THE CINEMA LASER DVD REVIEW--  WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE?
 
WHATEVER          HAPPENED TO BABY JANE?
More          than thirty-five years after it was made, WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY          JANE? ($25) remains a remarkable piece of cinema. With WHATEVER          HAPPENED TO BABY JANE?, director Robert Aldrich created a highly effective          and incredibly disturbing piece of psychological horror which has gone          on to become regarded as a classic of the genre. When he tried to get          the project off the ground, Aldrich had to deal with the reluctance of          the Hollywood studio system, which didnt see much potential in the          film nor with Aldrichs choices for leading actresses in the piece.          Aldrich was vindicated when WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE? proved          enormously popular with the public, plus the film served to revive the          careers of two of Hollywoods greatest screen legends whom every          Hollywood studio executive considered unbankable has-beens.
Bette Davis and Joan Crawford star          as sisters, Jane and Blanche Hudson. During her childhood, Baby Jane Hudson          was an enormously popular and spoiled child star in vaudeville. Her sister          Blanche achieved fame later in life in Hollywood and became a top box          office draw. Unfortunately, Jane was unable to make the transition from          child star to adult actress and Blanche allowed Jane to ride her coattails,          even when the studio wanted no part of her. One night after a Hollywood          party, there is an accident that changes both sisters lives forever.
The plot then flashes forward a good          thirty years, where we find Blanche confined to a wheelchair due to the          accident. Out of a sense of guilt, Jane has remained with her sister all          these years, but time has been unkind to her. Jane is a terrible alcoholic          who teeters close to a complete mental breakdown. Blanche realizes that          Jane needs help and decides to sell their home and get Jane the help she          needs. Unfortunately for Blanche, Jane discovers the truth and goes completely          over the edge. Jane begins a reign of psychological and physical torture          on her invalid sister, while making plans for Baby Janes big comeback.          Baby Jane is a horrifying character who seethes with the rage of a spoiled          child, yet Davis brings a subtle poignancy to the role, making Jane a          sympathetic victim of her circumstances. Bette Davis received an Academy          Award nomination for her brave and disturbing performance. Davis herself          designed the garish Baby Jane makeup, creating a look that is pathetic,          yet slightly horrific.
Joan Crawford gives an equally strong          performance as the crippled and victimized Blanche (although with MOMMY          DEAREST in the back of my mind, I found myself kind of enjoying watching          Joan Crawford suffer). Character actor Victor Buono made quite an impression          with his screen debut in WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE?. Buonos          portrayal of a mother-dominated musician looking to break away from her          and ingratiate himself into the life of Baby Jane Hudson earned him an          Academy Award nomination. The cast of WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE? also features Anna Lee, Barbara Merrill, Robert Cornthwaite, Marjorie          Bennett and Maidie Norman.
Warner Home Video offers WHATEVER          HAPPENED TO BABY JANE? in both Letterboxed and pan and scan presentations          on opposite sides of the DVD. The pan and scan version crops the image          somewhat, obscuring characters at the edges of the frame. The black and          white image is slightly grainy on the cropped presentation, although the          image has good contrast and detail. The Letterboxed presentation restores WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE? to its proper 1.85:1 aspect ratio,          giving the film a clear compositional focus. Ernest Hallers Oscar          nominated black and white cinematography looks fabulous on the DVD thanks          to the superior Letterboxed transfer. The image is razor sharp with deep          blacks and excellent contrast.
According to the DVD packaging WHATEVER          HAPPENED TO BABY JANE? Is supposed to have a Dolby Digital 5.1 channel          soundtrack. This is not the case. However, the Dolby Digital monaural          soundtrack is quite strong and will take a fair amount of amplification.          Other soundtrack options include a French language track. Subtitles are          available in English, French and Spanish.
The interactive menus offer access          to extensive production notes, plus cast and crew biographies/filmographies.
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE? is an out and          out classic for horror fans and old time movie fans alike. This great          looking DVD edition will make a worthwhile addition to most personal movie          libraries. Recommended.