Best Actress 1962, Part 5: Bette Davis and "What Ever happened to Baby Jane?"

[@jimanderson5883]

For someone with a very limited formal education, Joan was astutely shrewd and intelligent. Her entire life, overall, was one of continual self-improvement. Everything she had, she earned. I have always tremendously admired her.

[@emersonjamess]

I could not have said it better myself! Well said ❤

[@here_we_go_again2571]

Joan was a better actress than the studio bosses gave her credit for. Joan, wisely took advantage of every opportunity that the studio system offered to make their stars appealing and acceptable to the public She was a STAR!

[@chadhoy7489]

Hard Worker. But a little whacky

[@AndyMangele]

This film scared the hell out of me when I was a child - and became one of my all time favorites later on.

[@hudson5112]

Of all the over-the-top, mesmerizing scenes these two great actresses gave us in Baby Jane, the one that made the greatest impression on me was the scene where Blanche is on the telephone with her doctor when she senses Jane approaching menacingly from behind. The sheer terror Crawford expresses in her face and voice at that moment is absolutely spellbinding and heartbreaking. Joan truly was a great actress!

[@oscarman42]

Outstanding! I think this was Davis' best performance (to quote you, "She made Jane into more than the script intended"). I was mesmerized by "Feud," but appreciate your excellent research in seeking the truth about 'whatever happened' (I never heard the "whatever" quote, LOL). This was one of the toughest years, and will patiently await the next video!

[@FritzandtheOscars]

Thank you so much! I also loved to watch Feud but I always felt the urge to scream "no, that's not true!" :)

[@slc2466]

@@FritzandtheOscars Yep, "Feud" was a lot of fun to watch, but also a pile of horses--t as far as accuracy was concerned.

[@gdjustdoit1]

Feud sucked.

[@davidstevenson404]

I loved FEUD, too

[@kjgammon1658]

"Feud" was full of half- truths and not fact- checked well at all..... They took great dramatic license with all the situations leading to litigation more than once. Thought it was OK to make crap up after people were dead and couldn't defend themselves.

[@williamleadbitter4037]

Brilliant, simply brilliant. I've just finished watching "feud" for the third time. I do enjoy it, but they did a hatchett job on Bette and Joan.

[@FritzandtheOscars]

haha, I think I watched it like 4 or 5 times already...a lot of it annoys me but it's just so watchable...

[@poetcomic1]

I think Feud was a fantasy and there are many facts to back that up but Mamacita was a lot of fun."NEIN"

[@mattcohen405]

Just incredible! Wonderful vid with such good never before seen pics from the filming of Baby Jane. Thank you Fritz! This series is making my Summer. Can’t wait for Anne’s vid. Just finished her Douglas Daniels biography.

[@FritzandtheOscars]

Thanks so much for your kind words! Very happy you liked it!

[@andreiiliepopescu6393]

Thank you very much for the wonderful article, Fritz. ❤😊

[@FritzandtheOscars]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ppineault]

Really excellent analysis and review! :)...and I can never get enough of the great Miss Davis so I thoroughly enjoyed it :)

[@FritzandtheOscars]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@joelestuardoarchila4022]

Joan was so devoted to her fans ❤❤❤

[@reniasva]

As someone who loved "Feud" I really liked this video. Answered all the questions I had left. People sometimes underestimate all the work that goes into such videos, but you did a good job. And of course I love the accent! It's süß😄

[@FritzandtheOscars]

Haha, thank you so much! :) Glad you liked the video and the accent! ❤

[@ingmarvandesande3235]

What a wonderfull documentary you have made! Just genius!

[@FritzandtheOscars]

Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed it

[@pophector]

Wunderbar! A clear analysis that displays the wonder of both of their talents!

[@FritzandtheOscars]

Thank you!

[@slc2466]

@@FritzandtheOscars One reviewer in 1962 stated if Bette's performance hit with the force of a hurricane, then Joan's could be deemed the eye of the hurricane, which was a lovely way of praising Davis' flamboyancy and Crawford's underplaying.

[@FritzandtheOscars]

@@slc2466 yes, I think both performances are essential for the movie and you need Blanche to be calm but it's kind of easy for Bette to steal the show in this case - which she does splendidly

[@issakelly8071]

Joan was a star who was an actress, while Bette was an actress who was a star. Joan is one of my favorite old Hollywood actresses and I absolutely adore her, but I think her devotion to her star image/persona made her risk averse. She was not limited in her talents, in fact, her talents as an actress were immense; she could go hammy and over the top but also do quiet and understated as her role in this film displays. She also had the uncanny ability to express any emotion at her disposal, but she lacked the gumption to really take bold creative risks in terms of the characters she played like Bette. Joan as a star was always thinking about how she connects to her audience, whilst Bette cared more about playing fascinating characters at the risk of alienating her audience. In terms of talent, I think Joan and Bette are evenly matched, but I feel like Bette's risk taking allowed her to be more an artist while Joan was content to be more of a product.

