Today’s movie is
a suspense thriller with a scene that happens on August 9. Watch this film
tonight and enjoy.
WHAT EVER
HAPPENED TO BABY JANE?
In 1917 Baby Jane Hudson is a
spoiled brat vaudeville star who is hated by her overlooked sister,
Blanche. Eighteen years later the
tables are reversed. Blanche Hudson is a hugely popular movie star and 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 though Jane has
been disposing of Blanche’s mail. Jane becomes upset when Blanche tells her
that due to financial reverses, she may have to sell their house. Jane takes the phone out of Blanche’s room
and serves Blanche her dead parakeet for lunch. 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,
but Jane finds it. They argue about the house. The next day, August 9, 1962
[1:05:53 to 1:30:58] Jane gives Elvira the day off and Blanche a dead rat for
lunch. Edwin Flagg comes to see Jane about updating her repertoire. Jane 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, says Blanche has found a new doctor. Jane drags Blanche upstairs and
ties her to the bed. The next day Jane fires Elvira, who sneaks in once Jane
leaves. Jane returns and finds her trying to get into Blanche’s room. Jane lets
her in then kills Elvira. She disposes of Elvira’s body. The police 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
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
35th Academy Awards.
Producer - Robert Aldrich
Director - Robert Aldrich
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
Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2014.
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