Brock Posted March 20, 2017 Report Share Posted March 20, 2017 Now, Bette installing the coke machine. That did happen, but not on this movie? I've never heard of it happening on the set of Jane, but on Charlotte. Would love if it happened on Jane too. haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Posted March 20, 2017 Report Share Posted March 20, 2017 Sarandon perfectly captures real-life Bette intonations and movements without being an imitation. Brilliant. Will the Emmys this year be a replay of the 1962 Oscars? The only thing better than Susan being nominated and not Jessica would be if Susan didn't win and Jessica accepted the award for the absentee winner. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Posted March 20, 2017 Report Share Posted March 20, 2017 Re: real life Bette and Joan. Both ladies' tough-as-nails bravado eventually crumbled, Joan's earlier than Bette's. Joan gave up after "Trog" but Bette persevered. It had to have been hard for Bette after all those years at the top to have to stoop to a supporting role as the villainess in Disney's "Escape to Witch Mountain". The actress playing BD is much prettier and petite than her rather horsey real life counterpart but she has BD's bad acting down. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mot Morenzi Posted March 20, 2017 Report Share Posted March 20, 2017 Re: real life Bette and Joan. Both ladies' tough-as-nails bravado eventually crumbled, Joan's earlier than Bette's. Joan gave up after "Trog" but Bette persevered. It had to have been hard for Bette after all those years at the top to have to stoop to a supporting role as the villainess in Disney's "Escape to Witch Mountain". The actress playing BD is much prettier and petite than her rather horsey real life counterpart but she has BD's bad acting down. Bette did several Disney movies later in life. The Watcher in the Woods could've been good, but they rushed it into theatres to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the start of her film career. As a result, it was never properly finished, and they tacked on a very hasty ending that didn't tie the film off well. The DVD includes the unfinished original ending. Plus, it featured that quintessentially 80s teen acting that hasn't aged well, though Davis helped elevate the film in many respects. Shipka is far more attractive than Hyman ever was. Ugly on the inside, ugly on the out! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Posted March 20, 2017 Report Share Posted March 20, 2017 Well at least BD LOOKS the part, like a adult woman who still lives with her mother and spends her afternoons plopped down on the couch in front of the TV. 'Feud' explains what I always figured: they cut away from DB during her long "that fat sister slouching around" speech--the camera lingers unnecessarily long on Anna Lee--to divert attention from her rotten acting. (Jane may be a lot of things but I wouldn't call her "fat"). BD's got that one line (in the actual movie) that sounds exactly like a Bette Davis reading....."(Susie's?) mother has worked there a long time, I guess she OUGHT to know." I'm going to have to drag out my Baby Jane DVD and watch it again. I've never heard the Victor Buono 'raid on porno theater' story before. Victor was only 24 when the movie was released. Two years later he played Bette Davis's father in "Charlotte" without a whole lot of make up. He died 20 years later. He was only 44. Poor guy. But he was brilliant in his movie debut, deserving of his oscar nomination. Side note: He was 30 or 31 when he was on Here's Lucy! Bette did several Disney movies later in life. The Watcher in the Woods could've been good, but they rushed it into theatres to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the start of her film career. As a result, it was never properly finished, and they tacked on a very hasty ending that didn't tie the film off well. The DVD includes the unfinished original ending. Plus, it featured that quintessentially 80s teen acting that hasn't aged well, though Davis helped elevate the film in many respects. Shipka is far more attractive than Hyman ever was. Ugly on the inside, ugly on the out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mot Morenzi Posted March 21, 2017 Report Share Posted March 21, 2017 I'll be honest: the behind the scenes story of Baby Jane is more intriguing and easier for me to watch than the film itself. I think I've only seen it once in its entirety, and that was a good ten years ago at least. Its certainly a well done film, there's no doubt, but I've never found it to be campy or fun or anything like that. I found the subject matter so darkly tragic and disturbing that the thought of watching it again makes me squirm. I probably will soon, as the series has piqued my interest, but it's a movie that makes me very uncomfortable...which proves it's effective, but it speaks to me differently than it must to most people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvsbway Posted March 21, 2017 Report Share Posted March 21, 2017 If you need a refresher I saw it's coming up on TCM soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mot Morenzi Posted March 21, 2017 Report Share Posted March 21, 2017 If you need a refresher I saw it's coming up on TCM soon. Glad to hear they're airing it. The timing makes sense. We've got a DVD so we're all set. