Anna Lee, Bert Freed, Bette Davis

It's brash! It's grotesque! It's a blistering display of psychological terrorism! One of the blackest comedies ever made, this 1962 thriller rejuvenated the careers of Bette Davis and Joan Crawford an...( read more  read more... )d played heavily on their own Hollywood legends, incorporating film clips from their earlier stardom to add depth and realism to a severely twisted tale of sibling rivalry. Davis plays the former child star turned wrinkled hag Jane Hudson, whose sister Blanche (Crawford) eclipsed her star in Hollywood, and has been paying for it ever since. Now confined to a wheelchair, Blanche is held prisoner in the musty mansion she shares with Jane, who terrorizes Blanche with maniacal control (and dead rats for dinner), and embarks on an absurd campaign to revive her career, curly-haired wig and all. A deranged showcase for its stars, the film also introduced Oscar nominee Victor Buono as the sycophantic pianist hired to accompany Jane's bizarre vaudeville revival. Hilarious, frightening, and not to be missed! --Jeff Shannon

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89% liked it

26,991 ratings

Unrated, 135 min.

Directed by: Robert Aldrich

Release Date: October 31, 1962

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DVD Release Date: September 25, 1997

Stats: 1,574 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,574)


  • November 15, 2009
    "The best time I ever had with Joan Crawford was when I pushed her down the stairs in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?" -Bette Davis

    It's a simple fact of life that you will meet people who are likable and those who are not. In most circumstances when an actor or actress is aske...( read more)d about someone they dislike they will just refuse to comment. Its called "taking the high road". I've seen this time and time again. Debra Winger hated Richard Gere so much that after the filming of An Officer and a Gentleman had wrapped she refused to appear with him on press junkets and talk shows. To this day Diane Keaton will not talk about her Godfather co-star Al Pacino, stating only that she disliked working with him. Herein lies one of the reasons why I love Bette Davis so much. If Miss Davis disliked you, and by all accounts she disliked a great number of people, the whole world knew it. Her feud with Joan Crawford is the stuff of Hollywood legend and the quotes that are attributed to Bette are priceless:

    "Why am I so good at playing bitches? I think it's because I'm not a bitch. Maybe that's why Miss Crawford always plays ladies."

    Personally, I have never once watched a Bette Davis picture and been drawn out of the story by an awareness that she was acting. Her portrayals are nothing if they're not honest and sincere. I can't say the same for Joan Crawford. This holds true for Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?. There is a subtle but noticeable difference here between Crawford (the movie star) and Davis (the actress). In some cases this would be a detriment to the feel of the picture but, for this script, it works perfectly. Don't misunderstand me, I have enormous respect for Joan but, as an actress, I think she's a tier (or two) below Bette.

    All told, this is a good film that becomes a GREAT film once you know the back-story.
  • December 19, 2008
    I'm pretty sure you need to be a catty gay man to get the maximum enjoyment out of What Ever Happened to Baby Jane. Bette Davis steals the show as jealous alcoholic to Joan Crawford's invalid. What Ever Happened to Baby Jane comes off like a bitchy (hence my initial comment) soap...( read more) opera mostly but once Davis goes off the reservation the good times start rolling. And it gets nothing but increasingly creepy and grotesque with its beautiful photography. And knowing that Davis and Crawford hated each other's gutsmakes it all the more fun.
  • June 25, 2008
    Blanche: 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!
  • April 28, 2008
    Note: Classic.
  • August 18, 2007
    Freaky and unforgettable. Bette Davis plays "Baby Jane", a faded starlet who keeps her invalid sister (Joan Crawford) locked up at their large home. There's some shocking and funny scenes. I loved the surreal "Baby Jane" revival scene on the beach. A classic.
  • November 16, 2009
    excelent atmosphere!!!amazing performances and two of the best actors of all time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • November 15, 2009
    Curious cos I enjoy classics.
  • November 4, 2009
    fantasticas las actuaciones
  • October 24, 2009
    A well deserved cult classic. '...Baby Jane' is at times genuinely frightening. Well shot and Bette Davis' performance is fucking A. Great, great film.
  • October 23, 2009
    True classic great twist.

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Comments


  • Rossjm
    July 1, 2008
    Hardly the comedy people are saying it is. Just because it has a few funny moments ("Who the hell was that", says one man after deluded Jane thinks everyone knows of her) doesn't make it a balck comedy.

    A dark, distirbing thriller, not comedic atall really.
  • baegan2003
    June 19, 2007
    Hi,
    Accidently viewed this movie when I was the age of 10 in 1970.
    My Very Straight father said at the time " yeah it's a beaut(Australian for "awesome") film!!!
    Little did he know what consequences it was to bring to an innocent infant of 10!
    Now that I am 46, it is still my favourite film!!!
    " I cab't help it- I'm very sorry " as Jane would say.
    Cheers,
    Brent Anthony Egan
    SYDNEY< AUSTRALIA
  • stellarchick83
    April 17, 2007
    I love this movie..I saw it when I was about ..well in the 4th grade and I loved it.
  • ramonherron
    November 8, 2006
    I liked this movie very much I just hope they don't mess it up by remaking it.

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What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? Trivia


  • In 2005's House of Wax, what 1962 classic is playing in the movie theater?  Answer »
  • In "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane, what did Bette Davis try to give Joan Crawford to eat?  Answer »
  • What Actress starred in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane  Answer »
  • In the picture "What ever Happened to Baby Jane" who starred opposite Betty Davis?  Answer »

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