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90-543: Sadie McKee is the third of seven films Crawford and Franchot Tone made together. At the time of filming, Crawford recently had divorced Douglas Fairbanks Jr. , and soon she and Tone were involved romantically. The couple married in 1935. The song “ All I Do Is Dream of You ” features in the film’s opening titles and certain key sequences, sung (for the most part) by Gene Raymond. It was written by Nacio Herb Brown (music) and Arthur Freed (lyrics) for Sadie McKee. Since 1952, audiences have known this song best from its use in

180-569: A captain in 1954. In 1982, Fairbanks was awarded the German Federal Cross of Merit for his contribution to the relief of the needy in occupied Germany. Fairbanks returned to Hollywood at the conclusion of World War II. He spent two years finding a comeback vehicle, and picked Sinbad the Sailor (1947), which was not a big hit. He followed it with The Exile (1947), another swashbuckler, which Fairbanks wrote and produced; it

270-634: A big success. Fairbanks was reunited with Howard in Captured! (1933). In 1934, Warner asked all its stars to take a 50% pay cut because of the Depression. Fairbanks Jr. refused and was fired from the studio. He received a job offer from Britain and spent the next few years there, taking a residence in London's Park Lane . Fairbanks went to Britain to star in Alex Korda 's The Rise of Catherine

360-500: A comedy for Val Guest , Mr Drake's Duck (1951) Between 1954 and 1956, he also made a number of half-hour programs at one of the smaller Elstree film studios as part of a syndicated anthology series for television called Douglas Fairbanks Presents . During the 1950s, Fairbanks appeared as himself on episodes of a number of American television shows, such as Your Show of Shows , The Ford Show , The Steve Allen Plymouth Show , and What's My Line? . He co-produced

450-474: A condition which, Fairbanks Jr. says, was only offered to one other actor at the studio, Richard Barthelmess . "By sheer accident, I had four successes in a row in the early '30s, and although I was still in my 20s, I demanded and received approval of cast, story, and director. I don't know how I got away with it, but I did!" Because he spoke French, he was put in L'aviateur (1931). Back in Hollywood, he

540-402: A feud between herself and Davis, expressing her desire to collaborate with her co-star since 1944 when they were both under contract to Warner Bros. Producer William Frye had recommended the source novel to Davis in 1960 but could not secure the rights. Davis then offered the story to Alfred Hitchcock , who had prior commitments. Variety quoted Davis from a television interview, stating that

630-526: A generally negative review in The New York Times , Bosley Crowther observed, "[Davis and Crawford] do get off some amusing and eventually blood-chilling displays of screaming sororal hatred and general monstrousness ... The feeble attempts that Mr. Aldrich has made to suggest the irony of two once idolized and wealthy females living in such depravity, and the pathos of their deep-seated envy having brought them to this, wash out very quickly under

720-610: A hardened club performer, who takes them to her boardinghouse . A fadeout during goodnight kisses indicates that, despite their good intentions, they share the bed. The next morning, Sadie leaves the boardinghouse to look for a job and makes plans with Tommy to meet at the marriage license bureau at noon. Soon after she leaves, neighbor Dolly Merrick ( Esther Ralston ) hears Tommy singing in the bathroom and seduces him into joining her traveling club act, which leaves town that morning. Heartbroken and embittered by Tommy's desertion, Sadie packs her bags, but Opal implores her to stay and gets her

810-413: A job as a dancer in a nightclub. Ten days later, Jack Brennan ( Edward Arnold ), a jovial, rich alcoholic, helps Sadie handle an abusive customer and then demands that she sit at his table, which he is sharing with a friend – Michael Alderson. Still angry at Michael, Sadie ignores his instructions to leave his intoxicated companion alone and goes home with Brennan that evening. Soon after, Sadie marries

900-409: A life of guilt, loneliness, and servitude. Now aware of the truth, a saddened Jane responds, "You mean all this time, we could have been friends?" When Jane gets ice cream for herself and Blanche from a nearby refreshment stand, she is recognized by two police officers, who ask her to lead them to Blanche, attracting the attention of nearby beachgoers. Jane dodges the officers' inquiry and dances before

990-428: A look. When she failed to hear back from her co-star, Crawford called Davis and asked her what she thought of the film. Davis replied, "You were so right, Joan. The picture is good. And I was terrific." Crawford said, "That was it. She never said anything about my performance. Not a word." During the filming of Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964), Crawford acknowledged to visiting reporter and author Lawrence J. Quirk

