Jane receives her liquor from Johnson's and starts reminiscing about the past. She sings one of her old tunes, but it is frightened by her own reflection when Blanche interrupts her, causing her to snap.
This scene is a testament to Bette Davis' skills. Even though it's clear that Jane is crazy and vengeful, this scene is heartbreaking because you're seeing a woman who has never really been allowed to grow up, has only taken comfort from the fantasies of returning to stage and is now realizing that those days are long past but has no idea how to move forward. Joan Crawford is delightful in this movie too (especially when she realizes what's going on) but Bette Davis shines here.
janeyrevanescence12 Joan Crawford didn't get an Academy Award nomination here because she basically reacts to BD's character. I love Joan (esp Mildred Pierce) but in a lot of ways it's Bette's movie.
I'D LIKE TO DISAGREE. I THOUGHT THIS ACTING WAS OVER THE TOP AND CHEESY WHEN I SAW THIS MOVIE...FROM BOTH ACTRESSES. IF THIS WAS DONE TODAY, IT WOULD BE REGARDED AS A COMEDY/FARCE.
This movie works because inside every late middle aged person, who feels that life has not sufficiently rewarded them for their talent and work, has a little bit of Baby Jane inside them...
I completely agree with that. Honestly idt they hated each other I think Joan Crawford noticed Bette Davis was taking roles and Joan had a complex about getting older and being in front of the camera. On the other hand , Bette Davis was taking roles left and right when she could. The Witch mountain movies and on to a little bitty roles in the early 80's.
Blanche ringing that bell was her way of bringing Jane back to reality . When she heard her singing noticed the wtf look. She knew it was about to get crazy up in that joint, lmfao.
@countess77 maybe, but that’s not a very wise move. When people are in that fragile state of mind you don’t provoke them like this. Remember the last scene of Sunset Boulevard when Norma Desmond was losing her mind, the cop didn’t just slam down the door and drag her to the police station
Bette should have won. This was one of the greatest performances of her career. This very scene was so heartbreaking and moving. Showing a middle aged woman clinging desperately to her past as a celebrated child star, drowning in alcohol to escape from the grim reality that she has been long forgotten.
She temporarily reverts back to her childhood, but when she moves up close to the mirror and takes a good look at herself and sees how ugly she really is, it terrifies her.
First order of business I am Crazy Jane Hudson and proud of it since 1964 when I was 16 years old and first saw this movie one of the two greatest of all time!!!
@@danielhayes7967 Anne Bancroft won for the Miracle Worker. A great performance, but she'd played the part dozens of times on stage. Bette Davis created this character.
Cat Peach I feel bad for Jane more than a "tinsy" bit! Blanche took away part of Janes 20's all of her 30's, and 40's, and the rest of her life from her. She created the guilt in Jane that truly led her down a path of self destruction. Blanche is the real villain here in my opinion!
Nah, this one of her better moments. As soon she heard Jane singing, she gave a “awe shit” look, closed that book, and wheeled herself to that buzzer because she knew something crazy was about to go down.
This wasn't just a movie experience for me, but it was a life experience. Inevitably we will all get old with changing of times and look back on our golden days reminiscing what we once were or what we use to be. I truly believe that Jane wasn't a bad person, but someone that just needed a little love and companion.
@Britney Grey she needed to stop blaming herself for the accident and realize that she was no longer a child star. A husband doesn't magically cure everything, especially mental illness!
Nope. Ann Bancroft's performance was jaw- dropping. What an incredibly difficult role that was to play. So many obstacles to face for playing Ann Sullivan. Bette was great, but Bancroft's performance took ones breath away. The Oscars got this one right.
It is Rumored that Joan Crawford didn't Want Her to Win so She Did What She Could to avoid that. This Movie Was Really Good, Bette Davis Really Moved Me and This Scene is Extremely heart Breaking. NoBody, Not Even The Magnificent and The Most Talented Actress of today, Meryl Streep, Could Play this Role Better than Bette Davis Did.
Yes, but Ann Bancroft was also riveting in The Miracle Worker. Just the physically challenging part of her performance was jaw dropping. Plus having to learn sign language and speak with an Irish accent. That's a lot of acting going on.
My boyfriend at the time came to my apartment building front gate and kept pressing the buzzer incessantly which brought me back to this scene. So I marched to the intercom, pushed the [Talk] button and bellowed, "ALL RIGHT, BLANCHE HUDSON!!! BIG, FAT MOVIE STAR!!! LOUSY STICKIN' ACTRESS!!! PUSH A BUTTON...RING A BELL...AND YOU THINK THE HOLE DAMN WORLD COMES RUNNIN'!!!" I'm sure the entire Castro neighborhood heard it.
Yeah she seem to take great pleasure when she was pushing the buzzer she knew what to do to her sister. This movie play so true to how Betty Davis and Joan Crawford get along in real life.
We're all supposed to be sympathetic to Blanche. But are we? Nooooooooo! Davis is so magnificent in this that she somehow manages to create sympathy and even a kind of admiration for her gutsiness. Also, what nobody seems to notice is that Jane is also in a horrible position, just as trapped as Blanche, at the beck and call of this duplicitous woman who actually put HERSELF in the wheelchair trying to kill her sister. It's a weird dynamic and probably the archetype for all sisterly relationships.
Both Actresses are Great in their roles, Davis Particulary Compensated Her Uglyness With Such Talent. In fact, I Don't Want to watch The Thing Ryan Murphy is Planning to do With This movie, 'Cause Susan Sarandon Won't be able to equal Bette Davis' Talent.
