Welcome to Screen Gems, our weekend dive into queer and queer-adjacent titles of the past that deserve a watch or a re-watch.
The Horror Show: What Ever Happened to Baby Jane
What Ever Happened to Baby Jane has a reputation of something of a camp classic. It’s easy to see why: former Hollywood starlets Joan Crawford and Bette Davis star in the movie, both of them playing their roles with total abandon. The film also helped popularize the very campy “hagsploitation” or “psycho biddy” genre–that is, movies about and usually starring some aging actress looking haggard and going crazy.
That said, as a film, Baby Jane doesn’t really deserve the onus of camp. The story: Davis plays Jane Hudson, a hard-drinking, half-crazy former child star in way too much makeup. Crawford plays Jane’s sister, Blanche, herself a former actress and bombshell, paralyzed by Jane in a car accident. The two women live together in virtual seclusion pining for their glory days. When Blanche plots to have Jane committed to an insane asylum, Jane begins to psychologically torture the wheelchair-bound Blanche. Jane also hires an effete, sycophantic pianist named Edwin (Victor Buono), in hopes of reviving her child act.
Baby Jane features some unhinged acting by Crawford, Buono and, in particular, Davis, as the characters in the movie begin their excruciating descent into madness. Director Robert Aldrich embraces the gothic outrageousness of it all: thus, what begins as an exercise in over-the-top style quickly becomes a taut thriller, a claustrophobic and ever-wilder horror show…and a sly statement about sexism Hollywood’s penchant for using, then abandoning, talent. There’s a reason Davis and Buono both scored Oscar nominations for their work: they’re not chewing scenery. Rather, they both deliver performances devoid of inhibition. And to be clear: Davis gives one of the bravest performances in history.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Drag queens, Feud and the legend of camp aside, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane is one of the greatest of all movie horror thrillers, just as frightening as The Shining, The Exorcist, Psycho or Halloween. Give it a look this weekend and dump the camp. This movie is scary as Hell.
Note: If you really want a campy version of this story, check out the 1991 remake starring real-life sisters Vanessa and Lynn Redgrave. Consider yourself warned.
Streams on HBO Max, Amazon, YouTube & VUDU.
This article includes links that may result in a small affiliate share for purchased products, which helps support independent LGBTQ+ media.
whatsaywhat
Bette Davis = LEGEND. One of the all-time greatest screen actors past or present.
Leo
Absolutely!
Kangol2
This movie is a camp classic and classic in general. Bette Davis gives one of her greatest performances as Baby Jane Hudson, but Joan Crawford is superb as her sister Blanche. It’s actually a horror film when you think about it, but it’s also a sibling drama, and both actresses are at the top of their games. If you haven’t ever seen it, don’t miss it. If you have seen it, watch it again!
Joshooeerr
Bette Davis and Joan Crawford were not “former Hollywood starlets”. They were both A-grade, name-above-the-title STARS, both well on their way to becoming legends. A “starlet” is a fledgling star with maybe a handful of small roles to their credit; someone not yet – and possibly not ever to be – a real star. Do get it right. Also, if you think Baby Jane “doesn’t really deserve the onus of camp”, then you have no idea what camp is either.
James26
What does any of this have to do with gay people?
cc423
Everything
Cam
How about instead we ask why you come on to each of these threads and ask the same question, and then go on to other threads to defend anti-LGBTQ bigots.
mailliw110
Don’t worry James, cluelessness is curable.
Wheelerman
Davis is just as good, if not better, in the equally nutty Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte, made after Baby Jane. Crawford got dumped on that movie, but was replaced by a sinister Olivia DeHavilland. I may prefer this to Baby Jane except it is not quotable as is Baby Jane.
Scout
What many may not realize is that this movie was released right in the middle of the Cuban Missile Crisis when we all feared the threat of WWIII. The high anxiety at this time certainly enhanced the suspense and horror of the film.
BoomerMyles
You can find a faithful remake made with drag queens on Amazon Prime. It’s called “Baby Jane?” and from 2011 shot in B&W.
I liked it better than the remake with the Redgrave sisters.
johnnymcmxxx
It is camp. It will always be camp. It features a performance from Davis that’s been called brave but it’s more a collection of all her worst mannerisms & bad acting choices rolled into one performance that is memorable for all the wrong reasons. Bette Davis’s performance is the true horror of this movie. And I love it.
Karlis
Yesterday I watched a video on YouTube of the old Johnny Carson show. The guests were Bette Davis, who was bone-thin and smoking cigarettes and then Martin Short, who was making fun of all kinds of people, including Bette Davis. It was wonderful.
Man About Town
“the characters in the movie begin their excruciating descent into madness”? Jane’s the only one who falls into that category!
Cam
It’s actually a creepy movie if you watch it. Everybody’s performance works.
Tombear
One of my favorite Davis’ lines was, “Growing old ain’t for sissies.”