What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

by Professor Henry Farrell

[Whitney @ First Impressions Reviews]

Anyone who knows me, knows that my favorite actress is Bette Davis, who starred in All About Eve, Dark Victory and What Ever Happened To Baby Jane? This was the reason why I picked up Henry Farrell's novel. In the case of Baby Jane I saw the movie before I read the book and thus began with wonder of how much had been adapted. In What Ever Happened To Baby Jane they were right on. It was an early Misery minus James Caan/Paul Sheldon getting his foot cut off, but enough about the movie.

I read the introduction before beginning What Ever Happened To Baby Jane? something I rarely do. I am so glad I did, as it gave fascinating insight into both the author, his reasoning and thought process behind the book and making of the film.

The novel itself was campy but eerily so and held a suspenseful element. This was shown subtly with Baby Jane revising her old act in replicas of her old costumes and the "Chef Specials" she would give to her sister Blanche. Henry Farrel did a superb job setting the run-down stuck in time Hudson Home with just as vivid of characters. Jane, while I hate to do the comparison, but she was Shirley Temple but only if Shirley Temple was a washed up drunk. Her sister the invalid, once great movie star Blanche, while playing the sick card both for real and sometimes for the irk of her sister I felt she knew something beyond the circumstances from her accident.

What Ever Happened To Baby Jane is masterly crafted and should be a read for anyone who enjoys old Hollywood or just a good creepy read.