[@FritzandtheOscars]

Both were fascinating in their own ways

[@Kevin-rg3yc]

This is true I do know when Joan started her acting career she wanted to be more in that prestigious acting level with the likes of Norma sheerer, luise rainer and Greta Garbo but MGM executives told she was more of a movie star who did movies that appealed to audiences and made money at the box office in addition to also she didn’t come from the prestigious performing arts education as those other actresses I believe overtime Joan internalized that model and simply stick with it

[@FritzandtheOscars]

@@Kevin-rg3yc It's often easy to forget how difficult it is to actually build this kind of movie star persona and use it successfully in your performances

[@Kevin-rg3yc]

@@FritzandtheOscars that’s true I feel that still is a big thing in today’s culture among contemporary actors and actresses audiences have been conditioned for a movie star to be a certain type or play in certain roles, tbh Meryl Streep and Leonardo DiCaprio are the only actors I know who built their bankable Hollywood movie star statuses as chameleons who aren’t boxed in one typecast role or persona, this is a struggle with new school performers that are similar like Margot Robbie, timothee chalamet, Florence Pugh and Ana Taylor joy

[@JosephAddeo]

You are a genius! Your research and analysis is amazing. I can’t think of anyone better than you on the current scene. I love all your videos. Your sense of objectivity is very very appreciated especially when it comes to Bette and Joan. You have beautifully voiced everything i have felt about these two great stars over the years. You’re the best!! I’ll even forgive you for not liking Joan Fontaine’s Oscar win for SUSPICION 😂😂.

[@FritzandtheOscars]

Haha, thanks so much! there are many much better people out there doing videos but I am very grateful for your kind words, that's very encouraging! And sorry about Joan :)

[@slc2466]

@@FritzandtheOscars You do a fantastic job Fritz, and I love your accent; any haters trying to give you a hard time can expire on the beach with Blanche.

[@FritzandtheOscars]

@slc2466 haha, thanks so much 🥰

[@tiffanywitherspoon8722]

Thank you, thank you, thank you, this video was amazing.

[@FritzandtheOscars]

Thanks so much, I'm glad you liked it! :)

[@bbdc1977-sg8dc]

DAVIS should have won for "Baby Jane". That is one sad, psychotic character. Watching her go from one emotion to another is nothing more than perfection !

[@anthonyanderson2405]

Another brilliant analysis, thank you!

[@FritzandtheOscars]

Thanks for watching!

[@sungeigerong1]

You are an astute observer and commentator. Borne of great love of these films and actors. Thank you. 😊

[@FritzandtheOscars]

Thanks a lot for watching and your nice words!

[@slc2466]

We've been waiting for this one. . .

[@tiffanywitherspoon8722]

From the very beginning.

[@oscarman42]

I second that!

[@FritzandtheOscars]

I hope it was worth it :)

[@slc2466]

@@FritzandtheOscars Fantastic overview, as always. I recently did a tribute to Davis' incredible career if you want to check it out. Looking forward to your take on Bancroft Duking it out with Patty to close out the 1962 race.

[@prinzaustria8152]

Dear Fritz! You outdid yourself on this 🏆: To create such an absorbing video essay on one of the most analysed performances, films and behind-the-scene-stories yet providing so much new analysis, material and insights is an enormous achievement you really should be proud of yourself. Bravo. Ich bin stolz auf Dich 😍👏🏼🩷 And I really recommend anyone who is just slightly interested in Oscars and best actresses your gorgeous gem of a channel. Bussi und Umarmung aus Wien 😘🌈❤

[@FritzandtheOscars]

haha, vielen Dank! Freut mich, dass es dir gefällt! :)

[@namaankhan8306]

I might get trolled for this but Joan's performance and arc resonated and moved me much more despite Bette's efforts. I think it's her best performance.

[@FritzandtheOscars]

Oh, I think Joan was very good in Baby Jane, I have always loved her performance. I prefer Bette in the end but the movie wouldn't work without Joan

[@slc2466]

Joan specifically kills it in the last scene, no doubt!

