Search - What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? on DVD

Content Advisory: Violence, Not For Children Movie Release: 1962 DVD Release: 10/01/1997 Format: DVD - Black and White,Pan and Scan,Soft-Matted WSE for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English, Spanish Subtitles: English, French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 2 hrs 14 mins Studio: Warner Home Video Members Wishing: 12 Genres: Thriller, Psychological Thriller See Also: What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

As a child, "Baby Jane" Hudson was the toast of vaudeville. As an adult, however, Baby Jane was overshadowed by her more talented sister, Blanche, who became a top movie star. Then, one night in the early '30s, came the accident, which crippled Blanche for life and which was blamed on a drunken, jealous Jane. Flash-forward to 1962: Jane (Bette Davis), decked out in garish chalk-white makeup, still lives with the invalid Blanche (Joan Crawford) in their decaying L.A. mansion. When Jane isn't tormenting the helpless Blanche by serving her dead rats for breakfast, she is plotting and planning her showbiz comeback. Convinced that her days are numbered if she remains in the house with her addlepated sister, Blanche desperately tries to get away, but all avenues of escape are cut off by the deranged Jane. What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? sparked a trend toward casting venerable Hollywood female stars in such grotesque Grand Guignol melodramas as Lady in a Cage (1964) and Hush...Hush Sweet Charlotte (1965). In addition to revitalizing the careers of Davis and Crawford, whose real-life mutual animosity came through loud and clear, the film made a star of sorts of 24-year-old character actor Victor Buono, cast as a porcine mama's-boy musical composer. Lukas Heller's screenplay was based on the novel by Henry Farrell. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Bette Davis - Jane Hudson
Joan Crawford - Blanche Hudson
Victor Buono - Edwin Flagg
Marjorie Bennett - Mrs. Della Flagg
Anna Lee - Mrs. Bates
Maide Norman - Elvira Stitt

This Warner Bros. DVD of What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? contains two black-and-white versions of this well-known 1962 film on one disk. The first is a standard, full-screen version of the film and the second is a widescreen version enhanced for widescreen TVs. The film stars Bette Davis (in an Academy Award-nominated performance) and Joan Crawford as two sisters. Crawford has been crippled and needs the care of Davis, who is cruel and sadistic. Victor Buono, in his first film part, was also nominated for an Oscar for his role as a down-on-his-luck songwriter. The film transfer is good, with only an occasional flaw to mar it. The movie soundtrack has been remastered in Dolby Digital 5.1, and the difference can certainly be heard in Davis' explosive cackles and shrieks. A few production notes are included with the disc, which opens the door ever-so-slightly on the making of the film. ~ Russell Roberts, All Movie Guide