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1080-412: A mansion purchased with Blanche's film earnings. Blanche's mobility is limited due to her reliance on a wheelchair and the lack of an elevator to her upstairs bedroom. Jane has become a grotesque, mentally unstable alcoholic who regularly abuses Blanche. When Blanche’s old films begin airing on television, renewing her popularity among her fans, Jane becomes increasingly jealous and resentful. She fixates on

1170-438: A movie, it's a caricature. Bette Davis' make-up could very well have been done by Charles Addams , Joan Crawford's perils make those of Pauline look like good, clean fun and the plot piles one fantastic twist upon another until it all becomes nonsensical." Brendan Gill of The New Yorker was somewhat negative as well, calling the film "far from being a Hitchcock —it goes on and on, in a light much dimmer than necessary, and

1260-727: A press luncheon to celebrate Davis and Crawford and to publicize the start of production. Victor Buono secured the role of "Edwin Flagg" after making a connection at the Golden Door spa in San Marcos, California. His brief appearance in the film marked the beginning of his career as a character actor, as reported by the Los Angeles Times . The house exterior of the Hudson mansion is located at 172 South McCadden Place in

1350-430: A promise made to their mother, Blanche attempts to maintain a semblance of a career for Jane, going as far as to prevail on producers to guarantee acting roles for her. One evening in 1935, Blanche's career is cut short when she is paralyzed from the waist down in a mysterious car accident that is unofficially blamed on Jane, who is found three days later in a drunken stupor. By 1962, Blanche and Jane are living together in

1440-524: A radio series (written by David Quantick ) about feuding sisters called Whatever Happened To Baby Jane Austen (2021). Author Shaun Considine chronicled the actresses' rivalry, including their experience shooting this film, in the 1989 book Bette and Joan: The Divine Feud . Their broadly fictionalized backstage battle during the production of the film was also the basis for Ryan Murphy 's 2017 miniseries Feud , which starred Jessica Lange as Crawford and Susan Sarandon as Davis. The alleged rivalry

1530-595: A secret letter on March 5, 1943, charging the Vice Chief of Naval Operations with the recruitment of 180 officers and 300 enlisted men for the Beach Jumpers program. The Beach Jumpers' mission would simulate amphibious landings with a very limited force. Operating miles from the actual landing beaches and using their deception equipment, the Beach Jumpers would lure the enemy into believing that theirs

1620-623: A serving maid in the same household where her mother is a cook, and is admired by lawyer Michael Alderson (Tone), the son of her employer. However, when Michael talks badly of Tommy Wallace (Gene Raymond), her boyfriend, during a family dinner, Sadie openly denounces her employers as snobby and insensitive. Sadie then flees to New York City with Tommy, who was fired from his job in the Alderson factory for alleged cheating. Nearly broke, Sadie and Tommy are befriended in New York by Opal ( Jean Dixon ),

1710-729: A starring role in The Careless Age (1929), and he was reunited with Young in The Forward Pass (1929). He was one of many names in The Show of Shows (1929). In September 1929, he returned to the stage in a production of The Youngest . Victor Halperin cast Fairbanks in the lead of Party Girl (1930), and Ted Wilde paired him for a third time with Young in Loose Ankles (1930), back at First National. In 1930, Fairbanks Jr. went to Warner Bros. to test for

1800-453: A succession of horror/thriller films featuring psychotic older women, later dubbed the psycho-biddy subgenre. Among them, Robert Aldrich 's Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964), Lee H. Katzin 's What Ever Happened to Aunt Alice? (1969), Curtis Harrington 's Whoever Slew Auntie Roo? (1972) and What's the Matter with Helen? (1971) and, more recently, Ti West 's X (2022). It

1890-436: A taut thriller with thought-provoking subtext." On Metacritic , the film has a weighted average score of 75 out of 100 based on 15 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". In a retrospective review, TV Guide awarded the film four stars, calling it "Star wars, trenchantly served" and adding, "If it sometimes looks like a poisonous senior citizen show with over-the-top spoiled ham, just try to look away ... As in

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1980-451: A week for three years. He was signed by Jesse L. Lasky , who said the junior Fairbanks "is the typical American boy at his best" and said he likely would be featured in a film about Tom Sawyer . "I do not think it is the right thing for the boy to do", said his father. "I want to see him continue his education. He is only 13 years old." The young actor arrived in Hollywood in June 1923 and

2070-577: A year while assigned to the drum corps. After moving back to California, he attended Harvard Military School , followed by studies at the Polytechnic School in Pasadena . After his mother and he moved to France, Fairbanks attended Lycée Janson-de-Sailly . Largely on the basis of his father's name, in May 1923, Fairbanks Jr. was given a contract with Paramount Pictures at age 13, at $ 1,000