[@namaankhan8306]

@@slc2466 Both of them did! Joan"s shocking revelation and Bette's "All this time we could"ve been friends" followed by her crazy dance with ice cream cones. They both managed to create something haunting and unforgettable. P.S I loved the ambiguous ending. I so wanted to know if Joan survived or died on the beach. I think the ambiguity effectively made it one of the great movie endings.

[@slc2466]

@@namaankhan8306 Right- I think you see a cop standing over Blanche shaking his head at the final fadeout, but it's not flat-out stated she dies.

[@akrenwinkle]

I saw a television remake of "Jane" several years back, and one of the Redgrave sisters (I forgot if it was Lynn or Vanessa) had the Blanche part. I realized then how good Joan was.

[@hughhaefner3317]

Bette Davis should have won the Oscar for her portrayal of baby jane. Best performance by an actor ever!

[@barrylangford3276]

I was really looking forward to this video and you did not disappoint! Many thanks for yet another excellent essay. Regarding Feud, I had absolutely zero interest in watching what l knew would be an inaccurate and exploitative programme. I totally abhor books, films and TV series which exist purely to trash and cash-in on deceased stars, and it is sad to think that many people actually believe that the likes of Feud, Mommie Dearest and the myriad of Marilyn Monroe ripoffs are true representations of their subjects. I so wish Olivia De Havilland had won her legal action against the makers of Feud for exploiting her as they did. I cannot be alone in feeling the stars of Hollywood’s golden era, who worked so hard to craft classic films, deserve respect and admiration rather than being used so callously. I lost all admiration for Susan Sarandon and Jessica Lange for participating in Feud. Even if they felt their careers were in a similar place as Bette and Joan's were when they made Baby Jane, two stars of their magnitude should have had the strength of character to say no - l will not exploit Davis and Crawford for this camp bitchy spectacle.

[@hyperballadbradx6486]

Thoroughly entertaining! Thanks for creating.

[@FritzandtheOscars]

Thanks for watching!

[@AnthonyChambers-y4k]

This is one of the greatest performances of any actress of any year. Bette Davis in whatever happened to baby Jane. She definitely should’ve won. It’s a damn shame she didn’t

[@marcl2213]

I friend saw «What happened... » at a film festival in La Rochelle France, two weeks ago. There was a little retrospective on B.Davis films (i think 10 were presented). It got me interested in seeing the duo although I saw the film a long long time ago. Like some wrote in comments it had an horror side to it that could scare you (i was young). Thank you so much for this video that explains what was the relation between the two stars. And I’ll have a look at the series «Fude» even though I know that sometimes the screenwriters would add more drama to what really happened.

[@FritzandtheOscars]

Thanks for watching!

[@jimmyl324]

Bette is magnificent in Baby Jane

[@track1949]

Absolutely one of her best performances. 🎉

[@j.d.youtube6557]

Big fan of your channel.

[@FritzandtheOscars]

Thank you! :)

[@tlw1950]

I enjoyed this so much I immediately subscribed, Fritz! Thanks so much!

[@FritzandtheOscars]

Thanks so much for your kind words!

[@heinrichnel5824]

Hey Fritz great video as always! Have you read 'The Devil in Miss Davis'? Was published in Vanity Fair, written by William Frye. Interesting read. He talks about that Oscar night, first hand account. Also wrote about his friendship with Garbo

[@FritzandtheOscars]

not 100% sure right now, I read so much for that video :) I will certainly check!

[@Garsons-oq4lh]

I read that article too, and if anything, it shows what a sore loser she was, that somehow she thought she'd win and that somehow Joan Crawford had a hand in her losing.

[@TheSgarpia]

I never thought Feud was reality. It was based on a very entertaining book the was called The Devine Feud that was really tongue in cheek. Classic Hollywood lore where truth and embellishments of what may have been the truth collided. I thought the show did a great job at depicting essentially Hollywood mythology and giving it a sense of plausibility, not certainty. The scenes homaging Davis and Crawford's actual movies, weaving them into the narrative (like the scene based on All About Eve where Susan Sarandon is in front of the mirror) are so satisfying to watch. I think expecting an accurate depiction of the truth actually takes away from the fact that the show, while being based on lore, also gave the characters a lot of humanity while keeping all their entertainment value.

[@derrionbrown3923]

This jus made my day!

[@RaptureRd]

Bette was amazing in this film as all her films. What a fantastic actress. No doubt she should of won the academy award for this role. Since Joan was so jealous, especially because she wasn’t nominated, she went to all the other women nominated and asked them not to vote for Bette and that she would accept the award for them if they won. The reason why they decided to work with each other is because the public always wanted them to work together and Bette had a fantastic part. She read the book and knew it would be a great movie. She was always professional. Bette was the first woman to be inducted into the life achievement award. I think she was the 4th person, James Cagney, Willie and 2 others. She was the best.

