What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? 1962

In 1917, we are introduced to Baby Jane Hudson, played by Julie Allred, a prodigious vaudevillian child star captivating audiences and leading to the creation of a lavish Baby Jane doll. However, while surrounded by admirers, Jane becomes an utterly spoiled individual, indulged by her father, Ray Hudson (Dave Willock), while her disapproving mother and her 11-year-old sister, Blanche Hudson (Gina Gillespie), watch enviously from the periphery.

Fast forward to 1935, the dynamic within the Hudson household has dramatically shifted. Now both sisters are established movie stars, but it is Blanche who has become the celebrated, glamorous figure, while Jane finds herself battling obscurity as her films flop miserably. Desperately attempting to reclaim her past glory, Jane succumbs to alcohol, struggling to cope with her fading dreams. In a pivotal moment after returning home from a party, the sisters’ car careens into the mansion’s gate, foreshadowing the tumultuous relationship that will follow.

By 1962, the once-dynamic duo now exists in a dilapidated mansion in Los Angeles. Blanche, confined to a wheelchair and portrayed by Joan Crawford, spends her days reliving her cinematic past while Jane, masterfully portrayed by Bette Davis, has grown into a bitter, aging woman whose incessant drinking and gaudy makeup efforts aim to mask her true age. Constantly at odds, Jane’s abusive demeanor suffocates Blanche, who remains largely dependent on her sister, save for her bond with Elvira Stitt, their compassionate cleaning lady (played by Maidie Norman). Elvira harbors deep concerns about Jane’s erratic behavior, especially given her worrying habit of sifting through Blanche’s mail and discarding it.

Deep in her delusions, Jane grapples with the memories of her once-starlit childhood. One day, as she fixes her hair and makeup to venture out and seek a pianist for a comeback, Blanche desperately tries to reach out for help from the outside world. However, Jane intercepts her plea—a response that only escalates their volatile relationship. A grim discovery awaits Blanche as she finds her beloved parakeet cruelly placed under her lunch tray, an act of Jane’s malice.

Amidst the sisterly chaos, newly introduced character Edwin Flagg (played by Victor Buono), a struggling yet earnest young man, responds to Jane’s call for a piano player. His arrival at the Hudson mansion intensifies the strained atmosphere. Jane nostalgically performs her childhood hit, “I’ve Written a Letter to Daddy,” while Edwin fights to conceal his discomfort. As tensions rise, Jane violently confronts Blanche several times, leading to a shocking climax as she forbids her sister from reaching out for any kind of help.

Further tragedy unfolds when Jane, consumed by paranoia, goes to extreme lengths to silence those who threaten her twisted sanctuary. The drama escalates with Elvira’s untimely demise at the hands of Jane, plunging her deeper into a psychological abyss defined by isolation, obscurity, and resentment.

A week passes; rumors of their disappearance begin to circulate when police investigation reveals Elvira’s fate. As Jane’s mental state spirals out of control, her desperate attempts to escape the consequences of her actions lead to a guilt-ridden confrontation with her sister.

Their final moments on a deserted beach expose the deep-seated truths of their tumultuous lives. In a poignant confession, Blanche reveals the tragic accident that left her incapacitated, forcing Jane to grapple with the reality that her self-inflicted anguish may have clouded her perception of their shared history.

With the police closing in, Jane’s fleeting moments of joy disintegrate into madness as she performs for a crowd, blissfully unaware of the heart-wrenching tragedy that surrounds her. The film concludes on a haunting note as Jane dances, lost in her delusions while Blanche lies motionless in the sand, the brutal toll of their intertwined fates finally revealed. THE END