2160-602: A young, blond leading man with an aquiline nose and shiny white teeth." Paramount gave him supporting roles in The Air Mail (1925) and Wild Horse Mesa (1925). Sam Goldwyn borrowed him to play the juvenile in Stella Dallas (1925), which wound up being his first box-office success. He had supporting roles in Paramount's The American Venus (1926), and Padlocked (1926). At Warner Bros., Fairbanks

2250-444: Is escorted to the house by police, who leave him there. Upon discovering Blanche bound to her bed, Edwin flees and notifies the authorities. Jane, in a fit of infantile regression, takes Blanche to a beach where she sang as a child. The next morning, the news of Elvira's murder and Blanche's condition is on the radio and the police are on the lookout. Weakened and near death, Blanche confesses to Jane that she caused her own accident. On

2340-430: Is in love with another man and wants a divorce. The understanding Brennan grants Sadie her request, and Michael, anxious to win her forgiveness, undertakes to find Tommy. Michael eventually locates Tommy in the city and deduces that he is suffering from tuberculosis. Aided by Michael, Tommy is admitted to a hospital. By the time Sadie is allowed to see him, Tommy's condition has worsened, and he dies after telling her that it

2430-500: Is included in the 1962 film What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? to represent the 1930s acting of Joan Crawford's character Blanche Hudson. In general, the film received mixed reviews from the critics. The Hollywood Reporter noted "Swell picture...sure-fire audience...well-tailored for the talents of Miss Crawford.... the stuff the fans cry for...direction of Clarence Brown something to rave about...a humdinger for femme fans." In 'The New York Times, Mordaunt Hall observed “The acting

2520-506: Is the thing…but the story is a tawdry sample...It is far from a pleasant story, and often a most annoying one.” The film is recognized by American Film Institute in these lists: Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Douglas Elton Fairbanks Jr. (December 9, 1909 – May 7, 2000) was an American actor, producer, and decorated naval officer of World War II . He is best-known for starring in such films as The Prisoner of Zenda (1937), Gunga Din (1939), and The Corsican Brothers (1941). He

2610-621: The American Film Institute 's list of the 50 Best Villains of American Cinema . In 2021, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". In 1917, "Baby Jane" Hudson is a spoiled and capricious child actress who performs in vaudeville theaters across

2700-714: The Order of the British Empire (KBE) in 1949. In 1950 he purchased a house, no. 28, The Boltons in Mayfair, London which became his primary residence until he sold it in 1973 to move to Florida. The College of Arms in London granted Fairbanks a coat of arms symbolizing the U.S. and Britain united across the blue Atlantic Ocean by a silken knot of friendship. Fairbanks starred in the British thriller State Secret (1950), written and directed by Sidney Gilliat , and

2790-459: The 1936 flu epidemic. Fairbanks set up his own film production company, Criterion Films, where the board members included Paul Czinner . Among Criterion's films were Man of the Moment (1935), The Amateur Gentleman (1936), Accused (1936), and Jump for Glory (1937). He announced Lancelot , but did not make it. Fairbanks Jr. returned to Hollywood when David O. Selznick offered him

Sadie McKee - Misplaced Pages Continue

2880-633: The Bette Davis films Parachute Jumper and Ex-Lady (both 1933) and the Joan Crawford film Sadie McKee (1934) was used to represent the film acting of Jane and Blanche, respectively. The character of Liza, Mrs. Bates' daughter, was played by Davis's real-life daughter B. D. Merrill . During filming in September 1962, Hedda Hopper mentioned hosting Crawford and Davis at her home for "an interview dinner." Crawford dismissed rumors of

2970-609: The Brazilian government. Among his other exploits was the sinking of the corvette UJ-6083 (formerly the Regia Marina Gabbiano -class Capriolo ) while in command of a mixed division of American PT boats and British Insect -class gunboats plus assorted other small craft. Fairbanks commanded from HMS  Aphis . Fairbanks stayed in the US Naval Reserve after the war, and ultimately retired as

3060-472: The Great (1934) playing Grand Duke Peter opposite Elisabeth Bergner . "Hollywood was getting to be a grind", he said at the time. "They had me doing five and six pictures a year. Some of them looked all right on paper, but they had the habit of slipping down into programmer class. Only once in three years would I get a part that I cared about. I kept going up and down the ladder and not getting any place. There