[@Garsons-oq4lh]

Another one repeating the same nonsense that Joan told people not to vote for Davis. That is rubbish. Please provide the goddamn quotes and the sources from which they come from?

[@RaptureRd]

Hahahahaha. So you have heard it many times before, lolol it’s only considered rubbish to you but truth to others. People that prefer Joan over Bette say the same thing. Watch Dick Cavett’s show with Bette Davis or read her book. Research the ladies nominated. I knew Mary Astor, Mae Clark, Debbie Reynolds’s and she knew everything. I knew Phyllis Diller and her daughter, I knew Marilyn Monroe’s hairdresser and Wilford Brimley and his sons and wife were all very close friends of mine. Hal King, make up man and I knew many prop guys and more. Don’t ever accuse me of speaking lies or rubbish. I only speak truth. I suggest you improve your research. Everyone was aware of Joan’s jealousy and even how she married Franchot Tone so Bette couldn’t have him. I have a lot of info about what went on during those days especially in the studios and the tricks that were pulled and more. Again, recheck your facts and improve your research method cuz it ain’t great.

[@Garsons-oq4lh]

​​​​​​​​​​​@RaptureRd What a shocker you not providing the quotes (and the sources they come from) that confirm Joan asked the nominees not to vote for Bette Davis. How about ones that confirm Joan was jealous and stole Franchot from Bette. Well? And if that Feud book by Shaun Considine is one of your guides, then no, it is not a trusted source.

[@gfgall]

Pure nonsensical hogwash from start to finish.

[@Cubertfilm]

we love your cinematic essays here! question - I see this was posted a month ago - but I was sure I watched this a while back - are you adding info to the videos and thus the date changes??? I get announcements about new posts - but I am pretty sure I 've seen them a ways back - what 's up with this? AND again, I LOVE watching and listening - repeatedly - such good content!!!!

[@FritzandtheOscars]

Hey, thanks so much for your kind words! I'm glad you enjoy it! Regarding your question: no, I don't change the date or add anyting to the videos. The only thing I can imagine that might have happened is that I re-uploaded some of my earlier, longer videos (like 1983) in smaller, individual videos for each nominee like I am doing now. Maybe that's why you feel that you have already seen them

[@Cubertfilm]

yes yes yes - thanks! I love the format - I really enjoy the info - the Snodgrass video - A+ @@FritzandtheOscars

[@FritzandtheOscars]

Thanks so much!@@Cubertfilm

[@BrianJosephMorgan]

Excellent: Bravo!

[@stevenpace1849]

I thought this analysis is quite brilliant and nicley done. I never saw the TV movie Feud because I couldn't stand to look at it. Like Jane, Feud should have been filmed in black and white.

[@FritzandtheOscars]

Thanks a lot for watching

[@voyaristika5673]

Thank you for delving into the feud! I'm glad I never watched the movie, a seemingly cheap shot to make money. This topic is complex because people are complex, and you've done a wonderful job untangling things and separating fact from fiction. You're probably as close to the truth as possible.

[@Garsons-oq4lh]

One-sided Feud with Bette sole instigator. Not Joan Crawford's style to Feud. At a Pepsi conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1965, in response to Bette Davis, Joan was quoted, "It takes two for a fight." Thus indicating she didn't care to fight.

[@darylchin53]

A very astute analysis, and i love the fact that you don't perpetuate the mythology of the "feud" between the two stars: if they were feuding, how could they have finished the film? One thing i find fascinating (and puzzling) is the whole topic of THE NIGHT OF THE IGUANA: in no way is the part of Maxine merely a "supporting" role. If it were, then the various stars who have played the part (including Ava Gardner in the film version, and Eleanor Parker in the 1970s revival in Los Angeles; she was replaced by Sylvia Miles when that production was moved to New York) must have been under a delusion. Davis may have felt that the part was a supporting one, but it's not the case if the part is played right. But why Davis, who had worked in the theater at the beginning of her career, should have been so uncomfortable in the company of other actors is the real mystery. Look at Katharine Hepburn: she returned frequently to the stage, and she accepted the role of Violet Venable in SUDDENLY, LAST SUMMER, and that could have been perceived as a "supporting" part, but she really threw herself into it, and she made it a star part! And she was working with a "Method" actor (Montgomery Clift) who was having problems, but Hepburn defended him when Joseph L. Mankiewicz was pushing Clift too hard. Why couldn't Davis do that? Tennessee Williams was very disappointed with Davis: he felt she didn't even try to do the part justice, and that she was afraid of committing herself to doing a theatrical performance.

