What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Two old Hollywood rivals, trapped in a decaying mansion, battle it out with dead birds and showtunes until one reveals a secret that changes everything… or does it?

🍿 What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Introduction of the Hudson Sisters

The film opens by showcasing the early lives of Blanche and Jane Hudson. Jane, known as ‘Baby Jane,’ is a celebrated child vaudeville star, while her sister Blanche lives in her shadow. Jane’s popularity leads to a life of indulgence and a spoiled personality, while Blanche is often overlooked and harbors resentment. This sets the stage for their complicated relationship later in life.

Role Reversal and the Incident

As the sisters grow older, their fortunes reverse. Blanche becomes a successful movie star, overshadowing Jane, whose career dwindles. This fuels Jane’s bitterness and resentment. One night, after a party, Blanche is involved in a mysterious car accident that leaves her confined to a wheelchair. Jane is suspected to be involved, but the details remain unclear. The accident marks a turning point in their relationship, leaving Blanche dependent on Jane’s care.

Present Day: Confinement and Torment

In 1962, Blanche and Jane live together in a decaying Hollywood mansion. Blanche is completely dependent on Jane, who has become her caretaker. However, Jane is mentally unstable, an alcoholic, and harbors deep resentment towards her sister. She begins to torment Blanche, restricting her access to the outside world, intercepting her mail, and serving her increasingly disturbing meals, including dead animals.

Jane’s Descent and Blanche’s Desperate Attempts

As Jane spirals further into madness, she attempts to revive her career, hiring Edwin Flagg, an unemployed musician, as her accompanist. Meanwhile, Blanche tries desperately to reach out for help, but Jane thwarts her efforts. Blanche tries to contact her doctor, but Jane intercepts the call. This leads to increased physical and psychological abuse, with Jane holding Blanche captive and isolated.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Baby Jane Hudson (Bette Davis): A delusional former vaudeville child star, Jane torments her sister while desperately clinging to her faded fame and slipping into madness.
• Blanche Hudson (Joan Crawford): Confined to a wheelchair, Blanche is a former movie star subjected to the psychological and physical abuse of her increasingly unhinged sister, Jane.
• Edwin Flagg (Victor Buono): A down-on-his-luck pianist, Edwin is hired by Jane in a desperate attempt to revive her career, exploiting her delusions for his own gain.
• Elvira Stitt (Maidie Norman): The Hudson sisters’ housekeeper, Elvira becomes increasingly concerned for Blanche’s safety and tries to intervene, ultimately becoming a victim of Jane’s madness.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Blanche: “You wouldn’t be able to do these awful things to me if I weren’t still in this chair.” – Blanche confronts Jane about her helplessness due to her paralysis, highlighting Jane’s exploitative behavior.
• Jane: “But ya are, Blanche! Ya are in that chair!” – Jane retorts mockingly, emphasizing Blanche’s dependence and her own cruel power over her.
• Jane: “I’ve written a letter to Daddy.” – A haunting reminder of Jane’s arrested development and former childhood fame.
• Jane: “They didn’t just love me enough!” – Jane’s delusional justification for her increasingly erratic and violent behavior, revealing her deep-seated need for adoration.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $980,000
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: $9,500,000

💥 What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? Reviews

Personal Review

Oh my goodness, ‘What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?’ messed with my head! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. Bette Davis is terrifying and brilliant as Jane! When she served Blanche that dead bird… I almost screamed! And Joan Crawford plays the perfect victim. Their rivalry is so intense, you can feel it through the screen. I loved the twist at the end; it completely changes how you see the whole story. It made me really think about the characters motivations. I still think about this movie all the time! When they are on the beach in the end and all their secrets are revealed, such an impactful scene! I would highly recommend it to anyone, but be prepared to be disturbed!

