Home Page

The List • Vote • Voting Results • Message Board • E-mail •

Classic • Dark • Horror • Weird • Campy •

Internet Movie Database • Cult Movie List •  

Movie: Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?

Date: 1962

Category: Camp

Director: Robert Aldrich

Big Stars: Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Victor Buono

A grotesque Baby Jane Hudson (Davis), a former child star, and paralyzed invalid sister Blanche (Crawford), also a former movie star, live together in a gloomy mansion. Jane, whose career faded long ago, is now a deranged alcoholic. Jane sets about to torture her sister.

For many people, Baby Jane is amusing, not only because of its grim tale of embittered, battling sisters, but because of the off-screen feud between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. At one point in the film Bette kicks Joan down the stairs - she was supposed to be acting, but apparently the kick was real. Joan got her revenge in a later scene by tying weights to herself when Bette had to carry her across the floor. Bette strained her back trying to lift the extra weight.

Davis and Crawford are both known for their portrayals of bitches, both on and off-screen. Abrasive, staccato-voiced Davis was suspected of murdering her husband, Arthur Farnsworth---she allegedley pushed him over, causing him to hit his head. While allegations of beatings with wire coat-hangers by Crawford's adopted daughter Christina shocked a public who thought Joan was "so nice". Christina's story was retold in the camp classic bookend film to Baby Jane, the Faye Dunaway vehicle Mommy Dearest.

(From Dollsoup.com)