What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

I'm not a fan of horror films, so I was never interested in either seeing the Baby Jane movie or reading this book, until the "Bette and Joan" mini-series came out. Loved that, so I thought I would give the movie and the book a try. The movie, to me, was alternately horrifying and campy - but tolerable enough. Seemed like it was time to buy the book. Fortunately, I bought this edition, which I highly recommend.Because this edition not only offers an excellent introduction with background on the reclusive author Henry Farrell (born in little-known Chowchilla, California, a place with which I am familiar), but also provides three previously unpublished short stories on top of what I was going for. I got "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane" PLUS the previously unpublished "What Ever Happened to Cousin Charlotte," The Debut of Larry Richards," and "First, The Egg."Most of us know the main story: "Baby Jane" Hudson was a misbehaving child star who overstayed her welcome. Her sister Blanche became the screen star, until she was crippled in a car accident (a car accident caused by Baby Jane, we hear). Now they live as virtual recluses, with Blanche in the care of Jane and seeing only an occasional housekeeper. But Jane seems to be resentful, wilful, and maybe even unstable - and helpless Blanche is completely at her mercy.I'm afraid most of us head for the book because of the movie, which is unfortunate, as "Baby Jane" is probably far better read first. The actions of Baby Jane Hudson are not as startling to read in print when you've got that picture of Bette Davis in macabre makeup indelibly burned into your brain. As a result, her literary actions, which are slightly different, and the helpful exposition about them, have less suspenseful impact. And the book, standalone, is strong.How strong is born out by "Cousin Charlotte"; I've never seen the movie based on that story ("Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte"), but you can see why it went to film. It's part Harlequin, part Gothic, part Horror, and all Surprise. You can see where an editor might ask for more details - but you also can see the huge potential.The additional stories demonstrate Henry Farrell's facility at changing styles and forms. Such potential. An interesting and captivating author.

It's 1906 and Baby Jane Hudson is the darling of the boardwalk Vaudeville scene, she can sing and dance and blow kisses to her adoring public but there is something cold and rotting prematurely about the mini duse. Anyone can only wonder what will become of her. 50 years later, and the bright buzzing stage lights and applauds have all been silenced and Jane shuffles through the days drunk, abandoned and dangerously bitter and jealous as her paralyzed older sister Blanche lays upstairs still receiving fawning fan letters and her glory days as a top Hollywood actress have not been forgotten. Bad blood has been simmering for years and the final catalyst is when finances are stretched to the max and then Jane eavesdrops on a conversation about her future. What follows is a deliciously warped cascade of events that spin out of control and slam into the gates of a bunch of horrible revelations and will send you next to the track down the silver screen version. This pageturner just begged to be turned into a media classic and you won't be disappointed by either, trust me.

“Sometimes I wonder about the two of them over there in that big old house all alone. They don’t ever seem to do anything—or have anyone in for company. It must be awful….”I have been watching Feud: Bette and Joan for a month now, and I'm enthralled! My grandmother introduced me to so many black and white thrillers like The Bad Seed, Dead Ringer, Straightjacket, and my favorite, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane. As a result, I've been a big fan of the duo, so it's been wonderful to see them at the end of their movie careers amid a cutthroat film industry. So much politics!This book didn't disappoint; the movie sticks pretty closely to the book. What makes books so great is that you're able to delve into characters' minds. Sometimes you learn about motives, other times you don't. The hatred Jane and Blanche have for each other is so raw and vivid! Obviously Jane's sanity is unraveling, and it's wonderful and scary to watch. Even though I knew how it would end, it was still fascinating to read about. This edition also included the short story that Hush, Hush...Sweet Charlotte was based upon. If you're in need of supplemental reading material inspired by Feud, then you can't go wrong with the book that started it all!

This unsettling and disturbing 1960 novel by Henry Farrell is the basis for the famous Bette Davis/Joan Crawford film by the same name.Although the film generally follows the dramatic structure of the book, there are a number of important differences between the book and the film... which make the book even more interesting and surprising.This particular edition ("cracked doll face" cover) also includes the novel by Farrell that the movie Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte is based on (plus another short story).Highly recommend.

Loved the movie and now love the book

I started reading this book and was really enjoying it for the most part. But one thing that ruins a book for me is when it ends abruptly and doesn’t Finish the story. I don’t like guessing what happens to the characters at the end Of the book. After a certain point I’m really in it to find out what happens at the end of the book. Usually that’s the whole reason I keep reading is because I can’t wait to find out how it ends so when it just ends up properly and doesn’t explain what happened to the characters you’re just left hanging and on satisfied and very disappointed. Other than that it was a fun read.

Product arrived fast, got a decent price for a used book. The Baby Jane story is just as good as the movie and the 3 bonus short stories were a fun read too!

