Bette Davis Movie Recommendation #3

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?  (1962)- 2 hrs 15 mins

A cult classic, Bette Davis and Joan Crawford star as Jane and Blanche Hudson. Now two middle-aged child stars, Jane and Blanche live in an old Hollywood mansion. Despite their similarities, though, the two are far from civil. Blanche is a paraplegic who blames her condition on Jane. While Jane, who is forced to take care of Blanche, continues to hold onto the bitter resentment and jealousy that she had for her sister years ago. Continuing to live in the past in more ways than one, the extent of Jane’s increasing mental condition becomes more concerning when, in an attempt to resurrect her career as “Baby Jane Hudson,” she plots her sister’s murder.

Whatever Happened to Baby Jane was a definite triumph for Davis. She and Joan Crawford proved that “two old broads”* could achieve box office success and win public appeal. Baby Jane, however, is far from a great film. It really is Bette Davis’s willingness to play a “grotesque” that saves the film and makes it worth watching. Trapped in the confines of their lonely mansion, the talents of Crawford and Davis combined with their known real-life rivalry make the film an electrifying delight and far from boring despite its shortcomings!

Behind the scenes with co-star Joan Crawford

Availability: Youtube, Amazon, Googleplay, DVD, and Blu-ray.

• Purchase DVD: https://www.amazon.com/What-Ever-Happened-Baby-Anniversary/dp/B008BFSMBA/ref=asc_df_B008BFSMBA/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312170781249&hvpos=1o3&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7915381204780366017&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9003967&hvtargid=pla-523996652806&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=58898437101&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=312170781249&hvpos=1o3&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7915381204780366017&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9003967&hvtargid=pla-523996652806

• Purchase Blu-ray: https://www.amazon.com/Whatever-Happened-Baby-Jane-Blu-ray/dp/B00CWZXMU6/ref=tmm_blu_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=