ghcheese At the begging of this movie you may want to shut it off. Kind of ridiculous. But as you watch you will find this story a true Horror. If you ever payed attention to people in your lives or you see on the street you may find you met people just like them. The overdone makeup on an old woman who tried to act like daddy's little girl. Meanwhile you have a nag that has sucked the life right out of her. You will shriek in terror at this duo.

Stevieboy666 Terrifying, gothic classic tale about two sisters, both faded stars, living together in a relationship of hatred, jealousy, mistrust, madness and alcoholism. Everybody knows of the real life feud between lead stars Bette Davis & Joan Crawford, this works perfectly for the movie. When Davis shouts or lashes out at the helpless Crawford it looks to be for real. And what a stunning performance by Davis as the crazed sister - madness has rarely looked this terrifying on screen. Extremely well made, it could easily pass as the work of the master himself, Hitchcock. Only Victor Buono's questionable English accent is a slight weakness.

Vic_max Never heard of this classic until the series "Feud" highlighted the on-set tension between the two aging Hollywood greats, Joan Crawford and Bette Davis (I decided to see this before watching the series).This is a very-well acted story about two sisters living together. Rose had early fame as a child stage performer while Blanche enjoyed Hollywood fame in the movies as an adult. Rose, showing early signs of narcissism and sociopathy as a child, is now acting as a cruel caretaker for Blanch, who was crippled in a car accident.It's exasperating to see how blind Blanche acts towards the bizarre behavior of Rose. She's clearly suffering from sort of pathological denial herself. It's almost like watching a Rob Zombie movie in which good natured people get trapped and suffer increasing levels of abuse -- and we have to sit through it.The fact that 55 years have passed since this movie opened and one can still feel disturbed while watching it is a testament to the acting abilities of Davis and Crawford. Watch this, then watch the series "Duel" to see what when down during the movie's production.

CinemaClown Revitalising the then-fading careers of two actresses who were Hollywood's biggest stars in their heydays, and giving birth to a new subgenre of horror in the process, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane is an often disturbing, at times chilling & thoroughly captivating example of hag horror that's powered by outstanding lead performances from Bette Davis & Joan Crawford.The story of What Ever Happened to Baby Jane follows Jane & Blanche Hudson, two ageing sisters who live together in an old Hollywood mansion. In the early days, Jane was a notable child star but their fortunes reversed in later years when Blanche became a more famous actress before a tragic accident crippled her for life. Still resentful of her wheelchair-bound sister's success, Jane makes Blanche's life a living hell.Directed by Robert Aldrich, the film quickly glances through the prime years of both sisters before the accident that sets its main plot into motion. The feeling of resentment, jealousy & hate is quite evident in the siblings' relationship early in the story and it only intensifies as the plot progresses. Aldrich's direction is brilliant as steadily ratchets up the bitterness between the two leading ladies and keep things tightly-knitted till the end.Also benefitting the story as well as their own performances is the intense rivalry between the two former Hollywood stars, as their contempt for each other seeps into their on-screen roles and the scenes between the two seethes with a sharp-flavoured zest. Further amplifying its imagery are its fluid camera-work & first-rate lighting. Editing keeps the plot interesting and steadily paces it, while the background score stays in sync with the unfolding events.Coming to the acting department, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane is steered by Bette Davis & Joan Crawford, and the remaining cast is simply no match to the performance these two veteran actresses put on the screen. Davis embraces her old hag persona with open arms and fully dives into her role to deliver a truly manic, disturbing & deranged performance whereas Crawford chips in with a restrained input that was physically demanding & plays her part with quiet temperament.On an overall scale, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane is a smartly crafted, expertly photographed and splendidly performed psychological thriller and what catapults it to higher level is the stinging chemistry between Bette Davis & Joan Crawford. Also worth mentioning is its clever use of humour that makes its presence felt in the most unexpected yet amusing fashion. Utilising the deep-seated envy of its leading ladies to full measure & concluding with a chilling final minutes revelation, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane is absolutely worth your time & money.