This is an adult novel which follows Blanche, a Hollywood starlet, who was in a terrible accident. Bound to a wheelchair, Blanche is cared for by her older sister, childhood star, Jane. When Jane decides she wants to revitalise her old career, she won’t let anything, or anyone, stand in her way… Although I felt it was quite short, almost novella length, I did enjoy this. The introduction was interesting, however, I did skim read the short stories collected at the end of the book. The book itself is almost thriller, combining psychological elements and Gothic horror. Jane has become an alcoholic carer, almost stunted and portrayed to be horrid – it’s almost like because she has a larger figure and holds a grudge, she has to be villainous. Blanche has managed to retain her looks, although she is confined to a wheelchair. There is definitely some stereotypical moments, but there was tension and mystery. Both characters have underlying mental health issues, which are never truly resolved by the time the novel finishes. The final twisted truth is well written and I hadn’t guessed it. The ambiguous ending works really well in this case, and I found I was happy with it. For shorter fiction, this works. I can see where this could be longer and where other moments of plot devices could be strengthened, but I think it stands well on its own. Yet again, it must be remembered that this was written in a different time and place, and was probably more shocking and horrifying for its audience. I rated this 3.5 stars.

I’ve seen the movie many times, though not for years and it’s one of my favourites. I was expecting to love the book. I did. The book is very close to the movie so I knew what to expect. This didn’t take any pleasure out of reading the book. The book is so good. The movie is so good as well I kept picturing Bette Davis and Joan Crawford in my head as I read. The book is very dark at times, as Jane drinks more and more and Blanche finds herself in a helpless situation, tied to her bed and at the mercy of her increasingly unstable sister Jane. The book is also incredibly sad. I couldn’t see either woman as a villain and felt incredible pity for them, mostly isolated from the world in their big house, haunted by memories of happier times. The book implies Jane is the real monster but a different truth is gradually revealed which I found heart-breaking.

'What Ever Happened to Baby Jane' is the story of Jane and Blanche Hudson. Jane known as 'Baby Jane' was a child star while Blanche was kept in the sidelines. Baby Jane's fame began to wane as she got older and Blanche became a star in her own right. Following a tragic accident, Blanche is confided to a wheelchair and is taken care of by Jane, over the years Jane has grown to hate Blanche while Blanche defends Jane's actions and hides herself from the world, how long can the sisters live with each other and the ghosts of their pasts?I enjoyed 'What Ever Happened to Baby Jane' from start to finish, the sisters are well written and realistic. As Jane descends into insanity, you experience her volatile personality and how she treats Blanche is hard to read. Blanche's weakness and acceptance of her situation is hard to read too, her isolation and loneliness is tragic. The biggest tragedy of all is what the sisters have lost, their relationship suffers because of their father's eagerness to make Jane famous which leads to Jane as an adult unable to cope with not being famous. The sisters never married, never had children, all they have left is each other with no sign of their relationship changing for the better.I felt sympathy for both of the characters, despite Jane's actions and how cruel she is to Blanche, as she clings to the life she once had, desperate to be noticed, to be famous again. Blanche is so lonely and mourns for the relationship she wished she had with her sister, she also mourns her former life. The sisters are so different from each other, at times Blanche seems weak but she is the strongest of the two, Blanche protects her sister as much as she can and also lives with Jane's volatile personality with a quiet dignity.The book ends with one of the most memorable sentence I have read in a book, it left me with me so many questions.I have never seen the film adaptation of 'What Ever Happened to Baby Jane' but I had read about the legendary animosity between the stars of the film, Bette Davis & Joan Crawford which did make for interesting reading.

If you enjoyed the film… then the book will appeal to you, I am sure of this. There is, of course the dilemma; is the book better than the film? Or is the film better than the book? This is by no means a good example to answer that question, but I’ll say this, the book is definitely not disappointing compared to the film, it is chilling . I almost feel I don’t need to continue with this review now that I’ve said that, but for those of you that haven’t seen the film, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane is a deliciously thrilling story of two sisters, one a child star, the other a movie star, later on in their lives in their ramshackle Hollywood mansion. Part tragicomedy, part thriller best word I can think of is noir… Henry Farrell’s descriptions of human observations really make the book, you can just see them, especially Jane’s interaction with the young woman behind the counter when Jane is placing an advert in the newspaper, or Blanche's struggle with mobility.

If you enjoyed the black and white movie of Whatever Happened To Baby Jane then you will enjoy this book which inspired the film. The book expands the characters of Blanche and Jane Hudson, delving deep into their psyches and the trauma each experienced by the events which they have set in place. This is one of the rare books I will enjoy reading again. This particular edition also includes the short story which inspired the film Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte and a further two short stories are included which are equally very good. A great read for the winter nights ahead...