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of classic Hollywood thrillers”
  • “Those interested in psychological horror”
  • “Viewers who appreciate strong female performances”
  • “People fascinated by Hollywood history and scandals”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Elder abuse”
  • “Psychological torment”
  • “Alcoholism”
  • “Disturbing imagery”

Professional Reviews

• The New York Times: “A chilling, darkly comic study of sibling rivalry gone awry, fueled by the powerhouse performances of Davis and Crawford. It’s not just a horror film, but a character study of faded glory and festering resentment, perfectly capturing the unsettling atmosphere of old Hollywood.
• Variety: “A tense and suspenseful thriller, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? benefits from the committed performances of its leads and Robert Aldrich’s masterful direction. It’s a gothic tale of madness and manipulation that remains effective even today.
• RogerEbert.com: “A fascinating and disturbing film, elevated by the performances of Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. It is a landmark film that continues to haunt viewers with its exploration of psychological torment and the dark side of fame.

Audience Reactions

Bette Davis’s performance as Baby Jane is iconic and unforgettable.: The twisted relationship between the two sisters keeps viewers hooked until the very end.

The film’s dark humor and campy elements make it a unique and enjoyable experience.: The film’s disturbing themes and suspenseful atmosphere continue to resonate with audiences.

Overall Consensus: A chilling and captivating psychological thriller featuring unforgettable performances by Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. Its themes of faded fame, sibling rivalry, and mental instability continue to resonate with modern audiences.

Awards

1. Academy Award (Best Costume Design, Black-and-White)- 1963

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The intense rivalry between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford was widely publicized, adding a meta-narrative to the film’s themes of jealousy and resentment.”
• “Bette Davis designed Baby Jane’s makeup herself, aiming for a grotesque, doll-like appearance to reflect the character’s arrested development.”
• “The film’s success revitalized the careers of both Davis and Crawford, leading to a brief wave of ‘psycho-biddy’ horror films featuring older actresses.”

🖥️ How to Watch What Ever Happened to Baby Jane??

You can stream ‘What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?’ on platforms like Amazon Prime Video (for rent or purchase) and Apple TV. Check local listings for availability on other streaming services or cable providers. The film is also often available for purchase on DVD and Blu-ray.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, you might like these similar films:

• Sunset Boulevard (1950): Explores similar themes of faded Hollywood glory, mental instability, and the dark side of fame.
• Hush…Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964): Another psychological thriller directed by Robert Aldrich, starring Bette Davis, with similar Gothic horror elements and themes of madness and family secrets.
• Misery (1990): Features a mentally disturbed fan holding a famous author captive, echoing the themes of obsession and control.
• Black Swan (2010): Portrays the psychological breakdown of a performer under pressure, exploring themes of rivalry and identity.

🛒 What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? Related Products

• What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]: A high-definition restoration of the film, complete with bonus features like interviews and behind-the-scenes footage. A must-have for any serious film collector.
• Feud: Bette and Joan – The Complete Series [DVD]: Ryan Murphy’s acclaimed miniseries starring Jessica Lange and Susan Sarandon, depicting the tumultuous relationship between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford during the making of ‘Baby Jane?’.
• Baby Jane Hudson Costume Wig: Transform into the iconic Baby Jane Hudson with this character-accurate blonde wig, capturing the signature curls and twisted style of the infamous character.
• What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? Movie Poster: A high-quality print of the original movie poster, perfect for framing and displaying your love for this classic film. This captures the visual appeal of the film with Crawford and Davis.

🎧 Soundtrack

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “I’ve Written a Letter to Daddy” – performed by Bette Davis
• “Main Title” – performed by Frank De Vol

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

BETTE DAVIS SINGS “I’ve Written A Letter To Daddy” from “Whatever Happened To Baby Jane?”

Okay, you HAVE to see this! Bette Davis’s rendition of ‘I’ve Written a Letter to Daddy’ in this movie is both hilarious and terrifying. Trust me, you won’t forget it!

Analyzing Evil: Baby Jane Hudson From Whatever Happened To Baby Jane

Ever wondered what makes Baby Jane so…Baby Jane? This analysis dives deep into her psyche, and it’s honestly fascinating! You might even feel a tiny bit of sympathy for her…maybe.

From 1987: Bette Davis opens up to Bryant Gumbel about Joan Crawford

Want some real behind-the-scenes drama? Bette Davis dishes on Joan Crawford in this vintage interview, and it’s pure gold! It really gives you a taste of the tension on set.

Inside the Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? House

You won’t believe this! Take a peek inside the actual house where ‘Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?’ was filmed. It’s so cool to see it in real life and imagine all the creepy scenes that went down there!

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