Search - What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? on DVD

I would watch Vanessa Redgrave talk about mold. Still . . .

The Clerk | Raleigh, NC | 01/13/2008

(1 out of 5 stars)

"This movie, a TV-remake of a B movie, is pathetic. The underlying concept of a child star being eclipsed by her sister in adulthood is something worth fleshing out. Stunning successes in childhood followed by a dramatic fall from grace in adulthood is hard to come to terms with. Jane's basic resentment is understandable, but the movie -- particularly Lynn Redgrave's ridiculous portrayal of a woman that would have been institutionalized and not around to torment her sister makes it embarrassing to watch. Still, Vanessa Redgrave's portrayal of resignation and desparation -- and forgiveness -- is wonderfully performed. She is reduced, for much of the movie, to expressing herself through her eyes. Those incredibly expressive eyes bring to mind her role in "Wetherby."

Although Vanessa Redgrave's character, Blanche, has a British accent (she sounds like Vanessa Redgrave), Lynn Redgrave's character, Jane, has an attempt at an American accent that is hilariously awful. She moves across several states within one sentence, exaggerating her "r"s, particularly. This discrepancy is doubly puzzling given that both the characters and the Redgraves are sisters.

The Redgraves and their characters' relationship give this movie tremendous potential, but it is horribly executed. Only Vanessa Redgrave is saved here. She did a great job with what and whom she had to work with."

Decent TV-remake of a camp classic

R. Pepper | Los Angeles | 04/21/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This was a 1991 made-for-tv remake of the classic Whatever Happened to Baby Jane starring Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. Obviously someone realized how popular it was and what a strong fan following it had and so they finally decided to release this one to the public and I'm glad they did! While most originals are always the best, this one is definitely worth watching if you don't sit through the entire movie constantly comparing it to the original. I enjoyed both, this one just has a more modern touch to it. Lynn and Vanessa Redgrave are terrific actors so they make this film their own here. I give the original 5 stars and this one 4 stars! Check it out!"

Not Bad, But Original Is Better

W. Boswell | Virginia | 07/10/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I remember seeing this as a TV movie many years ago when it first aired. Fortunately I had seen the original with Bette Davis and Joan Crawford years before which is a classic that cannot be replaced. Like many remakes, this one is not as bad as other very bad remakes.

I only purchased this DVD because I thought it was worth addition to my library with the original classic it was derived from. Most remakes are terrible and are only done to update a good movie for current times usually making it a bad movie. I don't think this is the case with this movie. It was cheap when I purchased it and if you have the original, this one will fit nicely in your collection along side it."

Towards another "Baby Jane"

Todd M. Barty | Townsville, QLD Australia | 08/22/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"It must be remembered, when comparing this to the original "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane", that the original book by Henry Farrell contained none of the black humour or camp flourishes that made the original film work so well.
Similarly, these things are not present in the remake, and this should not disadvantage it, in itself. The original film, however, created a gothic, melodrmatic style that fitted the storyline. which itself exists in a somewhat heightened reality. While rooted in real psychology, Hollywood tragedy and disillusionment and the plight of invalids who are abused, the story combines and extends these elements.Without the style of the older film, this film seems a little less thrilling, and, in away, believable. The film did not build and Jane's madness did not increase in the same believable way as in the original.
Having said that, however, I thought the updating was well achieved and the alterations to the story appropriate. I enjoyed Blanche's increased tenacity and resistance to Jane's torment as well as the sequences where they get along along and share memories. Jane is not without sympathy and her madness, while not as believable as Davis's, is authentic. Cudos to the Redgrave sisters for their performances.
This film has the look and feel of a TV movie and I think this is due for a full scale remake under the stylistic hand of someone like Tim Burton."