3150-644: The Press (1928), directed by Frank Capra . He went back to supporting roles for The Barker (1928) at First National, his first "talkie" and A Woman of Affairs (1928) at MGM with Greta Garbo and John Gilbert . Fairbanks had another starring role at FBO with The Jazz Age (1929) and received top billing over Loretta Young in Fast Life (1929) at Warner Bros. He appeared in MGM's Our Modern Maidens (1929) opposite Crawford. First National gave Fairbanks

3240-476: The Sea (1939) at Paramount; Green Hell (1940) for James Whale at Universal, a flop; and Safari (1940) at Paramount. He had a change of pace when he starred in and co-produced Angels Over Broadway (1940), written and directed by Ben Hecht at Columbia. His last film before enlisting was The Corsican Brothers (1941), a swashbuckler made as a tribute to Fairbanks' father. Fairbanks did not have faith in

3330-476: The U.S. in 1970–72 and the 1977 Australian production with Stanley Holloway , David Langton, Carole Ray- and Christine Amore. He appeared in some TV movies and TV series, including The Crooked Hearts (1972), The Hostage Tower (1980), and The Love Boat . His last feature film was Ghost Story (1981). His last TV roles were in the mini series Strong Medicine (1987) and the TV series B.L. Stryker . He

3420-546: The adoring Brennan, and while enjoying her newfound wealth, does her best to handle his constant drunkenness. One afternoon, Sadie, who has been following Tommy's crooning career, goes to see him perform with Dolly at the Apollo Theater and is thrilled by the loving looks he gives her during his number. However, when Sadie returns home that evening, she learns from Michael and the family physician that unless Brennan stops drinking, he will die within six months. Sobered by

3510-530: The best Hitchcock movies, suspense, rather than actual mayhem, drives the film." The Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa cited What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? as one of his favorite films. The film was a box office hit, grossing $ 9 million in theatrical rentals in North America, giving both Bette Davis and Joan Crawford their biggest hit in over a decade. In the United Kingdom, the film

3600-434: The climax, when it belatedly arrives, is a bungled, languid mingling of pursuers and pursued which put me in mind of Last Year at Marienbad . Still, Bette Davis and Joan Crawford do get a chance to carry on like mad things, which at least one of them is supposed to be." Among the positive reviews, Variety stated that after a slow and overlong introduction the film became "an emotional toboggan ride," adding, "Although

3690-777: The comedy It's Tough to Be Famous (1932). He starred in a film shot in French, L'athlète incomplet (1932). He starred in Love Is a Racket (1932) for William Wellman and Scarlet Dawn (1932) for William Dieterle . Fairbanks did another with Green, Parachute Jumper (1933), which gave an early co-starring role to Bette Davis . Fairbanks starred again with Young in The Life of Jimmy Dolan (1933) and did The Narrow Corner (1933) with Green. RKO borrowed Fairbanks to support Katharine Hepburn in Morning Glory (1933),

Sadie McKee - Misplaced Pages Continue

3780-581: The country with her father, who acts as her manager and accompanies her on stage on the piano. Her success is such that a line of porcelain dolls is made in her image. Meanwhile, her shy older sister Blanche lives in her shadow and is treated with contempt by the haughty Jane, cruelty by her father, and weak apologies by her mother. As the sisters reach adulthood, their situations undergo a reversal; Jane's style of performing falls out of fashion, and her career declines as she descends into alcoholism , while Blanche becomes an acclaimed Hollywood actress. Mindful of

3870-559: The crowd of curious onlookers. The officers find Blanche nearby and rush to save her. Henry Farrell's novel, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? was announced for publication on March 3, 1960. Three weeks later, producer Richard Rush was in talks to acquire the film rights, intending to cast Hugh O'Brian , Agnes Moorehead , and Jennifer West. However, the project stalled until September 1961, when Robert Aldrich came on board as director for producer Joseph E. Levine 's Embassy Pictures . Years earlier, Joan Crawford discussed with Aldrich

3960-487: The cruiser USS  Wichita during the disastrous Convoy PQ 17 operation. Lieutenant Fairbanks was subsequently transferred to Virginia Beach , where he came under the command of Admiral H. Kent Hewitt , who was preparing U.S. naval forces for the invasion of North Africa . Fairbanks convinced Hewitt of the advantages of a military deception unit, then repeated the proposal at Hewitt's behest to Admiral Ernest King , Chief of Naval Operations . King thereupon issued