[@FritzandtheOscars]

Bette later said herself in an interview that she loathes theater and prefers working in films much more, so I suppose that could have played a role

[@davidfairbrother4292]

Wonderful 💯% ✅✅✅

[@dannysmith1396]

Great video... always have been Team Joan 😁

[@johnfulton4061]

Bette Davis was superb but in my opinion Anne Bancroft deserved that Oscar her scenes where she did flashbacks to her troubled childhood were mesmerizing every second she was on the screen and she did it with sunglasses you rarely see her eyes(something actors use to deliver a great performance)it was a competitive year the other nominees were superb but Anne's performance had more of an emotional affect on me

[@aziblas8299]

Both excellent, I recently lived something similar to this recently 😢

[@Kevin-rg3yc]

Regarding the beginning concerning Bette Davis career leading up to baby Jane reminds me of how Katharine Hepburn was able to keep pretentious acting career that Bette wanted, Katharine was more disciplined and more focus on perfecting her craft that included constantly returning to theatre and even being more positively receptive to the new method acting style in addition to having the privilege of not being married with children and having her own personal wealth, Bette was the opposite she was too worried still being a Hollywood movie star and understandably had more circumstances with a mentally disabled child and a rocky marriage

[@thomasalbert6687]

I remember reading somewhere that one of the top magazines, let's say Life or Time, wanted to do a cover story combining the two titans from New England: Bette Davis and Katharine Hepburn. Katie said no. And when you look back in retrospect, that was smart of her to decline.

[@lamoneal]

@@thomasalbert6687 I remember reading the same story about both stars being approached for a magazine cover. Davis said yes, Hepburn said no. And while this might be hard to believe, I think Hepburn might have been a little intimidated by Davis. There was of course a rivalry. Davis was regarded as THE leading Hollywood actress of the mid 30s to the mid 40s, while Hepburn grew in popularity in the 50s to the late 60s.(Summertime, Suddenly, Last Summer, Longs Days Journey into Night, etc.) . Both actresses publicly admired the other. But Hepburn, despite her obvious gifts, never seemed to match the range of Davis. To my mind, Hepburn after the Philadelphia Story always to seemed to play a variation of either an uppity woman who needs to be put in her place (Woman of the Year, The Rainmaker, Adam's Rib, Pat & Mike) or the spinster redeemed by love at long last (Summertime, The Rainmaker, Desk Set, The African Queen). Just my opinion.

[@zacharylewis2802]

I think there was some kind of mutual dislike between the two before Baby Jane. The feud actually started with the Academy Awards, and culminated on Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte.

[@Garsons-oq4lh]

One-sided Feud with Bette, the sole instigator, especially with Hush Hush.

[@roycerowland2699]

Bette Davis's performance in Whatever happens to Baby Jane is heartbreaking and terrifying at the same time. Her work in the movie at the end of the movie is absolutely heartbreaking. I watched Feud: Bette and Joan and I think that the limited series was mostly fiction.

[@gloriamontgomery6900]

Bette Davis was wonderful in “What Happened to Baby Jane”. But, I’ve noticed that if a character is perceived as selfless and heroic an Oscar win is more likely.

[@here_we_go_again2571]

Whoa! *Joan Crawford wanted to do Ethan Frome with Betty Davis and Raymond Massey?* (That guy had some serious acting chops!) Had Ethan Frome been made with Massey, Crawford and Davis, who would have been Zeena Frome and who would have been Mattie Silver? I, for one would have loved seeing that version! As it was, Massey was in a stage version of Ethan Frome, with Ruth Gordon during the 1930's. Ruth Gordon is another underrated actress, scriptwriter and screenwriter I loved Bette and Lilian Gish (her last film) in the "Whales of August" (1987) Betty also did a British Agatha Christie film for TV " Murder with Mirrors" (1985) where she acted alongside Helen Hayes (her last film)

[@linchen008]

I first watched Baby Jane with my sister.😊

[@blue2134]

Based on this great video the “feud” between them really wasn’t so dramatic, however they really weren’t fond of each other but respected each other, the both needed $$ and needed good roles, they seemed to put how they felt about each other to the side and got the film done. However I believe things did get heightened after Davis got her much well deserved Oscar nom, then the clause came out. FYI Davis should’ve one.

