August 9 - Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?

This is a movie with a scene that happens today – August 9. I hope you will enjoy the film and watch it tonight.

WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE?

In 1917 Baby Jane Hudson is a spoiled brat vaudeville star who arouses the hatred of her overlooked sister, Blanche.  Eighteen years later the tables are reversed. Blanche Hudson is a hugely popular movie star while Jane is a washed up drunken has been. One night when the sisters are driving home together the driver of the car rams the gate, trying to crush the other. Twenty-seven years later the sisters live together. Blanche is in a wheelchair  as a result of the accident. Blanche defends her sister to their cleaning lady Elvira, even after she learns Jane has been disposing of her mail. When Blanche tells Jane that because of financial reverses, she may have to sell the house, Jane becomes upset. She takes the phone out of Blanche’s room and serves Blanche her dead parakeet for lunch. When Jane goes out to place an ad for a piano player so she can revive her career, Blanche types a note begging for help and throws it out the window. However Jane and not the next door neighbor finds it. They argue again about the house. The next morning, August 9, 1962 [1:05:53 to 1:30:58] Jane gives Elvira the day off and later gives Blanche a dead rat for lunch. Edwin Flagg comes to see Jane about updating her repertoire. Blanche drives him home and stops to pickup her new costumes. Blanche uses the opportunity to crawl downstairs and calls her doctor, asking him to come at once. Unfortunately, Jane arrives home just then. She beats Blanche unconscious and expertly imitating her voice on the phone, tells the him that Blanche has found a new doctor. Jane drags Blanch upstairs and ties her to the bed. The next day Jane fires Elvira, who sneaks in once Jane leaves. Jane returns, finds her trying to get into Blanche’s room. Jane lets her in then kills Elvira. She later disposes of Elvira’s body. The police later call and tell Jane that Elvira has been reported missing. Edwin arrives to get paid. He hears Blanche upstairs and after seeing her emaciated condition flees the house. Jane flees to the beach with Blanche. Elvira’s body has been found and the police are looking for the Hudson sisters. Blanche confesses to Jane that she was the one who tried to run Jane down and hitting the gate broke her back. The police find Jane, who begins dancing on the beach.       

A strange and disturbing movie. It touches on the power of secrets, sibling rivalry and lost dreams. Both Joan Crawford and Betty Davis give outstanding performances.

Date given in film at 1:23:06 on check stub

Producer - Robert Aldrich

Director - Robert Aldrich

Awards – The film won the Best Back and White Costume Design Oscar. It was also

                 Nominated for the Best Actress(Davis), Best Supporting Actor(Buono), Best

                 Black and White Cinematography and Best Sound Oscars at the 35^th Academy

                 Awards. 

Screenplay - Lukas Heller

Runtime – 2 hours 13 minutes

Released – October 31, 1962

Starring –

Bette Davis as Jane Hudson

Julie Allred as young Jane

Joan Crawford as Blanche Hudson

Gina Gillespie as young Blanche

Victor Buono as Edwin Flagg

Maidie Norman as Elvira Stitt

Anna Lee as Mrs. Bates

B.D. Merrill as Liza Bates

Marjorie Bennett as Dehlia Flagg

Dave Willock as Ray Hudson