4050-519: The diagnosis, Sadie sacrifices her chance to reunite with Tommy, and after rallying the servants to her side, imprisons her husband in his house and forces him to quit drinking. Later, Sadie goes with Michael and the now-recovered Brennan to the club where she used to dance and is startled to see Dolly there, who is performing without Tommy. After she confronts Dolly and finds out that Tommy was dumped in New Orleans, Sadie confesses to Brennan that she

4140-530: The difficulty she was having with Davis because of the Oscar incident, but added, "She acted like Baby Jane was a one-woman show after they nominated her. What was I supposed to do? Let her hog all the glory, act like I hadn't even been in the movie? She got the nomination. I didn't begrudge her that, but it would have been nice if she'd been a little gracious in interviews and given me a little credit. I would've done so for her." Contemporary reviews were mixed. In

4230-527: The film Singin' in the Rain , where it is sung at high speed by Debbie Reynolds and a group of chorus girls after Reynolds pops out of a cake at a Hollywood party. It also was used in A Night at the Opera (1935) and Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989). As a film released in 1934 that had its copyright renewed, the film will enter the public domain on January 1, 2030. Sadie McKee (Crawford) works part-time as

4320-483: The film after it was rejected by other studios. Ken Hyman of Seven Arts also claimed credit, stating that he threatened to resign unless his company financed the project. Seven Arts recouped the production expenses within the initial eleven days of the film's premiere in New York City. In a 1972 telephone conversation, Crawford told author Shaun Considine that after seeing the film she urged Davis to go and have

4410-411: The film for its psychologically driven black comedy , camp , and creation of the psycho-biddy subgenre. The film's novel and controversial plot meant that it originally received an X rating in the U.K. Because of the appeal of the film's stars, Dave Itzkoff in The New York Times has identified it as being a "cult classic" . In 2003, the character of Baby Jane Hudson was ranked No. 44 on

4500-548: The film while it was being filmed ("I thought we were cutting corners"), but it was a huge success. Fairbanks was commissioned as a reserve officer in the United States Navy when the United States entered World War II, and was assigned to Lord Mountbatten 's commando staff in the United Kingdom. In 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed him special envoy to South America. Fairbanks served on

4590-787: The films The Silken Affair (1957) and Chase a Crooked Shadow (1958). In 1961, he was a guest at the wedding of Katharine Worsley to Prince Edward, Duke of Kent . He guest-starred on shows such as Route 66 , The DuPont Show of the Week , The United States Steel Hour , The Red Skelton Hour , Dr. Kildare , and ABC Stage 67 . He played King Richard in a TV musical The Legend of Robin Hood (1968). On stage, Fairbanks toured in My Fair Lady in 1968, and in The Pleasure of His Company several times, including tours in

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4680-401: The flood of sheer grotesquerie. There is nothing moving or particularly significant about these two." Philip K. Scheuer of the Los Angeles Times also panned the film, writing that Crawford and Davis had been turned into "grotesque caricatures of themselves" and that the film "mocks not only its characters but also the sensibilities of its audience." The Chicago Tribune wrote, "This isn't

4770-477: The idea of starring in a movie with Bette Davis . The two struggled to find a suitable project until they agreed on an adaptation of Farrell's novel. Aldrich commissioned Lukas Heller to write the script, and Crawford met with Aldrich on October 4, 1961, to discuss her role, which would mark her return to the screen after several years, her last appearance having been in Aldrich's 1956 film Autumn Leaves . Davis

4860-556: The lack of a response, Elvira starts to remove the door's hinge pins with a hammer. Jane returns home and reluctantly gives Elvira the key. As soon as Elvira enters Blanche's room, Jane takes the hammer and kills Elvira. Edwin comes by the house, but Jane refuses to answer the door. That night, she uses Blanche's wheelchair to move Elvira's body to her car. A few days later, the police call to tell Jane that Elvira's cousin has reported her missing. Jane panics and prepares to leave, taking Blanche with her. Before they can go, an inebriated Edwin

4950-539: The neighborhood of Hancock Park, Los Angeles . Other residential exteriors show cottages on DeLongpre Avenue near Harvard Avenue in Hollywood without their current gated courtyards. The scene on the beach was filmed near Aldrich's beach house in Malibu , the same site where Aldrich filmed the final scene of Kiss Me Deadly (1955). The beach house's exterior is briefly visible during the film's final scenes. Footage from

5040-427: The night in question, Blanche tried to run Jane over because she was angry at her drunken sister for mocking her at a party. Blanche's spine broke when her car struck the gates outside their mansion, and she dragged herself in front of the car's hood to stage the accident and frame Jane. Blanche took advantage of Jane's shock and subsequent bender, concealing the real cause of the accident from her, which subjected Jane to

