What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? 1962

In 1917, nine-year-old “Baby” Jane Hudson was a vaudevillian child star, mesmerizing audiences with her captivating charm. Her diminutive stature belied a giant ego, as she became accustomed to being treated like royalty by her stage father, Ray Hudson (Dave Willock), who indulged her every whim and demand. Meanwhile, her disapproving mother and overlooked 11-year-old sister Blanche (Gina Gillespie) stood idly by, powerless against Jane’s tantrums.

Fast forward to 1935, and the dynamics between the sisters had undergone a seismic shift. Now both movie stars in their own right, Blanche was the epitome of glamour, while Jane’s film career had stalled, leaving her bitter and resentful. Her reliance on drink only served to exacerbate her insecurities, as she struggled to establish herself as an adult actress. One fateful night, after a party that had left her feeling defeated, their car careened up the driveway, only for one of the sisters to step out and open the gate - with devastating consequences.

In 1962, Blanche (Joan Crawford) lay confined to a wheelchair, her once-luminous star fading like a dying ember. Her life was now a solitary existence, spent mainly in her bedroom, where she would watch old movie reels on television and relive the glory days of her cinematic past. Meanwhile, Jane (Bette Davis), now an aged and embittered woman, continued to wreak havoc as Blanche’s constant antagonist. Her days were filled with bitter outbursts, excessive drinking, and a desperate attempt to recapture the youthful radiance she once knew - all hidden beneath a thick layer of caked-on makeup.

In this twilight world, Elvira Stitt (Maidie Norman), their loyal cleaning woman, was one of the few who still held Blanche’s well-being close to her heart. She watched with concern as Jane continued to bully and belittle her sister, but Blanche remained steadfast in her defense, even when Elvira revealed that Jane had been pilfering her mail, dumping it unceremoniously into the trash. Despite this disturbing revelation, Blanche’s maternal instincts still drove her to shield her troubled sibling from harm, as she struggled to reconcile her own feelings of helplessness with the harsh realities of their crumbling world.

As Jane indulges in the nostalgia of her youth, she becomes entangled in a web of dark, haunting memories that eerily mirror her former glories. The mirror’s reflective surface serves as a harsh reminder of her current state, leaving her aghast and lost in thought. Meanwhile, the shrill buzz from Blanche’s bedside alarm pierces the air, signaling an imminent interruption. The repeated ringing is a stark contrast to the silence that has engulfed Jane, as she struggles to reconcile her past with her present.

Blanche’s sudden concern about selling their home prompts Jane’s ire, and the two sisters engage in a heated argument. Their disagreement culminates in Jane’s brutal removal of the telephone cord from the wall, further isolating Blanche in her room. As Jane attempts to placate her sister by delivering lunch, she is met with a somber revelation: beneath the silver serving dish lies their beloved parakeet, lifeless on a bed of tomato slices.

In an attempt to revitalize her career as a performer, Jane prepares herself for a night out, posting an advertisement for a piano player. As she ventures into the evening, Blanche’s desperation grows, and she resorts to writing a heartfelt plea for help, tossing it from her window in the hopes that Mrs. Bates (Anna Lee) might see it. However, Jane’s timely return, coupled with the arrival of a car on the driveway, prevents Mrs. Bates from noticing the crumpled note. The distraction allows Jane to discover Blanche’s letter, and when she brings dinner up, she taunts her sister with cruel mockery, leaving the food untouched.

The next morning, Elvira arrives, only for Jane to inform her that the day is hers to enjoy. This newfound freedom emboldens Jane, who continues to torment her sister, sparking another violent argument as Blanche receives lunch. The lingering unease from the previous night’s dinner plate still lingers, as Blanche hesitates to consume her meal due to Jane’s callous behavior.

When Blanche inquires about breakfast being absent, Jane responds with a mixture of nonchalance and malice, tauntingly devouring the leftovers from the previous evening. As she takes the tray away, she ominously informs her sister that rats have taken up residence in their basement, leaving Blanche to confront the dark reality upon opening her lunch plate. A deceased rat stares back at her, prompting a blood-curdling scream as Jane revels in her sister’s anguish with an evil cackle.

As fate would have it, a struggling young man named Edwin Flagg (Victor Buono) stumbles upon an advertisement in the newspaper that catches his attention. Desperate for a means to support himself and his mother, he calls the Hudson residence, arranging an appointment for later that day. Little does Jane expect, her troubles are only just beginning.

When Edwin arrives at the house, Jane regales him with tales of her childhood, belting out her signature song “I’ve Written a Letter to Daddy” with Edwin accompanying her on the piano. His distaste is palpable, but he valiantly attempts to conceal his disgust. As they continue their conversation, Jane proudly displays a scrapbook filled with memories of her youth.

