childhood fame to erase any recollection of her failed Hollywood career. To say the two sisters do not get along would be a massive understatement. For almost thirty years, Blanche has been confined to a wheelchair as a result of a mysterious car accident that was rumored to have been caused by Jane in a jealous rage. Whether she caused the accident or not, Jane has been a caretaker to Blanche for those thirty years. With the help of liquor and her own delusions, Jane is just about at her breaking point.

Though she is trying her best to ignore it, Blanche begins to see the downward spiral her sister is taking. She plans to sell the house, and put Jane in a home where she can be properly taken care. Unfortunately, Jane finds out what Blanche is up to, and devises a plan of her own that will take care of Blanche, and give her a second chance at stardom. With the help of her new friend Edwin, Jane will be Baby Jane Hudson once again.

Jane Hudson starts out the movie clearly unhinged, but still coherent. As the movie progresses, her connection with reality begins to slip away. Jane is unable to forget her time as Baby Jane, and as her actions put her deeper and deeper into trouble, the little girl trapped inside is brought up to the surface. Davis does an extraordinary job of making a deranged and ghoulish character somehow believable. Crawford's portrayal of Blanche is equally as strong. Blanche's character is drastically different from Jane, but just as challenging. Rather than playing a woman on the brink of madness, Crawford must convey Blanche's suffering and fear to the audience. When I think of Whatever Happened to Baby Jane, I don't immediately think of the rat scene. Instead, I think of the scene at the telephone when Blanche is calling her doctor, desperate for help. A creak of the door announces Jane's arrival, and the acting done by both women is top notch.

You would think that such a movie would not be enjoyable, but it really is. From beginning to end, Baby Jane is brilliantly executed. It is a very dark movie, not just in its' concept, but in the lighting. As Jane falls deeper into her delusions, the light begins to lessen, and most of the scenes are covered in shadow. To add to the expert design, the two Hollywood powerhouses bring a level of talent and experience to the movie that makes Whatever Happened to Baby Jane the memorable horror classic that it is today.