5130-622: The performances of the leads, however, finding that they seemed to have found "a new maturity, a discipline encouraged perhaps by the confined sets and Crawford's wheelchair, or by the interaction of their professional rivalry upon a belated mutual respect." More recent assessments have been more uniformly positive. On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes the film holds an approval rating of 91% based on 53 reviews, with an average rating of 7.9/10. The site's critical consensus reads, " What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? combines powerhouse acting, rich atmosphere, and absorbing melodrama in service of

5220-539: The plunging shots down the staircase, made the film look "rather like an anthology of the oldest and most hackneyed devices in thrillerdom. And yet, in its curious Gothic way, the film works marvelously, though mainly as a field-day for its actors." In Sight & Sound , Peter John Dyer stated that the film had "a frequent air of incompetence," writing of Aldrich's direction that "Like some textbook student of Hitchcock who never got beyond Blackmail , he dispenses suspense with ham-fisted conventionality." Dyer did praise

5310-610: The prestigious Outward Bound (1930) and was Billie Dove 's leading man in One Night at Susie's (1930). Fairbanks had a role supporting Edward G. Robinson in Little Caesar (1931), filmed in August 1930. "We knew it was going to be good when we were making it, but not that it would become a classic", he later said. The movie was a big hit, and Warner Bros. offered Fairbanks Jr. a contract with cast and script approval –

5400-542: The preview screenings. Davis embarked on a three-day tour of New York City theaters during the week of November 7, 1962, participating in seventeen screenings, one of which featured a children's marching band welcoming her with " When the Saints Go Marching In ." She expressed her preference for film over live theater to reporters and humorously advertised her availability to Hollywood studios in trade publications. She worked with singer Debbie Burton to record

5490-697: The production was a success – the play did much to improve his reputation in Hollywood. A regular audience member was Joan Crawford , with whom Fairbanks became romantically involved. He also appeared in a stage production of Saturday's Children . Fairbanks' second lead role was in Dead Man's Curve (1928) for FBO . He was Helene Chadwick 's leading man in Modern Mothers (1928) at Columbia, and he starred in The Toilers (1928) for Tiffany. Fairbanks starred in another for Columbia, The Power of

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5580-478: The production's costs eventually rose to $ 800,000. Aldrich mentioned that both actresses were offered generous salaries, albeit below their standard rates. To compensate, Davis received ten percent of net profits and Crawford fifteen percent, resulting in earnings exceeding $ 500,000 after successful box-office returns. Despite Davis' confidence in the film, she likened receiving payment based on net profits to gambling. On July 21, 1962, studio head Jack L. Warner hosted

5670-548: The release date from December to November 1962. In August 1962, the Theatre Owners of America, concerned by the scarcity of Hollywood films outside holiday seasons, established a committee to organize "guaranteed bookings" and preview screenings. This film became the first release to benefit from the program. By October, the National Screen Service began distributing "special theatre accessories" for

5760-428: The results heavily favor Davis (and she earns the credit), it should be recognized that the plot, of necessity, allows her to run unfettered through all the stages of oncoming insanity ... Crawford gives a quiet, remarkably fine interpretation of the crippled Blanche, held in emotionally by the nature and temperament of the role." Richard L. Coe of The Washington Post also liked the film, writing that "Miss Davis has

5850-524: The role of Rupert of Hentzau in The Prisoner of Zenda (1937). He had been reluctant to accept the role, but his father urged him to do it, saying it was "actor proof". The movie was a big success. In December 1937, he signed a nonexclusive contract with RKO to make two films a year for five years, at $ 75,000 a film. RKO used him as Irene Dunne 's leading man in Joy of Living (1938). At Universal, he

5940-404: The same name by Henry Farrell . The film stars Bette Davis and Joan Crawford , and features the major film debut of Victor Buono . It follows an aging former child star tormenting her paraplegic sister, a former film star, in an old Hollywood mansion. What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? was released in theaters in the United States on October 31, 1962, by Warner Bros. Pictures . The film

6030-651: The second lead in Moby Dick . Although he did not win the part, head of production Darryl F. Zanuck was impressed with Douglas's screen test, and cast him in an important role in The Dawn Patrol directed by Howard Hawks . Universal borrowed him to have the lead role in Little Accident (1930) and at Warner Bros., he was in the lead in The Sin Flood (1930). He supported Leslie Howard in

