Review of What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962) by Greg R — 10 Feb 2011

One of my absolute favorite films of all time, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? tells the classic story of sibling jealousy gone completely haywire.

The disturbing and downright twisted nature of the entire film seems so far ahead of its time. It's primarily the acting that really sets this ominous tone for the movie's entirety. Not only does it star two of the greatest actresses of old Hollywood (Bette Davis and Joan Crawford), but it's well-known that these two were not necessarily in the greatest terms with each other. Even though they were simply acting their parts, the tension between the two actresses is so visible in the actual film itself, which makes it all the more powerful.

I must take a moment to recognize the wonderful acting Bette Davis portrays in this film. She magnificently plays the role of "Baby" Jane Hudson, who was a child star in the days of vaudeville, and was eventually forced to turn over her fame to her sister Blanche, who's become far more famous. However, an accident has left Blanche crippled, leaving Jane in charge of being her caretaker - and this is where the intense jealousy takes hold.

It's obvious that Jane has some sort of schizotypal personality disorder, characterized by her childish behavior and erratic thinking patterns. She wears baby doll dresses, cakes on her makeup, and sings and prances around like the world is her stage. Some critics may claim that Ms. Davis had overacted this role, but it's really that character of Jane who craves the attention she had when she was a child, and Bette does a spectacular job at making it seem all the more creepy. In my opinion, this may just be her best performance of her career.

I would also like to praise the cinematography. There were some various scenes that, to me, seemed very Hitchcock-esque, and complimented the feeling of the film perfectly. There were also certain shots that gave off the impression that Jane is, in fact, a little girl, and that Blanche, even in her fragile state, is far more superior than Jane as far as her mental state is concerned.

The film remains suspenseful the entire way through. Just when you think Jane Hudson couldn't get anymore crazed and maniacal, she continues to torment her sister in the most unimagineable ways. The majority of the film takes place within the confines of the Hudson mansion, but it is at the last scene of the movie where things get really disturbing. The scenery now changes its locale to a public beach, where is it now extremely apparent (as if it wasn't before) that Jane truly is disturbed. She performs a barefooted dance in the midst of a crowd of people, hoping to get the same admiration that she recieved as a little girl; only this time, no one is cheering.

Some might say that this film is a bit slowly driven, at least by today's standards, but I respectfully disagree. There are a few scenes that seem a bit pointless on the surface, but all in all, every part of the movie serves a purpose. I am a huge fan of eerie, psychologically-driven horror type movies, and this one does not fail to impress. The story is timeless, the acting is great, and the feeling of ominousity is apparent, from the very start to the very end. As I said before, this is one of my all-time favorite films, and every time I watch it, I see something I had not seen previously. It might not be for everyone to love, but I believe everyone should watch the film at least once, just for its remarkable elements and legacy.