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Posted March 21, 2017 Report Share Posted March 21, 2017 I don't consider it a "horror" film. I'll be honest: the behind the scenes story of Baby Jane is more intriguing and easier for me to watch than the film itself. I think I've only seen it once in its entirety, and that was a good ten years ago at least. Its certainly a well done film, there's no doubt, but I've never found it to be campy or fun or anything like that. I found the subject matter so darkly tragic and disturbing that the thought of watching it again makes me squirm. I probably will soon, as the series has piqued my interest, but it's a movie that makes me very uncomfortable...which proves it's effective, but it speaks to me differently than it must to most people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irene Kampen Tripp Posted March 21, 2017 Report Share Posted March 21, 2017 Well to be honest. I really started to ENJOY and LAUGH at the film after I knew about the behind the scenes story. Once I started to see it as Bette and Joan pulling out all stops to please the audience, I overcame the "darker" aspect of the picture. I watch it every Halloween and select moments now and then lol. I don't find it a HORROR picture either. I do love the tension and I can relate to the sibling rivalry lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irene Kampen Tripp Posted March 21, 2017 Report Share Posted March 21, 2017 I love MOMMIE DEAREST too ,,, in fact.. THAT movie is what started my interest in JOAN CRAWFORD. YOU know something guys?? I have always thought of BETTE, JOAN and LUCY to be THE ones to love. All the other actresses from Hollywood's Golden Era are good.. but the three i mentioned seem to me to be the cornerstones of greatness. (to me anyway) And they all had fatherless childhoods, pretty blue eyes and drew their lipstick over the lip line. AND brassy bitches ... what's not to love??? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freddie2 Posted March 21, 2017 Report Share Posted March 21, 2017 I first saw Baby Jane not long after my first time seeing Sunset Boulevard, which was basically a cathartic experience for me (no moment has EVER hit me in the gut like the final scene of Sunset), so my mind was all pumped for another "Tear Down Old Hollywood" tragicomedy. No, Baby Jane's not a horror movie, but there's a lot of horrible stuff in it. I'd face Jane Hudson over BD Hyman any day. Also: Has Margot Merril passed away? I recently read that she had. I suppose it's a good thing her life has been out of the spotlight and not exploited in any way. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brock Posted March 21, 2017 Report Share Posted March 21, 2017 I first saw Baby Jane not long after my first time seeing Sunset Boulevard, which was basically a cathartic experience for me (no moment has EVER hit me in the gut like the final scene of Sunset), so my mind was all pumped for another "Tear Down Old Hollywood" tragicomedy. No, Baby Jane's not a horror movie, but there's a lot of horrible stuff in it. I'd face Jane Hudson over BD Hyman any day. Also: Has Margot Merril passed away? I recently read that she had. I suppose it's a good thing her life has been out of the spotlight and not exploited in any way. Margot is still alive, as far as I am aware. Michael Merrill's wife, Chou, died a couple of years ago and Margot was listed among her survivors -- and B.D. was not. As it should be. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeySanJoaquin Posted March 22, 2017 Report Share Posted March 22, 2017 I love MOMMIE DEAREST too ,,, in fact.. THAT movie is what started my interest in JOAN CRAWFORD. YOU know something guys?? I have always thought of BETTE, JOAN and LUCY to be THE ones to love. All the other actresses from Hollywood's Golden Era are good.. but the three i mentioned seem to me to be the cornerstones of greatness. (to me anyway) And they all had fatherless childhoods, pretty blue eyes and drew their lipstick over the lip line. AND brassy bitches ... what's not to love??? Well said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mot Morenzi Posted March 22, 2017 Report Share Posted March 22, 2017 I don't consider it a "horror" film. Neither do I. It's always been a darkly tragic drama to me, though it does have black comedy elements in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Posted March 22, 2017 Report Share Posted March 22, 2017 Neither do I. It's always been a darkly tragic drama to me, though it does have black comedy elements in it. It's really hilarious; and I'm not talking about the camp aspects. Examples: -the initial meeting of Jane and Edwin where he takes the entire tray of cookies -Edwin, playing the piano looks at Jane performing and winces as she hits a clinker -Every scene with Edwin and his mother; particularly the sight of huge Edwin in his pajamas standing next to short Marjorie Bennett and their big argument culminating in Edwin saying to his mother "Isn't that how I was conceived?" and the look on Marjorie's face afterward. -Jane trying to act all coquettish placing her ad in the newspaper office "I think the personal column is nicer, don't you?" -Jane, shaking the dust out of that ratty fur then smearing her lipstick on into the camera, followed by the look of self-approval -Jane playing with her split ends as Blanche is lying about having to sell the house Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brock Posted March 22, 2017 Report Share Posted March 22, 2017 It's really hilarious; and I'm not talking about the camp aspects. Examples: -the initial meeting of Jane and Edwin where he takes the entire tray of cookies -Edwin, playing the piano looks at Jane performing and winces as she hits a clinker -Every scene with Edwin and his mother; particularly the sight of huge Edwin in his pajamas standing next to short Marjorie Bennett and their big argument culminating in Edwin saying to his mother "Isn't that how I was conceived?" and the look on Marjorie's face afterward. Everything involving Edwin is wonderful -- and I didn't truly realise how amazing Victor Buono was in this until seeing it on the big screen. Every move he makes, especially taking the tray, and adjusting the genuine Baby Jane Hudson doll (with real hair). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mot Morenzi Posted March 23, 2017 Report Share Posted March 23, 2017 Everything involving Edwin is wonderful -- and I didn't truly realise how amazing Victor Buono was in this until seeing it on the big screen. Every move he makes, especially taking the tray, and adjusting the genuine Baby Jane Hudson doll (with real hair). Victor gave an amazing performance, and the actor playing him on Feud is incredible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mot Morenzi Posted March 23, 2017 Report Share Posted March 23, 2017 Interestingly, I could totally see Susan and Jessica switching roles and doing just as well. Funnily enough, when I first read about this project, it didn't mention which roles they'd be playing. For some reason, I immediately assumed Sarandon would play Crawford and Lang would play Davis. I was initially shocked when I learned otherwise, but having seen them in action they are wonderful in their respective parts. I do, however, think Sarandon would've been adept at either role. I'm not so sure about Lang, but regardless of that she's good as Crawford. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Posted March 24, 2017 Report Share Posted March 24, 2017 "Feud" inspired me to re-watch the "Baby Jane" movie (or at least skim through the best parts). It's really well done. Doesn't look like it was made on the cheap as they describe. They took their sweet time developing the back story which takes up the first 12 minutes before the opening credits start. I notice that the stars' billings are in equally big font but Bette's is first left to right. It's 18 minutes before we see either of our stars. While the movie is never less than engrossing it's quite some time before the plot gets moving, all the while giving us an insight into the characters. Except for BD*, the supporting players are excellent. Overlooked in anything written is how good the two actresses who, in the prologue play the mother and little Blanche are. It's 55 minutes before we're introduced to our well-drawn (and hilarious) sub-characters Edwin Flagg and his mother Deliah, Marjorie Bennett's greatest role. I've never seen "Sweet Bird of Youth" so I don't know how good Oscar-winner Ed Begley was, but Supporting-Actor-nominatee Victor Buono is nothing short of perfection. The installation of the "The Celebrity Next Door"-like buzzer in the Hudson household was a bad idea, particularly since Blanche leans on it at the most inappropriate times. Yes, Anne Bancroft was great in "Miracle Worker" but Bette's Jane Hudson is really Oscar worthy. Joan's performance, decidedly less showy but no less expert, was equally nomination-worthy. I have a feeling this issue will be dealt with in an upcoming "Feud" episode. Sadly "Baby Jane" was Joan's last high-water mark. Bette had one more "Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte", then it was downhill to "Bunny O'Hare" all the way to the barrel's bottom "Wicked Stepmother". The "days of Vaudeville" in 1917 as depicted here in 1962, is the equivalent of today in 2017 looking back at 1972!---a sobering thought for some of us board-members. And Lucy Co-Star Sighting: Ralph Hart is in the prologue as the young plant who brings the baby Jane doll onstage. He's also in the background backstage when petulant Baby Jane drops her stage-smile and stomps into the wings in a rage. By the way, the genuINE Baby Jane Hudson doll selling for $3.25 in 1917 would cost $60 today. Of note: the rock-ish tune BD is playing on her transistor drowning out Blanche's pleas to her mother out in her yard (43 min. into the movie) is the same tune, with lyrics added, that Bette Davis sings as "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?" on "The Andy Wiliams Show" *I do love BD's line, delivered off-camera (sparing us any more of the sight of any more BD than absolutely necessary; "thank you, Robert Aldrich"): "All we ever see is that fat sister SLOUCHING AROUND". Watching obviously unemployed BD plopped down on that couch watching TV midday, I have to say "pot calling kettle black"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mot Morenzi Posted March 24, 2017 Report Share Posted March 24, 2017 And Lucy Co-Star Sighting: Ralph Hart is in the prologue as the young plant who brings the baby Jane doll onstage. He's also in the background backstage when petulant Baby Jane drops her stage-smile and stomps into the wings in a rage. It's unfortunate this bit of trivia was left out of the The Lucy Show DVD production notes. Viv's desire to see the film in "No More Double Dates" was no doubt motivated by wanting to see her son onscreen! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeySanJoaquin Posted March 24, 2017 Report Share Posted March 24, 2017 It's unfortunate this bit of trivia was left out of the The Lucy Show DVD production notes. Viv's desire to see the film in "No More Double Dates" was no doubt motivated by wanting to see her son onscreen! Good call, Brian! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvsbway Posted March 24, 2017 Report Share Posted March 24, 2017 It's unfortunate this bit of trivia was left out of the The Lucy Show DVD production notes. Viv's desire to see the film in "No More Double Dates" was no doubt motivated by wanting to see her son onscreen! I've been saying that for years. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarryCarter Posted March 24, 2017 Report Share Posted March 24, 2017 Ralph Hart is also in Two for the Seesaw, which is also shot down as a movie suggestion in No More Double Dates. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freddie2 Posted March 24, 2017 Report Share Posted March 24, 2017 I wouldn't say Bette's work went downhill after HHSC (which I actually prefer to Baby Jane- I'd probably put Charlotte in my top 10 favorites), she did lots and lots of TV movies, which were solid from what I've seen- and do NOT forget Whales of August! Now Trog, on the other hand... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.