6120-413: The showiest role and bites into it with all her admired force, looking a fright from head to foot. I doubt if she would regret some of the laughs she gets. She plays for them and psychologically, they are needed. If Miss Crawford has the passive role, that is not without rewards. Suffering is one of her particular gifts." The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote that numerous directorial techniques, including all

6210-556: The song "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane," which appeared among the week's top singles in Variety . Davis later credited the film with "resuscitating" her film career. The Writers Guild of America rejected writer Harry Essex's request for screenplay credit, as he argued that his stage play, also adapted from the novel, influenced Heller. In 1963, it was noted that Warner executive vice-president Benjamin Kalmenson recommended releasing

6300-412: The stairs and calls her doctor for help. Jane returns to find Blanche on the phone and beats her unconscious before mimicking Blanche's voice to dismiss the doctor. After tying Blanche to her bed and locking her in her room, Jane abruptly fires their housekeeper, Elvira, when she comes to work. While Jane is away, the suspicious Elvira sneaks into the house and attempts to access Blanche's room. Concerned by

6390-433: The success and adoration she once had as a child star and decides to revive her old act with hired pianist Edwin Flagg. When Blanche informs Jane she intends to sell the house, Jane correctly suspects Blanche will commit her to a psychiatric hospital once the house is sold. She removes the telephone from Blanche's bedroom, cutting her off from the outside world . During Jane's absence, Blanche desperately drags herself down

6480-425: The two women had "too much pride to quarrel." Another report from Variety in August 1962 confirmed the friendly atmosphere on set. As a Pepsi-Cola Company board member, Crawford supplied the soft drink to the cast and crew throughout the shoot, although Aldrich occasionally brought bottles of Coca-Cola as a prank. Filming ran behind schedule, with completion expected in September. Despite this, Warner Bros. moved

6570-652: Was Danielle Darrieux 's co-star in The Rage of Paris (1938) and Ginger Rogers 's in RKO's Having Wonderful Time (1938). Selznick used him again in The Young in Heart (1938) with Janet Gaynor . Fairbanks then had his biggest-ever hit with RKO's Gunga Din (1939), alongside Cary Grant and Victor McLaglen . He began to work increasingly in action/adventure films: The Sun Never Sets (1939) at Universal; Rulers of

6660-545: Was Michael who had helped him. Four months later, Michael celebrates his birthday with Sadie and her mother, looks into Sadie's forgiving eyes, and then makes his birthday wish. Actors James Dunn , Leif Erickson , Arthur Jarrett , Donald Woods , and Robert Young were considered for the role of Tommy Wallace. Gene Raymond eventually was cast. Musicians Otto Heimel and Candy Candido, who were considered "the hottest boys this side of Hades", made their screen debuts as Coco and Candy in this film. Footage from this movie

6750-475: Was also dramatized for BBC Radio 4 as Bette and Joan and Baby Jane (2010), starring Catherine Tate as Davis and Tracy-Ann Oberman as Crawford. In 2005, a part of the film appeared in House of Wax , another Warner Bros. horror film. In 2006, Christina Aguilera adopted a new alter ego called Baby Jane after Bette Davis' character in the film. In Season 2, Episode 4 of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars ,

6840-458: Was also parodied by the Italian comedy film What Ever Happened to Baby Toto? (1964). In 1991, the film was remade as a television film starring real-life sisters Vanessa and Lynn Redgrave . Inspired by the film, British comedy duo Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders created the episode " Whatever Happened to Baby Dawn? " (1990) of their BBC sketch comedy series , and also starred in

6930-957: Was awarded the United States Navy's Legion of Merit with bronze V (for valor), the Italian War Cross for Military Valor , the French Légion d'honneur and the Croix de Guerre with Palm, and the British Distinguished Service Cross . Fairbanks was also awarded the Silver Star for valor displayed while serving on PT boats , and in 1942, made an Officer of the National Order of the Southern Cross , conferred by

7020-784: Was cast in January 1962 and departed the cast of the Broadway show Night of the Iguana in March, taking a brief hiatus before rehearsals began in Los Angeles. Funding was secured through Seven Arts Productions , with Warner Bros. Pictures handling distribution. Filming occurred at the Producers Studio, later renamed Raleigh Studios , in Los Angeles. Originally budgeted at $ 600,000 and slated for completion within thirty days,

7110-508: Was directed by Max Ophüls . The film was the first of three independent films Fairbanks was to produce – the others being a big screen version of Terry and the Pirates , and a film called Happy Go Lucky . It was another box office disappointment. He thought his career would be revived by That Lady in Ermine with Betty Grable , but director Ernst Lubitsch died during production and

