Sharing a distinction with Sunset Boulevard in showing the aftermath of Hollywood stardom, What Ever Happened To Baby Jane goes a step further in that we follow the fallen careers of former vaudeville child star Baby Jane (Bette Davis) and her invalid sister, the former star Blanche (Joan Crawford). It's on the long side but it flies by, and never feels long. There are a few moments which strain credibility, and whether you call them plot holes or not, you may find yourself yelling instructions or warnings out to the screen (perhaps true of many a horror movie). He's a tragic figure himself, struggling to find work and living with his nagging mother (Marjorie Bennett). Victor Buono is excellent as the pianist who responds to Davis's classified ad, which is her pathetic attempt to revive her act. The 'stories within the story' - Davis and Crawford's real-life antipathy for one another, and their own fading glory - make the movie even more fascinating. There is also the horror of becoming irrelevant, of being deluded in holding on to a dream that has long since passed, which has a pathos to it. There is of course the horror of being helpless while in an unbalanced person's care, and Crawford turns in a strong performance as well. The film is special because of Davis's performance, and because of its extra dimensions. I don't want to give away any of the plot, but will just say there are lots of tingly moments, and director Robert Aldrich did a great job gradually building these to a crescendo. Early on, the film includes pictures and brief movie clips from Davis and Crawford when they were younger ('Ex-Lady', and 'Sadie McKee') which is nice. Three decades later, Davis is still living in the past, craving attention, and dominating Crawford, who is in a wheelchair. She plays an aging, former childhood star who lives with her sister, played by Joan Crawford, who eclipsed her as they got older to become a star herself back in the 1930's. Bette Davis is extraordinary, and really put herself out there for this film, garish make-up and all.

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