Sunday, April 14, 2024

freakboy on film: WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE? (1962)

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The banner for The 2nd Annual ‘Favorite Stars in B Movies' Blogathon, hosted by  Films From Beyond shows a stern looking blonde woman.
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This post is part of The 2nd Annual ‘Favorite Stars in B Movies' Blogathon, hosted by Brian of Films From Beyond! 
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I am not Baby Jane Hudson!  

Young, blond, curly haired Baby Jane poses with her look-a-like doll.
Not me!
I just want to make that clear, even though my sister has always said I would be like Baby Jane if she ended up in a wheelchair, after an intentional car accident, and I was her primary caregiver.  It’s not like I was a mega-brat vaudeville darling who sang sweet songs about writing to a dead daddy as our father peddled creepy doll versions of me.  Unlike Blanche Hudson, my sister and our mother never watched unimpressed from backstage or as I demanded ice cream right NOW!  
Young brunette Blanche looks unamused.
Not my sister!
I don’t know if our mother ever promised my sister that her time to shine would come, but now that I think about it, people in our small town know my sister more than they know me, despite my book-signing event last year.  Anyways, that’s beside the point, it’s not like I’m trying to feed her unspeakable meals, even though our cat Laszlo has killed a couple of mice and a baby snake recently.  Well, in any case, I definitely do not drunkenly dance around the house with creepy doll me while imagining I’m still a fresh, young thing full of talent.  Never mind that I’ve been re-listening to an audio soap opera parody I created many years ago and may or may not dance to the music I used, but that’s not the same as Baby Jane!   
Old Baby Jane poses with the young look-a-like doll.
Still not me!
Anyhoo, when I think about Bette Davis, I don’t have to think twice.  My mind first goes to the classic 80’s hit, “Bette Davis Eyes” by Kim Carnes.  Then I think of her all-in performance as Baby Jane Hudson.  Sure, I’ve seen some of Miss Davis’ earlier work, such as THREE ON A MATCH (1932), but she will always be the unhinged Baby Jane to me. 
Blanche screams as she removes the lid from her dinner.
Still not my sister!
Now, when I think of Joan Crawford, my mind immediately goes to Faye Dunaway as Crawford screaming, “No wire hangers ever!” in MOMMIE DEAREST Then I think about how a bartender once told me a Vodka-Pepsi is called a Joan Crawford.  Finally, I think of her sympathetic performance as Blanche Hudson.  Sure, I’ve seen some of Ms. Crawford’s earlier work, such as SUSAN AND GOD (1940), but she’ll always be Blanche in that chair to me.  
Elvira Stitt looks irritated as she carries a dinner tray downstairs.
Elvira is tired of my antics…I mean Baby Jane’s antics!
While Bette and Joan are the combined reason to watch, there are a few notable supporting actors who add to the story.  Maidie Norman gives a no-nonsense performance as Elvira Stitt, Blanche’s housekeeper and only source of kindness.  Victor Buono is the comic relief as Edwin Flagg, the sketchy con-artist pretending to help Baby Jane jump start her career.  I must also mention Anna Lee as Mrs. Bates, the nice neighbor with a slight edge, because she portrayed the sweetly feisty matriarch Lila Quartermaine for years on the American daytime soap opera General Hospital.  Last, and probably least, Bette Davis’ daughter, Barbara Merrill, gives a stiff performance as the daughter of Mrs. Bates.  Was Christina Crawford not interested in the role or was she just too busy writing the first draft of Mommie Dearest? 
Edwin Flagg sits politely with a cup of tea.
Coffee, tea or Edwin?
Watching WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE again for Brian’s blogathon made me wonder if it really is a ‘B’ movie.  I mean, I know the story treads into exploitation territory at times and some performances verge dangerously close to camp, but overall it is a legitimately entertaining film.  If you look beyond the lurid shocks and histrionics, there is a tragically sad tale of how fame can corrupt and destroy a person, especially a child.  There is also the emotional dichotomy of Blanche and Jane as they both deal with aging by either accepting the past is the past or clinging to what was, even though it will never be that way again.  Perhaps I’m trying to find a deeper meaning within the creepy-crazy spectacle through older and allegedly wiser eyes.   
The dvd of What ever happened to baby Jane rests on a dinner plate.
directed by Robert Aldrich/screenplay by Lukas Heller, from the novel by Henry Farrell 
In conclusion…
Maybe the bright stars of Bette Davis and Joan Crawford had faded when they signed up for this film, but they showed  they still had the ‘it’ factor with two gutsy performances that have been forever blazoned in the minds of film fans.  So, whether or not WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE is a ‘B’ movie, this black and white Hollywood gothic is worth experiencing!  Now, if you’ll excuse me, my sister and I simply must head to the beach because it’s the perfect weather for reliving memories, shocking revelations and ice cream. 