7200-555: Was given an X certificate by the BBFC in 1962, with a few minor cuts. These cuts were waived for a video submission, which was given an 18 certificate in 1988, meaning no one under 18 years of age could purchase a copy of the film. However, in 2004, the film was re-submitted for a theatrical re-release, and it was given a 12A certificate, now meaning persons under 12 years of age could view it if accompanied by an adult. It remains at this category to this day. The film's success spawned

7290-747: Was in Broken Hearts of Hollywood (1926), then, at Metropolitan Pictures, he was in Man Bait (1927). At MGM , he was in Edmund Goulding 's Women Love Diamonds (1927) and for Alfred E. Green at Fox he was in Is Zat So? (1927). He supported Will Rogers in A Texas Steer (1927). Also in 1927, Fairbanks made his stage debut in Young Woodley based on a book by John Van Druten . Fairbanks Jr received excellent reviews and

7380-520: Was in Chances (1931) and I Like Your Nerve (1931) with Young. In June 1931, he starred in another play, The Man in Possession , which he also produced along with Sid Grauman . Fairbanks said he wanted to stay away from costume adventures, which were associated with his father. He starred in two pictures for Alfred E Green, Gentleman for a Day (1932), a melodrama with Joan Blondell , and

7470-441: Was met with critical acclaim and was a box office success. It was nominated for five Academy Awards and won one for Best Costume Design, Black-and-White , with Davis receiving her tenth and final nomination for Best Actress . The alleged bitter rivalry between the two stars, Davis and Crawford, was pivotal to the film's initial success which helped revitalize their careers. In the years after release, critics continued to acclaim

7560-542: Was mobbed. Tom Sawyer was not made. Instead, Fairbanks Jr. appeared in Stephen Steps Out (1923). The film was not a hit. Paramount and he parted ways by mutual consent and Doug went to Paris to resume his studies. A year later, he returned to the studio, hired at what Fairbanks called "starvation wages", and having him work as a camera assistant. "I was anxious to build my career as an actor slowly and painstakingly", he said in 1928. "I don't want to be

7650-510: Was nine years old, and both remarried. He lived with his mother in New York, California, Paris, and London. Fairbanks began his education at the exclusive Hollywood School for Boys in Los Angeles. After his mother and stepfather moved to New York, he attended the Bovee School, a private grammar school for boys. While attending Bovee, he was also enrolled in an after-school drill academy called Knickerbocker Greys , which he attended for

7740-534: Was nothing stable about my career in Hollywood." He intended to return to Hollywood to appear in Design for Living , but became ill and was replaced by Gary Cooper. He did ultimately return to Hollywood for Success at Any Price (1934) at RKO, then returned to London for Mimi (1935). The latter starred Gertrude Lawrence , who became romantically involved with Fairbanks Jr. He announced he would make Zorro Rides Again with his father. Fairbanks fell ill during

7830-418: Was replaced by Otto Preminger ; the resulting film was not a success, and Fairbanks Jr believes this cost his career momentum. Fairbanks tried another swashbuckler for his own company, The Fighting O'Flynn (1949). As a confirmed Anglophile , Fairbanks spent much time in the United Kingdom post World War II, where he was well known in the highest social circles. He was made an Honorary Knight Commander of

7920-537: Was the principal landing. United States Navy Beach Jumpers saw their initial action in Operation Husky , the invasion of Sicily . For the remainder of the war, the Beach Jumpers conducted their hazardous, shallow-water operations throughout the Mediterranean. For his planning the diversion-deception operations and his part in the amphibious assault on Southern France , Lieutenant Commander Fairbanks

8010-626: Was the son of Douglas Fairbanks and the stepson of Mary Pickford , and his first marriage was to actress Joan Crawford . Douglas Elton Fairbanks Jr. was born in New York City. He was the only child of actor Douglas Fairbanks and Anna Beth Sully, the daughter of wealthy industrialist Daniel J. Sully. Fairbanks' father was one of cinema's first icons, noted for such swashbuckling adventure films as The Mark of Zorro , Robin Hood , and The Thief of Bagdad . Fairbanks had small roles in his father's films American Aristocracy (1916) and The Three Musketeers (1921). His parents divorced when he

8100-408: Was the subject of This Is Your Life in 1989, when he was surprised by Michael Aspel in the foyer of Thames Television's Teddington Studios. What Ever Happened to Baby Jane%3F (1962 film) What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? is a 1962 American psychological horror thriller film directed and produced by Robert Aldrich , from a screenplay by Lukas Heller , based on the 1960 novel of

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