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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

Rated: 12A

Runtime: 2 hrs 15 mins

Genre: Horror/Suspense

Theatrical Release:08-10-2004

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]

Reviews for What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

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1 - 20 (sorted by comments; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
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The Grand Guignol elements themselves are relatively forced and unconvincing.

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

It's a film that's a little slow to start and could benefit from a faster pace. But this is still essential viewing with the superb Davis in legend mode and Crawford wisely under-playing her role as the victim.

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
01/01/00
Almar Haflidason
Almar Haflidason
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Creepy, freaky and memorably histrionic.

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

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
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

It's still vivid, barnstorming stuff.

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

No review available.

comment Comment
11/15/03
Rich Cline
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall

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
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A chilling, disturbing movie.

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

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

A truly compelling portrait of a washed-up child star; even more compelling is the story of the peripheral people who suffer because of the misery of a washed-up child star.

comment Comment
07/26/02
Audrey Rock-Richardson
Audrey Rock-Richardson
Tooele Transcript-Bulletin (Utah)

There is nothing particularly moving or significant about these two.

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
05/20/03
Bosley Crowther
Bosley Crowther
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

No review available.

comment Comment
10/04/02
Brian J. Arthurs
Brian J. Arthurs
Beach Reporter (Southern California)

No review available.

comment Comment
08/22/03
Carol Cling
Carol Cling
Las Vegas Review-Journal

No review available.

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

Sick! Sick! Sick!

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

The film will be remembered only for the acerbic performances by the two grand old ladies of Hollywood.

Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | comment Comment
01/07/04
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

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

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

...uniquely haunting and hilarious...Davis and Crawford energize this off-kilter psychological drama with calculating, campy performances

comment Comment
05/28/03
Frank Ochieng
Frank Ochieng
TheWorldJournal.com

No review available.

comment Comment
06/04/04
Jake Euker
Jake Euker
F5 (Wichita, KS)
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by comments; UK critics are listed first)
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