[@moviemonster2083]

She made at least one very good film in 1955 called, 'The Virgin Queen', which concerned Queen Elizabeth I's relationship with Sir Walter Raleigh, Bette, of course, playing the Queen. But this was all during her tempestuous marriage to Gary Merrill, her co-star from her 1950 hit, "All About Eve'. I also imagine it was that movie that conditioned her inability to simply be a stage actress in a good play and not the 'star', as she came to believe she always had to be. Just like Margot Channing, except Margot WAS a real theatre actress and THE star in her plays, unlike Bette after her return to Broadway and the stage after her contract with Warner Bros was terminated and she had finished taking the bows for 'Eve'.

[@sweetbutterbaby]

Joan was not broke like Bette was. That’s why she took less money up front.

[@kjgammon1658]

You are correct.. Joan shrewdly took a larger percentage of the gross profits deal, less upfront,which made her a multi-millionaire in the end. Something that was hard for Davis to swallow....

[@mtoscani]

I love your videos. I look forward to each new one. But this is the first time I'm strongly disagreeing with you. I think the only problem with Baby Jane is, as you say, it slows down. But then you say it's because of Joan?! No way. In my past life I was an editor. I've always wanted to trim about 10 mins from this film. But it's not when Joan is onscreen. After Elvira is murdered until Edwin discovers Blanche...that's when the movie grinds to a halt. These are all drawn out Bette scenes. Do we really need to see her slowly drag Elvira out of the house? Do we need to see her yet again drunk and looking at her old pictures? Edit that out. Tighten it up. Elvira is murdered. Police call. Jane tells Blanche how she disposed of body. Ring ring. Edwin shows up drunk. Discovers Blanche. We get to the big confession scene. By tightening it up we get to the climax which will be more powerful. It was a mistake to keep Joan off the screen that long. It lessened the punch of her confession. Bette doesn't necessarily steal the show. The script was already built around her. Joan was incredibly smart. Had a great business sense (after all she had a 2nd career as a businesswoman). She got this project together (as she had many a project before basically acting as producer). She handed Bette the role of a lifetime. Have you ever heard of such a huge star giving another huge star, the better role?! If it wasn't for Joan, Baby Jane never would have been made. People really need to recognize Joan's incredible intelligence when it comes to film. But yes cheers to Bette. This is perhaps her best performance next to Now Voyager and The Old Maid. For Joan, it may be in her Top 5. I'll say this she is almost unrecognizable at times in her softness and when tied up in bed weighing less then 100 lbs truly looking close to death. Amazing.

[@FritzandtheOscars]

Thanks for your comment. I didn't mean "slow it down" in a negative way. For me, it's that she grounds the movie. No movie can keep up the pace of baby jane as a character for the entire run time. Without Joan, it wouldn't work

[@mtoscani]

Agreed. Thanks for clarifying. But the movie itself is a tad too long. It would benefit greatly tightening the time b/t Elvira's murder and Edwin discovering Blanche. It's mostly Baby Jane alone and adds nothing to her character that we didn't already know. So in fact you can say those BETTE DAVIS moments are what slow the movie down.

[@RaymondHng]

5:57 Does anyone know which film this was?

[@FritzandtheOscars]

It's from the Alfred Hitchcock Hour, the episode is called "Out there Darkness"

[@khongmaithikhog5624]

​@@FritzandtheOscars😮 please do a review on Reese vs Filicity 🎉

[@FllixRouge]

Why was Joannie so prone to wear Shower Caps??? 😅

[@johnboyle382]

It's a shame that between Baby Jane and All About Eve (not to mention her great 40's movies) Bette never got that third Oscar (though I think if I were to "give" 3 Oscars to any actress from back in the day it would be Barbara Stanwyck, and she never got one...).

[@FritzandtheOscars]

Yes, Barbara certainly should have won at one point

[@Kevin-rg3yc]

I personally would’ve given her the Oscar for all about eve love Judy holiday but Bette was too great in all about eve

[@FritzandtheOscars]

@@Kevin-rg3yc 1950 was such an amazing year, another one where every answer is correct

[@akrenwinkle]

@@Kevin-rg3yc My vote: Gloria Swanson for Sunset Blvd.

[@ikurrinegartzia5487]

Thnak you , dear Fritz !.

[@FritzandtheOscars]

Thanks for watching!

[@RoccoLove-l9q]

It was a different world 🌎 back then. I often wish I was a part of that era, instead being born in year 2000 .... Hollywood seemed like magic back then celebrities were actually celebrities. Today 2024 celebs can't even compare..they r nobody's compared bette and Joan

[@neildickson5394]

All this true lack of acrimony exploded during the follow up picture, "Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte". I remember the old IMDB individual star and film threads. The Bette fans were extremely vicious towards Joan, and visa versa. It became so nasty, IMDB discontinued ALL threads, which was a tremendous knowledge loss.

