Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? - A Movie Review

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"Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?" is a psychological horror-thriller movie that was released in 1962. The budget for this movie was $980,000 and brought in $9 million in box office receipts. Reviews were mixed; but this movie is now considered a cult classic. CAST Bette Davis - Jane Hudson Julie Allred - 9-year-old Jane Debbie Burton - Young Jane's Singing Voice Joan Crawford - Blanche Hudson Gina Gillespie - 13-year-old Blanche Victor Buono - Edwin Flagg Marjorie Bennett - Dehlia Flagg Maidie Norman - Elvira Stitt Anna Lee - Mrs. Bates B. D. Merrill - Liza Bates Dave Willock - Ray Hudson Anne Barton - Cora Hudson Wesley Addy - Marty McDonald Bert Freed - Ben Golden Robert Cornthwaite - Doctor Shelby It's 1917; and 9-year-old "Baby Jane" Hudson is a vaudevillian child star. Fans adore her; and she has even been the inspiration for an expensive Baby Jane doll. Her father, Ray Hudson, spoils her while her 11-year-old sister, Blanche Hudson, is ignored. It's now 1935; and things have changed. Now Blanche is the successful movie star; and Jane's movies prove that she's a has-been. She has now taken to drinking too much. One evening when coming home from a party, one of the sisters gets out to open the gate. The other sister hits the accelerator and smashes into the gate. Blanche is paralyzed from the waist down; and Jane is unofficially blamed for the accident. Now it's 1962; and Jane and Blanche live together in a creepy, old mansion that was purchased with Blanche's earnings. With no elevator available, Blanche is confined to a wheelchair in her room. Jane drinks heavily, has become mentally ill and wears heavy makeup on her face to cover up her aging persona. The sisters fight constantly; and Jane is abusive toward Blanche. Their housekeeper, Elvira Stitt, worries about Blanche being around "crazy Jane" and tells her that Jane is opening and throwing away her mail; but Blanche defends her. I can see why reviews were mixed for this movie. Blanche and Jane seem to be caricatures of themselves; and there is some, what I would call overacting. Others liked the movie. My suggestion is if you like the film clip, and if the story sounds interesting to you, and you'd like to see how it ends, then give this movie a try. It has, after all, become a cult classic. For myself, I give it a 50/50 rating. This movie is Not Rated. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons (Bette Davis in "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane")