What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?
Sister, sister, oh so fair, why is there blood all over your hair?
Country
Budget
$980 000
Box office
$9 003 509
Director
Actors
Scenario
Producer
Robert Aldrich, Kenneth Hyman
Camera operator
Composer
Frank De Vol
Artist
Audition
Jack Murton
Editing
Michael Luciano, Jack R. Berne
Whole Team (44)
Whole Team (44)
Short description
A former vaudeville child star viciously torments her paraplegic sister in their decaying Hollywood mansion.
What's left behind the scenes
- The curious neighbor's daughter was played by Bette Davis's daughter, Barbara Merrill, who in the future—much like Joan Crawford's daughter, Christina Crawford—published a biographical book that portrayed her mother in an unfavorable light.
- The first frictions between the two actresses began when Bette Davis installed a Coca-Cola vending machine on the set. Joan Crawford, being the widow of a Pepsi-Cola owner, decided that Davis had done this specifically to spite her. The second clash occurred when Davis was nominated for an Oscar for her role in the film.
- The final scene by the beach was filmed in the city of Malibu, at the exact location where director Robert Aldrich filmed the finale of his movie 'Kiss Me Deadly' (1955).
- Bette Davis wears a wig in the film, which was used for Joan Crawford’s makeup in one of her early films. However, the latter did not recognize it, as it had been significantly altered.
- The curious daughter of the neighbor was played by Barbara Merrill, daughter of Bette Davis, who, like Joan Crawford's daughter, Christine Crawford, later published a biographical book portraying her mother in an unfavorable light.
- The first tensions between the two actresses began when Bette Davis installed a Coca-Cola machine on the set. Joan Crawford, being the widow of a Pepsi-Cola owner, believed Davis had done it deliberately to spite her. The second friction occurred when Davis was nominated for an Oscar for her role in the film.
- The film clips of young Jane that are viewed in the studio are from "The Parachute Jumper" (1933) and "She Done Him Wrong" (1933). The film of young Blanche that she watches on television is "Sadie McKee" (1934).
- The film's success paved the way for other projects directed or produced by Robert Aldrich, which revolved around psychotic women. These films include "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte" (1964) and "What Ever Happened to Aunt Alice?" (1969).
- The final scene on the beach was filmed in Malibu, in the very same location where director Robert Aldrich filmed the finale of his film "Kiss Me Deadly" (1955).
- At the beginning of the film, when Mrs. Bates enters her home, a painting by Margaret Keane is hanging on the wall—the artist whom Tim Burton would later feature in his 2014 film 'Big Eyes'.
- In the film, Bette Davis wears a wig that Joan Crawford had used for makeup in one of her early movies. However, the latter did not recognize it, as it had been extensively reworked.
- The success of the film gave the green light to other projects directed or produced by Robert Aldrich, in which the plot centered around psychotic women. These were the films 'Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte' (1964) and 'What Ever Happened to Aunt Alice?' (1969).
- The film is based on Henry Farrell's novel "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?" (1960).
- The house used as the Hudson sisters' mansion is located at 172 South McCadden Place in Hancock Park, Los Angeles.
- The film clips of a young Jane being viewed at the studio are from the movies 'The Parachutist' (1933) and 'The Ex-Loved One' (1933). The film featuring a young Blanche that she watches on television is 'Sadie McKee' (1934).
- At the beginning of the film, when Mrs. Bates enters her home, a painting by Margaret Keane is hanging on the wall, about whom Tim Burton will make the film "Big Eyes" in 2014.
- The animosity between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford was also evident during filming. In particular, during the staging of the scene where Jane kicks Blanche, Davis hit Crawford so hard that she needed stitches. In retaliation, Crawford, preparing to film the scene where Jane drags Blanche across the floor, secretly placed a heavy weight in her dress pockets, resulting in Davis severely straining her back by the end of the shooting.
- The mutual dislike between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford also manifested during filming. In particular, while staging the scene where Jane kicks Blanche, Davis hit Crawford so hard that the latter required stitches for her wounds. In retaliation, while preparing for the scene where Jane drags Blanche across the floor, Crawford secretly placed heavy weights in the pockets of her dress, resulting in Davis suffering from severe back pain by the end of the shoot.
- The film is based on the novel 'What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?' (1960) by Henry Farrell.
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