Thank you for reading or listening to my half-blind words.  

Freak Out, 
JLH 

P.S. click a pic to experience tales from blogathons past… 

Banner for The 1st annual  'Favorite Stars in B movies' Blogathon, hosted by films from beyond shows robed figures

Banner for The Fourth So Bad It's Good Blogathon, Hosted by Taking Up Room shows a couple looking concerned

Banner for the third hammer amicus blogathon, hosted by realweemidget reviews and cinematic catharsis shows a woman in a low cut dress wearing sunglasses


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Three books by John L. Harmon includes, Dark Excursions the complete set, vision bent half blind poems and sturgeons the complete serials.

21 comments:

  1. A vodka and Pepsi would be the perfect drink to serve with the dead rat lunch.

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  2. Hi John, I like what you said about fame corrupting a person, especially a child, and how the sisters deal with aging and the Past. This is an entertaining, campy film, but it also has deeper themes of fame and sisterhood, as you mentioned. Great review!

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    1. Thank you! I've always been aware of the deeper things and Baby Jane, but they seemed stronger with this viewing. Probably because I'm older. Lol

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  3. John, I like how your mind works. For you, the question is not, is it a B or is it not a B, but rather, could it be that there is a little Baby Jane and Blanche (and Bette and Joan) in all of us? Come to think of it, I'm not sure I want to know the answer. 😅 Anyway, thanks so much for contributing this great thought experiment to the blogathon!

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    1. You're welcome and thank you, Brian! Since my sister and I cohabitate, comparisons seemed inevitable! As for the question, perhaps ignorance is bliss in this case!

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  4. Interesting reflections on this progenitor of the "psycho-biddy" line of movies to follow, including another Robert Aldrich directed thriller with Bette Davis, HUSH...HUSH, SWEET CHARLOTTE (1964). I need to see both of these again soon. Aldrich's KISS ME DEADLY (1955) is an all-time favorite of mine.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by and for recommending kiss me deadly!! I've never heard of this one so I'll have to investigate further!

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  5. Great review! This is one of my Top 10 favorites, and I love to watch it again and again. This low budget production was probably classified as a B in spite of the two legendary stars, but then it became a runaway hit and surprised everyone. Both actresses give standout performances. And you are so right to give credit to the supporting cast. Let's don't forget Marjorie Bennett who played Edwin's mother with that perfect Cockney accent. There is no truth to the rumor that B.D. Merrill came very close to receiving a nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her sensitive, nuanced performance as the conniving little witch next door.

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    1. Thank you for stopping by! It is a great film that probably surprised everyone involved how well It ultimately did! Yes, the actress who played Edwin's mother did some top notch comedic acting! As for Davis' daughter, I figured there was no way she would have been nominated! Lol

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  6. I really must see this film now, but I now have a vision of you with pigtails... thanks for this fun post John.

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    1. Wow, I'm a little surprised you haven't seen Baby Jane, Gill! At least when you do watch it, you can think of me in pigtails with a creepy doll version of me! Lol

      I didn't mention it in the post but there was a made for TV remake starring the Redgrave sisters a few decades later. It's not near as great but it has some entertainment value!

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    2. Ooh, the original sounds so much better just for that casting... Still to see this cast immortalised in Feud.

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  7. Fun and funny review, John. You gotta love sibling rivalry (okay, maybe not). Personally, I think this qualifies as a big-budget B-movie (histrionics with good production values), but that's just me. 😉

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    1. Thanks, barry! I think you're right and the lead performances definitely elevate the whole production!

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  8. Great review, John! This movie looks exhausting, but it's a classic for a reason, right?

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    1. Thanks, Rebecca and it is definitely a classic and emotionally exhausting!

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  9. Fun review, John. If you want to wear your hair in long curls with a big bow on the top of your head, you go right ahead. Just don't be surprised if the diner patrons can't hide their curiosity.

    I'm a little ashamed to admit that I have yet to see What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? I had no idea Victor Buono was in it. He always gives fun performances. I guess its time to hunt down the film.

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    1. Thanks, Michael!
      I am a little surprised that you haven't seen this classic! I can't say much because there are a lot of classics I haven't seen. However, you definitely need to check this one out soon!

      If I wore blonde curls with a ribbon on top, perhaps I would receive tips and wolf whistles from the diner patrons.

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  10. I first saw Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? on television, when I was an impressionable schoolchild and had no business watching it! Or Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte, for that matter. Both scared the Dickens out of me. I should see WHBJ again, but I must confess: I'm a bit scared still. Maybe I don't need to be. I saw HHSC again fairly recently and was surprised at how good it was.

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    1. I can see how it could scare you as a child, and it is still psychologically disturbing, but I think you should definitely give Baby Jane another chance!

      Thanks for stopping by!

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