Meanwhile, Blanche’s growing frustration reaches a boiling point as she repeatedly buzzes the intercom, demanding to know who has arrived at the house. Her ire is finally satiated when Jane storms upstairs, confronting her sister and ripping the buzzer from its socket. A slap across the face serves as the final blow, leaving Blanche reeling.

As Edwin and Jane finalize their plans, she drives him home, leaving Blanche to rummage through her room in search of sustenance. Her hunger pangs are a constant reminder of her neglect, having gone days without a meal. It’s then that she discovers Jane’s secret: the practice of forging her sister’s signature and writing checks under her name.

Blanche seizes upon this discovery, dashing to the telephone to summon help from Jane’s doctor. Her desperation is palpable as she implores him to come to the house immediately. However, Jane returns home to find Blanche on the phone, her request for aid met with a stern rebuke. Enraged by her sister’s audacity, Jane unleashes a brutal beating upon Blanche, kicking her mercilessly until she lies unconscious on the floor.

Jane then seizes control of the situation, disguising her voice as her sister and canceling the doctor’s visit. With her sister helpless at her feet, Jane drags Blanche to her room, binding her arms, gagging her, and leaving her to suffer in silence.

As Elvira (character) pays a visit to Blanche, she’s met with a chilly reception by Jane, who informs her that her services are no longer required. The usually stoic Jane appears suspicious, almost as if she’s hiding something. Undeterred, Elvira decides to snoop around the house when Jane leaves for the bank, determined to uncover what secrets lie hidden behind those walls. Her snooping leads her to Blanche’s room, which is eerily locked and darkened - a stark contrast to the vibrant hues that once filled this space.

As Elvira tries to pry open the door, she’s caught red-handed by Jane, who’s returned from her errand with a hammer in hand. The usually reserved Jane reveals a calculating glint in her eye as she dispatches Elvira with a swift and merciless blow. It’s as if Jane has finally found a way to silence the whispers that have haunted her for so long - “If only they had loved me enough.” The darkness within Jane seems to grow, spreading like a stain across her psyche.

The sound of Edwin’s knock at the door shatters the oppressive atmosphere, but it only serves to further unsettle Jane. She’s too consumed by her own demons to answer, instead opting for a monologue of despair as she drags Elvira’s lifeless body from the house and disposes of it like so much trash. It’s a stark reminder that, in this twisted world, the dead are just as disposable as the living.

A week passes, and the police phone Jane to report that Elvira has gone missing - or so she claims. As panic sets in, Jane prepares to flee with her sister, sensing that the authorities will soon uncover her dark secret. Just as all hope seems lost, Edwin appears at the doorstep, his eyes bloodshot from a long night of revelry. His presence is like a catalyst, sparking chaos and destruction throughout the Hudson household.

In the midst of this turmoil, Blanche, now weakened by her ordeal, manages to summon the strength to knock over a bedside table in her room - a faint cry for help that goes unnoticed by Jane. Edwin’s drunken state allows him to stumble upon the truth: Blanche is alive and bound to her bed, her eyes begging for his assistance. He flees the scene in terror, leaving Jane to face the music.

As desperation takes hold, Jane shoves her sister into the car and makes a break for the beach, as if the open sea can somehow wash away the stains of her past. The darkness within her seems to be consuming everything in its path, leaving destruction and chaos in its wake.

As the sun rises over the desolate beachscape, the desperate search for the missing Hudson sisters reaches its peak. The somber discovery of Elvira’s lifeless body by the authorities sparks a flurry of activity, with bulletins broadcasting her tragic fate across the airwaves. Meanwhile, Blanche lies prostrate on the sand, her frail form testament to the ravages of time and neglect. Beside her, Jane sits in a state of eerie obliviousness, her gaze fixed on some distant point as the weight of her sister’s words slowly sinks in.

As the truth begins to unravel, it becomes clear that Blanche has been carrying the guilt of a long-buried secret. It was she who had attempted to run down her own sister, Jane, all those years ago. But fate had intervened, and Blanche’s reckless act had left her with a shattered spine - a constant reminder of her own culpability. And yet, it is only now, as the fragile threads of sanity begin to fray, that Jane learns the truth about the accident that has haunted her for so long.

As the reality of her situation sets in, Jane’s mental state teeters on the brink of collapse. In a desperate bid to escape the crushing weight of her thoughts, she flings herself into a frenzied quest for comfort - seeking solace in the simple pleasures of an ice cream cone. But even as she savors the sweet treat, the dark specter of mortality looms large, and two uniformed officers arrive to intervene.

As the crowd surrounding Jane begins to swell, she finds herself drawn into a macabre dance - her mind consumed by a deranged imagination that refuses to relinquish its hold. The police, meanwhile, are oblivious to her antics, their focus fixed on the lifeless form of Blanche as they struggle to revive her. And so, amidst the chaos and despair, Jane’s fractured psyche continues to spin out of control, lost in a world of twisted fantasies where reality is but a distant memory.