Brief Synopsis
The film delves into the tragic story of the relationship between two sisters, Baby Jane (played by Joan Crawford) and Blanche (Bette Davis) Hudson, fueled by jealousy and hatred. As older adults, Baby Jane is a has-been child actor trying to cling to the same fame she had as a Shirley Temple wannabe, and her sister finds herself under her care after being paralyzed. This sisterly dynamic is more toxic than anything, thanks to the years of resentment and jealousy that come to a head.
The good, bad and the ugly aspects
I’ll be honest, this is my first movie that I’ve seen with the principal actresses, and I have to say that their acting is fantastic. The demure, soft-spoken, and helpless Blanche juxtaposes the unpredictable, rash, and tumultuous emotional person that is Baby Jane. i was intrigued to see what would happen between them, especially ad the movie progresses, Jane’s character seems to become more and more unhinged, uncovering her murderous tendencies.
Sometimes the film feels like it drags a bit with a run time of over 2 hours. In fact, this film has a few side characters whose storylines absolutely go nowhere except to create suspense, but the result left me feeling unsatisfied.
Another aspect worth noting was the musical choices. Between suspense and a sitcom. the music didn’t really have a cohesive vibe that didn’t feel like it, believe in a film with this subject matter. Imagine the movie Misery, but with music cues from any sitcom; it makes you scratch your head and wonder what is going to happen. I digress because I wonder if it was to mimic the emotional whiplash that we experienced with Baby Jane. However, it was very slapstick, and if that was the goal, it failed.
The following contains plot spoilers!
Baby Jane walked so annie wilkes could run
While searching for classic horror movies to watch, I stumbled across this film. Even though the film does feel in some ways like horror, it’s more like a drama. That being said, I did refer to Misery earlier, and there are some parallels. Blanche, a paralyzed woman, is under the care of her sister, who controls all aspects of her life. Okay, that’s the only similarity, but to be in a similar situation is horrifying.
Although Jane was a child star, it was Blanche who achieved adult stardom. Forgotten and bitter, Jane now cares for her sister with an iron fist, playing with her food (anyone like dead pets ?) and cutting her off from the outside world. Unbeknownst to everyone, Jane plans to take over the estate and get rid of her sister to finally reemerge to reclaim her fame as Baby Jane. All this so she can revive her 40-year-old act that no one wants to see.
Despite the best efforts of the maid to help Blanche free herself from her nefarious sister’s ways, she’s a prisoner in her own home, subject to the unstable mood of her sister. Contrarily, Jane is also a prisoner. Exploited by her parents and an industry that doesn’t protect children, and even gaslighted into believing that she was the one to paralyzed her sister. Although I don‘t approve of her actions, there is an understanding that she is also a victim.
Final thoughts
The film was good. There were aspects that I really loved, such as the casting decision for our two sisters and the general intrigue, but for an older film, it wasn’t my favorite. That doesn’t take away from the appreciation of what it is and what it was for its time.
As the movie ends with Blanche dying of malnutrition on the beach and Jane twirling in a circle in front of fellow beachgoers, completely cracked, I was left perplexed. I wondered what was to become of the sisters. What is next? Of course, knowing the aftermath of the events of the movie isn’t always guaranteed, but it makes you think. I realize that the question that we started with, which happens to be also the title of the film, is reminiscent of people who have ever wondered what happened to one-hit wonders or has-beens who haven’t been seen in the public eye in years.
How much does Blanche contribute, knowingly or unknowingly, to Baby Jane’s descent into madness?
