Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? DVD Review

"WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE?" reviews

DVD

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE?

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2005-08-24 15:20:56

Provider

DVD Review

Bette Davis and Joan Crawford star in the 1962 classic where the former plays the titular character, a former child star who became jealous of her sister Blanche when the limelight began to drift away.

Things get considerably darker after a car accident leaves Blanche wheelchair bound. Bette Davis then comes into her own as the reluctant carer whose evil, jealous streak is manifested in increasingly vicious ways including serving Blanche a shockingly disgusting meal.

Director Robert Aldrich made a clear statement about the downside of fame and Hollywood with this film. The casting was perfection, not just for the two leads' performances, but the fact they weren't the best of friends off screen either - their bitchiness on set became almost as legendary as the movie itself. All that aside, Whatever Happened To Baby Jane? stands alone as a gripping psychological thriller that successfully bit the hand that fed it.

This special edition release contains several extras of interest: particularly a 1967 BBC documentary on Joan Crawford and also Bette Davis: A Basically Benevolent Volcano - a 1983 Documentary. Then there's excerpts from a 1963 Andy Williams show and Bette and Joan - Blind Ambition.

All in all, this is absolutely essential.