What Ever Happened To Baby Jane

[crazydisneyman]

So Kim and I just watched What Ever Happened To Baby Jane for the first time last night. That was an awesome film, and Betty Davis and Joan Crawford were awesome playing off of each other. They don't make high powered actresses like that anymore.

It was one of the best movies as a pyschological thriller. Definately good to watch around Halloween.

Have any of you seen this movie?

What did you think?

 

[newmouse2008]

one of my favorites!!! I saw it for the first time in high school.... it led me to watch earlier Bette Davis and Joan Crawford films....... I remember being shocked at how beautiful they were in the eariler films. Davis was down right creepy as Baby Jane.... "I'm sending a letter to Daddy".....

 

[crazydisneyman]

The ending was unbelieveable! I didn't see that one coming.

 

[paperdoll1986]

Best. Movie. Ever.

'Nuff said.

 

[GoofyforDisney3]

I want to watch it but never have. I actually was just thinking about wanting to watch some older films the other day after being on the great movie ride. Need to start paying attention to when they were on.

 

[SamSam]

One of my favorite movies!

 

[auroralark]

My grandmother took my mom to see this movie when she was a kid and it scared the daylights out of her! She spent the whole time staring at the ceiling of the theater. Needless to say she hasn't seen it since, but it kind of interests me.

 

[Cap.Steamboat Willie]

Still get grossed out when she uncovers the dome cover her "special" meal.

 

[crazydisneyman]

We got the movie from Netflix in the mail.

They have a great library of older films like this.

I would highly recommend this to anyone.

 

[mjaclyn]

I also really love this movie. I'm a huge Bette Davis and Joan Crawford fan! If you liked Whatever Happened to Baby Jane, here are a few others I would recommend:

Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte
Mildred Pierce
Gaslight
Now, Voyager
All About Eve
Sunset Boulevard

Great movies!!

 

[chaoscent]

I love it and will sometimes throw quotes out from it. Unfortunately many people don't "get them" as they have never seen the film. (I also have to stop using, "What are you waiting for? Godot?" Ramblings of an aging hippy) I love Sending a letter to Daddy also. Thanks for bringing back the memory.

 

[paperdoll1986]

I actually downloaded "I've Written a Letter to Daddy" from itunes when I was new to itunes....and I was reminded it would go well in my Halloween playlist....hehehe

 

[LukenDC]

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane is one of my all time favorite movies! If I was stranded on a desert island and could take only one movie with me, it would be Baby Jane.

Joan Crawford is my favorite actress and I like Bette Davis too. At home I have a framed Baby Jane publicity photo of Joan and Bette standing together. I also have a framed photo of an ax-wielding Joan Crawford from her film Strait Jacket.

Joan and Bette were supposed to be paired in Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte, but animosity between the women resulted in Joan feigning illness to get out of her contract. Olivia de Havilland replaced Joan in the film.

If you are a Joan Crawford fan, you must visit the Joan Crawford Encyclopedia at www.joancrawfordbest.com

 

[Stacy's a freak]

Just added to my queue. Thanks for the tip - it sounds like a good one!

 

[crazydisneyman]

I won't reveal the ending, but I still think about that. The writing in this film is brilliant!

 

[SteamboatStevie]

I was so excited to log on to the DIS today and see this topic...I literately just saw Whatever Happened to Baby Jane for the very first time a week ago today. It was free on demand through cable. I'm still holding a grudge towards my girlfriend for letting me go my entire life without seeing it.
It's easily now one of my favorite movies of all time. Bette Davis is PHENOMENAL. It's such a messed up story, but I ate it up with a spoon. Glad to see I'm not the only one to recently discover it!

 

[crazydisneyman]

I have been wanting to see this ever since Kevin and John mentioned it on a podcast.

I want to see more films like this.

 

[luna99]

as a kid I remember hearing about this movie or maybe seeing a bit of it and being really intrigued by it.. but I never watched it because I think I was afraid it would be too scary.

I finally saw it last year sometime (maybe halloween-ish?) and wow, AWESOME! It was on last night actually as well and I set my DVR to record it so I can watch it again. I love films like this.. eerie, creepy, give you the willies type of horror/suspense... instead of those slasher/scary movies hollywood gives us these days. bleh. Seeing a ton of blood and gore really isn't that scary... just gross.

Can anyone remind me of any other awesome films that John and Kevin have recommended? I know they and Pete will occasionally talk about some older or obscure movie that I've never heard of and I mean to write it down but I never do! Thanks!

 

[PeterPan09]

If you loved this one, definately check out "Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte"! I loved both of those films and if they're on TCM I will stop and watch them again no matter what time it is.

I'm so grateful to my Dad for giving me a through grounding in the classic movies, these two included. I will never forget sitting on the couch with my Dad and a big bowl of popcorn becoming a fan of actors long retired.

 

[Joshua_me]

The film entertains on many levels.

Shot in a time when it could have easily been in color and "Cinemascope", the director wisely chose black and white and a relatively narrow aspect ratio to add to the haunting atmosphere.

Many scenes are often discussed, but for me one of the best is when when Bette and her "piano accompanist" are discussing the subject of payment.

The writing and the acting are brilliant here. Each of them in their own little worlds, not really responding to each other's sentences but rather going off into comments that relate only to their own personal lives.

I could watch that movie 100 times and not be bored.

In it's own way, it's every bit as disturbing as "The Exorcist" or "Halloween" or any other celebrated horror film one can think of....

And of course, the final scene on the beach is unforgettable. The term "magic" gets thrown around a lot, but the final five minutes or so of that movie really are the stuff of nightmares.

It could never come close to being recreated. It is, IMHO, absolute perfect film-making.