Following up the shocking success of WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE two years on (same leisurely running time/twice the budget), director/producer Robert Aldrich had the same writers place similar story beats in a Southern Gothic setting, bolstered with lifts out of GASLIGHT, SUNSET BOULEVARD and DIABOLIQUE for a second Bette Davis/Joan Crawford slug-fest. But when Crawford ankled (illness, competitive fatigue, stubborn pride), Aldrich & Davis convinced Olivia de Havilland to step in, joining Joseph Cotten, Agnes Moorehead and Mary Astor (in her last role) in this neat package of Southern-Fried horror. In many ways, it’s a better, more balanced film than BABY JANE, but missing the sheer audacity & surprise factor of that first chiller. But still a wicked good show, especially in the last act when the plot threads tighten and ‘good cousin’ de Havilland starts to let loose. Davis whops things up to grand (guignol) effect right from the start as the mentally fragile mistress long thought to be a murderess, now fighting eviction from her crumbling Southern estate. But even Bette can’t keep up with Moorehead's divine scenery chewing as her loyal, slatternly servant.
DOUBLE-BILL/LINK: The pacing of BABY JANE is on the pokey side, but makes it up in daring & originality when compared to CHARLOTTE’s ‘well-made movie’ qualities. (p.s. Watch BABY JANE first.) https://maksquibs.blogspot.com/2017/01/what-ever-happened-to-baby-jane-1962.html
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