ViewGuide

Created Apr 10, 2012 09:54PM PST • Edited Apr 19, 2014 05:10PM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   OK 2.5

   There’s no business like show business, and none more cruel in the wake of early success. What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? stands as a cautionary tale. A classic movie that pairs big stars from Hollywood’s Golden Age, it stands now as a borderline laughable antique. Like its stars, it hasn’t aged well.

   Bette Davis and Joan Crawford famously didn’t like each other, yet got late career boosts playing criminally dysfunctional sisters: Davis as the Baby Jane of the title, a onetime child star whose soul was corrupted by her prepubescent fame; Crawford as her older sister, who became a movie star after Jane’s career ended.

   Locked in a passive-aggressive relationship that descends into active aggression, the two spinsters take turns engaging in batty behavior.

   Not recommended except for fans of psychological thrillers and classic Hollywood, or of fallen stars.

   Speaking of fallen stars, a remake starring Lindsay Lohan and Megan Fox would have potential…

4. Acting

   Very Good 3.5

   Bette Davis’ brave performance as a consummately unattractive spinster deserves admiration if not appreciation. In a career known for unsympathetic characters, Baby Jane Hudson is a topper.

   Joan Crawford is less impressive as the put-upon sister.

   Victor Buono is oddly compelling in his first movie role. Fans of a certain age will recognize him as King Tut from the Adam West Batman series.

5. Male Stars OK 2.5

6. Female Stars Really Great 4.5

7. Female Costars Good 3.0

8. Male Costars Very Good 3.5

10. Film

    OK 2.5

    Though set in the early sixties, the film feels older, in part because of being in black & white. B&W can impart a timelessness when properly wielded. Here it just seems tired.

    The use of the Baby Jane doll from Baby Jane’s childhood? Brilliant.

11. Direction Good 3.0

12. Play OK 2.5

13. Music OK 2.5

14. Visuals OK 2.5
15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 1.8

17. Sex Innocent 1.0

18. Violence Fierce 2.5

19. Rudeness Salty 2.0

21. Reality

    Glib 1.8

22. Circumstantial Glib 1.8

23. Biological Surreal 2.1

24. Physical Glib 1.5