I watched this movie a few days ago and it really messed me up. The scariest thing about it was how Jane’s life was wasted because of a lie. If she knew it wasn’t her fault she could have moved on and done great things or met great people. It really makes you want to make the most of your life
I love 2:36-3:01 when Jane realizes that those days of being Mamma's little angel are over and gone. Her scream symbolizes her last grip of reality, when she realizes that there will be no comeback for Baby Jane. This is one of the few times I actually feel sorry for her.
I'd probably go off too if someone was buzzing me at the same time I was having a drunken breakdown. Just not with all the tying up and everything else...
2:52 My ex was repeatedly pressing the buzzer to my apartment just like Blanche. So I walked over to the intercom, press the button, and screamed Jane's entire response into the mike. Thanks, Bette.
When I saw this as a fourth grader in the fall of 1962, Bette Davis scared the crap out of me! I'd no idea she'd once been a "big fat movie stah" and a romantic lead. Her make-up and performance were just incredible. And what a performance! Though I liked Anne Bancroft in The Miracle Worker, she played the part dozens of times on Broadway. Bette had just one chance, and look at what she created! Could any contemporary actress play a role like Jane? Maybe Bette Midler, but I can't see anyone else in the part.
Rod Labbe: How very lucky you saw it in 1962 in the theater when it first came out at your age of 8 I assume. I saw it by accident on t.v. about 1964 after a commercial advertised it was to be shown. Without that commercial I doubt I would have seen it and had to wait for 10 or 15 years or more. Second you are out of your mind putting that piece of shit Midler in this role. By no stretch of the imagination for this part or anything else!!! She is totally untalented!!! An absolute nothing!!!
We husband was very impressed with her facial expressions (Joan’s). I do not think anyone could have played her role, not at all. Joan just did not get the big role In this that is all.
That buzzer bell is enough to drive me crazy. I most definitely agree that Betty Davis took it home with this movie. Betty Davis was magnificent! No doubt about it. Joan Crawford played her part very well. Betty Davis, was a outstanding actress. RIP both of you. 🌹💐
no one ever in the history of cinema has ever or has yet to give crazy, chilling performances like Bette Davis. when she played mentally unstable characters, she did it so the fullest extent and highest level. I watched What Happened to Baby Jane for the first time when I was like 11 years old & this scene scarred me for life. Joan was very good in this movie also but this movie belonged to Bette. She shined and acted her ass off. Her acting here is so spine chilling, she was just an acting BEAST! Rest In Peace to the one and only.
One of my favorite films of all time. Davis and Crawford were the perfect cast for this movie. Shame that Davis didn't win the Academy Award that year.
The sound design and score for this film are SO en pointe. The way the music goes from totally delightful tonality to completely atonal and confused (just like Jane's swings) with the "high-loooooooow, high-loooooooooow" in the screeching-dramatic strings when Jane realizes she really IS that old, before finally cutting out completely the creepy-panicked piano music with the crash of the lid and the piano keys. Gah! One of my favourite movies. 🥰🎶
I will never understand why Bette Davis didn't get an Oscar for this scene and movie. She is absolutely terrific playing this mad character. It's heartbreaking, disturbing, horrible, all together.
I remember watching Feud: Bette and Joan. There’s a part where Bette is sitting down and watching a screening of this scene in the projector room. She begins to tear up and cry as she watches herself breakdown and lose it here. I’ve always wondered why. Is it because she didn’t imagine this kind of crazy role for herself in her lifetime? This performance got to her very emotionally, at least that’s what the show portrayed....😢
I’m pretty sure Bette was crying the same reason why Joan did, and why Baby Jane cries in this scene. She’s realized how old she really is and looks. She is able to play Baby Jane so well because they both have the same concerns and fears of getting old and undesirable.
2:40 I'm sooo thinking of that commercial where the man's voice says ''the moment you realize...''' blah blah blah. well I say "The moment you realize that you're NOT the little girl you imagine yourself to be. you've aged.''
My boyfriend at the time came to my apartment building front gate and kept pressing the buzzer incessantly which brought me back to this scene. So I marched to the intercom, pushed the [Talk] button and bellowed, "ALL RIGHT, BLANCHE HUDSON!!! BIG, FAT MOVIE STAR!!! LOUSY STICKIN' ACTRESS!!! PUSH A BUTTON...RING A BELL...AND YOU THINK THE HOLE DAMN WORLD COMES RUNNIN'!!!" I'm sure the entire Castro neighborhood heard it.
Baby jane hudson is a piece of art! And Only Bette could make her come alive. This movie just amasing and scary at the same time. She should have won an oscar for this!
People think of this time period of being the Donna Reed show but this movie and Shirley Jackson and Charles Addams really show the anxieties of this era
Wonderful Posting! Bette Davis is so poignant when she catches sight of her aged self while reminiscing about the glory days of her youth. She is again rocketed back to the present with Blanche's insistent buzzer. I like the way Blanche shivers when Bette slaps down cover of grand piano! Great scene from a great movie!
2 people in the history of Hollywood injustly robbed of an Oscar...Gloria Swanson for Sunset Boulevard...and Bette Davis for What Ever Happened To Baby Jane...HANDS DOWN ROBBED!!!!!
“Now when I’m very good And do as I am told I’m Mama’s little angel And Papa says I’m good as gold But when I’m very bad And answer back in sas Then I’m Mama’s little devil And Papa says I’ve got the brass Now I wish that you would tell me ‘Cause I’m much to young to know”
One of the best scenes in the movie. This is great acting. If she would have won for one of her films of the '40s or early '50s, she would not have been so determined to want this one.
So many facets to this movie. Things that we can all relate to. This past year, I was at the annual family Christmas Eve party....I looked around and ask myself ...where did everyone go.? The passing of time,how things change, how WE change, so fleeting an so painfull at times......2:38