[@FritzandtheOscars]

I can easily imagine things being more vicious during their second movie, especially after the Oscars

[@Garsons-oq4lh]

The Hush debacle was a one-sided feud love affair with Bette. She was the sole instigator of discord. She got herself producer credit from Robert Aldrich and superseding him managed to hack away at the script, particularly the Miriam character just to spite Joan. Bette got it in her disclusional head that Joan had a hand in her lost at the Oscar's. Bette was a sore loser and chose to blame her co-star. IMDB did not discontinue the message boards because of Joan and Bette. But it's a good thing anyway. The message boards were out of control with back and forth arguing.

[@neildickson5394]

@@Garsons-oq4lh Correct on all counts, but I do miss the IMDB threads!

[@gordonhall752]

High camp but fun.

[@jbspeare]

Why Davis over Bancroft, whom I loved in THE MIRACLE WORKER? Bancroft had perfected that performance on stage through countless matinees and evenings.; Davis was the “miracle worker” here. Working on a tight schedule, she hit her creative heights inventing that character in a very short time - perfecting her make-up, playing the comic notes as perfectly as the tragic ones.

[@poetcomic1]

Not a mention of the real duel between them: Bette has an affair with Joan's husband Franchot Tone and she was always angry about that. But Bette said it best on Dick Cavett: "We worked in different studios, you knew and socialized with the people you worked with. "

[@antoninima9007]

So where is the section on Anne Bancroft?

[@FritzandtheOscars]

still working on it. I am very busy at my Job at the moment so I didn't have much time for it yet

[@antoninima9007]

Great, I'm looking forward to it when it comes! @@FritzandtheOscars

[@christianaguilera1469]

It would be nice if you and Be Kind Rewind do a collab

[@ChrisHansonCanada]

Bette Davis was delusional if she thought she had a chance of winning the Oscar as Baby Jane. The Academy doesn't give Oscars to performances in low budget suspense/horror movies.

[@helenjackson9232]

She was the best her acting skills were excellent..I disagree

[@thomstephens]

Agree. She had massive talent but this role was never going to win over Bancroft and Hepburn syphoned off enough of the nostalgia vote to keep her from winning. Also, her long list of enemies from the past also worked against her. I love her performance but would have never bet a dime she would win.

[@helenjackson9232]

Shes the best period hands up whether award r not..

[@kjgammon1658]

​@helenjackson9232 Wrong again!

[@blackamerican40]

Why not do a video about how Betty felt about Fay Dunaway. She said she would never work with her again!

[@gregrak9389]

Bette Davis cost herself the Oscar by her utterly campy performance in this film, but the great Davis was delusional , far better to create a BS story that someway, some how, Crawford "campaigned" against her and contacted members of the Academy and "asked" that they not vote for Davis, like any actor would ever have that kind of influence, The Academy got it right in awarding the Oscar to Anne Bancroft for "Miracle Worker." Ah the great "Crawford Davis feud" alive and well in the overactive minds of their gay men fan base, these videos suggest these "dudes" have nothing better to do with their time, no more marching, Pride Month is finally over (thank God)

[@FritzandtheOscars]

I hope I could make it clear that I don't believe in this feud and don't think it really extended to that degree? I will comment on the Oscar race in the next video

[@FritzandtheOscars]

Oh, and not sure what you mean with "Thank God" when saying Pride Month is over...hopefully not meant in a homophobic way

[@gfgall]

Poor Bette. Even a dozen years after Joan's death she was still warring with her. Pathetic.

[@GeminiladyJackson-xq6hc]

Bette Davis was jealous of Joan Crawford.

[@kjgammon1658]

Extremely jealous of Joan... Her fame, her beauty, her fan base, Her wealth , her everything imaginable!!

[@arnepianocanada]

It would have been fascinating to see each lead take the other's part. Bitchy Bette and suffering Joan were 'usuals'; why not switch them?

[@poetcomic1]

Bette Davis was all wrong in Night of the Iguana. She is a FILM actress and she was out of element, angry and afraid.

