What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

Part of the Special Series **NACHTBLENDE**

"Whatever happened to Baby Jane? More like, what the fuck are you doing, Baby Jane?" – Zara on Letterboxd

Robert Aldrich’s classic of *Hagsploitation* cinema kicks off the 9th season of **Nachtblende** titled *No Place Like Home*. Pia Reiser from FM4, a true connoisseur of "old" Hollywood, will not only be on-site to introduce the film on January 18, but has also provided a written analysis for us:

"Step aside, Chucky! Sure, you’re called the *Murder Doll*, but honestly, that life-sized Baby Jane Hudson doll from *What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?* with the stubby curls has you beat in terms of brutality. When little Jane Hudson is celebrated as a tap-dancing, singing child star, the doll is a symbol of her great success. For adult Jane Hudson (Bette Davis), however, it’s a cruel reminder that childhood fame fades quickly. Now she lives with her sister Blanche (Joan Crawford), who, in contrast to Jane, had a successful career as an actress. Blanche, now in a wheelchair, relies on Jane for help, but there has always been jealousy between the sisters.

Much like in Billy Wilder's *Sunset Boulevard*, you want to open the windows of this house and air out the old memories of more glorious, celebrated – and above all, younger – days. In both films, "older" women – Gloria Swanson was 51 in *Sunset Boulevard*, Bette Davis was 54 in *What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?* – lose themselves in dream worlds, break down – just like the porcelain head of the Baby Jane doll. Not on concrete, but on promises of fame that long since evaporated, living in isolation."