History Film / WhatEverHappenedToBabyJane

* FakeBoobs: According to Bette Davis in a 1987 interview with Creator/BarbaraWalters, Joan Crawford wore a pair during the beach scene:
-->'''Davis:''' [Crawford] had three sets of falsies. And, as you know, when any of us is lying flat down, these ''[indicates her breasts]'' do not stand up straight like this. They kind of go to the side, usually. ... I mean, even [[Music/DollyParton Dolly Parton's]] probably do, too. ''[laughs]'' I was supposed to run and fall on her. I was almost knocked out, I have to admit. Because she insisted on that. ... She was used to appearing as a beautiful person. It was hard for her to change. ... As a matter of fact, she said, "You've taken everything else away from me. I will not give up these."

-->'''Davis:''' [Crawford] had three sets of falsies. And, as you know, when any of us is lying flat down, these ''[indicates her breasts]'' do not stand up straight like this. They kind of go to the side, usually. ... I mean, even [[Music/DollyParton Dolly Parton's]] probably do, too. ''[laughs]'' I was supposed to run and fall on her. I was almost knocked out, I have to admit. Because she insisted on that. ... She was used to appearing as a beautiful person. It was hard for her to change. It was hard for her to take her nail polish off. ... As a matter of fact, she said, "You've taken everything else away from me. I will not give up these."

* FormerChildStar: Jane, who had a vaudeville act back in 1917 but couldn't make it as an actress in Hollywood. In the present, she's a bitter mentally disturbed alcoholic who still dresses like a little girl and is unable to accept that nobody even remembers "Baby Jane" anymore. (It's mentioned that she is still wildly popular and beloved in France and could have a successful adult career if she would go there, but she wants to renew what she once had in the U.S. This may be a ShoutOut to Creator/JerryLewis.)

* FormerChildStar: Jane, who had a vaudeville act back in 1917 but couldn't make it as an actress in Hollywood. In the present, she's a bitter mentally disturbed alcoholic who still dresses like a little girl and is unable to accept that nobody even remembers "Baby Jane" anymore.

* FormerChildStar: Jane, who had a vaudeville act back in 1917 but couldn't make it as an actress in Hollywood.

A classic 1962 thriller film directed by Creator/RobertAldrich, starring Creator/BetteDavis and Creator/JoanCrawford.

[[quoteright:310:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/crawforddavisbabyjane.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:310:"Butcha ''are'', Blanche! Ya ''are'' in that chair!"]]

A classic 1962 thriller directed by Creator/RobertAldrich, starring Creator/BetteDavis and Creator/JoanCrawford.

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/crawforddavisbabyjane.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:300:"Butcha ''are'', Blanche! Ya ''are'' in that chair!"]]

A classic 1962 thriller directed by Creator/RobertAldrich, starring Creator/BetteDavis and Creator/JoanCrawford. It was adapted from the 1960 novel of the same name by Henry Farrell.

* TheFilmOfTheBook

* BlackAndWhiteMorality: Subverted; the film is set up so you go in believing Jane is the "evil sister" and Blanche is the "good sister". In reality, as is revealed over the film, it's actually a case of BlackAndGrayMorality: [[spoiler: Blanche tried to murder her sister back when they were movie stars, but missed and crippled herself. This ultimately leads to Jane going insane, partly due to guilt, and eventually she turns murderous as a result of her damaged mind]].

* TheEndingChangesEverything: Lets just say there's a very good reason the film's poster warns you to watch the film from the beginning and not give away the climax, because it almost ''completely'' changes how you'll see the film afterward.

* EsotericHappyEnding: [[spoiler:Jane no longer believes she's evil, as become as bright and happy as a child, but may be taken away to a mental institution, and there's no indication whether Blanche is alive or dead at the end. Regardless, the Jane now knows the truth and is fine with it.]]

--> '''Jane Hudson:''' [[spoiler: [[CouldHaveAvoidedThisPlot You mean all this time, we could have been ''friends''?]] ]]

--> '''Jane Hudson:''' [[spoiler: [[CouldHaveAvoidedThisPlot ''You mean all this time, we could have been friends?'']] ]]

--> '''Jane Hudson:''' [[spoiler: [[CouldHaveAvoidedThisPlot ''"You mean all this time, we could have been friends?"'']] ]]

--> '''Jane Hudson:''' [[spoiler:''"[[CouldHaveAvoidedThisPlot You mean all this time, we could have been friends?"'']] ]]

----

* BeautyEqualsGoodness: Jane has aged horribly and is the antagonist, whereas Blanche has aged gracefully. [[spoiler: Subverted with the reveal that Blanche tried to kill Jane and let her believe that she was the attacker all these years]]. [[note]]This is mostly due to the different approach of the two leading actresses: Bette Davis had great fun looking terrible, and even designed her own makeup, while Joan Crawford wanted to look as good as possible, and prevented all attempts to turn her ugly.[[/note]]

* AdaptedOut: The book states that the two girls went to live with their aunt after their parents died of influenza, and that was how Blanche got into films. The movie just cuts from 1917 to 1937 when Blanche is already a film star, with no mention of an aunt.

* BeautyEqualsGoodness: Jane has aged horribly and is the antagonist, whereas Blanche has aged gracefully. [[spoiler: Subverted with the reveal that Blanche tried to kill Jane and let her believe that she was the attacker all these years]].

* TooDumbToLive: [[spoiler:Elvira, despite knowing for a fact that Blanche is mentally unstable, leaves a hammer within her reach and turns her back on her. She doesn't make it more than a few steps into Blanche's room before she's killed.]]

* GrandmaWhatMassiveHotnessYouHave: The events of the film and book put Blanche in her late 50s or early 60s, but it's said that she's managed to age gracefully and hold onto her good looks. This is in stark contrast to Jane, who has become a mess.

* ColdHam: In stark contrast to [[{{Series/Batman}} some of his other roles]], Victor Buono plays almost all of his scenes as Edwin with quiet, immeasurable loathing for the people around him. It's not until he gets drunk and loosens up that he becomes a true LargeHam.

* VillainProtagonist: The story is focused on the unrepentantly horrible Jane.

* IWasQuiteALooker: Jane was an angelic little girl and a reasonably attractive young woman but has now grown old and is a complete mess. Averted with Blanche who has aged well enough.

* NosyNeighbor: Mrs. Bates is a mild example.

%%* {{Camp}}: The film is known for having a fair amount of this, which helps account for its CultClassic status.