In Robert Aldrich’s classic thriller, Bette Davis and Joan Crawford play the legendary parts of the Hudson Sisters. Bette Davis is Baby Jane who used to be a star as a child, but she failed as an actress later. In a flashback, two producers watch Baby Jane’s new film that proves her bad acting. The “lucky” film, which was selected from Davis’ filmography for this scene, was Alfred E. Green’s Parachute Jumper (1933).
Joan Crawford is Blanche Hudson who lived her childhood as the unknown sister of a huge star, but contrary to Baby Jane, she became a fine actress later in her life. Now, confined to a wheelchair she’s watching her old films on TV, trying to relive her glory days. The film shown here, in which Crawford stars, is Clarence Brown’s Sadie McKee (1934).
Scenes from Robert Aldrich’s What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962).