[@cad2046]

Just FYI, Feud didn't "make up" reports of Davis (accidentally) kicking Crawford during the filming of that scene. I loved your piece but it felt a little unfair to "Feud" and I see some harsh comments here which go so far as to call that series "exploitative" -- based on what, exactly? "If Crawford was drinking a bit more than usual, it was because she was apprehensive about shooting the scene in which Jane kicks Blanche all over the floor of the music room. Aldrich shot some angles with a Blanche dummy. Davis kicked it so hard that she looked as if she might hurt her foot. When it was time for Crawford to do the other angles with Davis, Crawford took Aldrich aside. “I’m not doing it,” she whispered to him. “I don’t trust Miss Davis. She’s going to kick my teeth in.” Aldrich shot a few more angles with the dummy, then carefully rehearsed Crawford and Davis. When the camera rolled, Davis kicked convincingly, missing Crawford’s head once, twice - and then connected. Crawford screamed and rolled over. Davis walked off. “She raised a fair-sized lump on Joan’s head,” reported gossip columnist Hedda Hopper the next day. There were unconfirmed reports of stitches. There were no reports of apologies. (Considine, 316)

[@Garsons-oq4lh]

FYI, Bryan Johnson, a longtime Joan researcher, knew Shaun Considine, who wrote the book Feud. Bryan had this to say in a post on his Joan page dated December 2022: "I knew Shaun Considine, and when he died, I received all of the research materials used for his book. Not only did I learn through the material that the majority of "The Divine Feud" was fictitious, Considine himself admitted it to me. He used an enormous amount of rumored information verses actual facts in the book."

[@cad2046]

@@Garsons-oq4lh That's interesting but not really the point I was trying to make, which is that this video and Be Kind Rewind's piece on the same topic felt a little nitpicky. These women generally did not like each other, something which progressively got worse during the filming of Baby Jane and afterwards, and there doesn't appear to me to be a strong need to correct the record vis-a-vis "Feud". It dramatized some details but got the bigger picture mostly right. And I'm a film historian, so I know my history here. Substantive depictions of old Hollywood are so rare that it feels counterproductive to me to be this critical of Feud. And I'm also aware of some Joan Crawford fans who strenuously try to airbrush anything potentially unsavory about her out from existence. Not saying that Bryan is in that category, but the sheer amount of defensiveness about anything Christina Crawford-related over the years is a turn off. It's possible to think the book Mommie Dearest was hyperbolic while also acknowledging that Joan was a complicated and, in many cases, unlikable person. Both can co-exist.

[@FritzandtheOscars]

I know Considine's book but I take it with a big grain of salt. A lot of it seems to be rumors presented as facts (like Feud the show) and there are a lot of things in there I never found confirmed anywhere else. I'm sure if the head-kicking had happened, Joan or Aldrich would have talked about it. I'm not saying they loved each other but as I said in my video, there is a difference between finding someone annoying of physically hurt them. I would have preferred Feud to show Joan and Bette as two pros who were able to put their differences aside for the sake of the movie instead of behaving like dragons all the time

[@cad2046]

@@FritzandtheOscars I see but it sounds like your problem is with the kicking scene only? Considering you've used lots of clips of the show throughout your piece and reference it a fair amount, is it fair to say the show takes dramatic license with a few things but gets the basic story pretty right? Charles Higham's book quotes Aldrich as saying they pretty much "detested" each other so I'm still trying figure out what's being strongly contested here. The received wisdom is that they were professional but did not enjoy working with each other and that led directly to what happened on "Charlotte" -- which the show recreates. Bruce Dern has been interviewed on camera where he's shared the language Bette used with Joan during one of the early table reads for Charlotte. Whether we like to admit it or not, they did in fact sometimes behave like "dragons" with each other. Love your work, as I said, but your piece refers to Feud as mostly "fictional" and that's just not the right word to use.

[@FritzandtheOscars]

@@cad2046 I think the kicking is the most extreme example. but also all the times when they argue on set, interrupt each other, scream at each other and clearly make everyone uncomfortable or Joan being drunk during the beach scene etc - it's just the general atmosphere on the set; Aldrich said they never said a bad word about each other when the other one wasn't around and Feud is the complete opposite; yes, they detested each other, I don't disagree with that but they were too professional to behave on the set like we see here

[@MissPerriwinkle]

night of the iguana was a flop of a play, alas....

[@gfgall]

From which Joan rescued Bette.

[@RaptureRd]

If Bette Davis would of won the Oscar, they would’ve earned an extra million dollars plus. Joan slit her own throat and pocket book. Bette worked in television and the last role Joan did was trog. The worst movie ever. Bette never fought with other actors, she argued about the script and the wording and how the parts should be played. She was a complete professional. Actresses were jealous over her brilliance in acting. They never wanted her to succeed as what Joan did so she would lose that Oscar. That was one role Bette absolutely should of one. Joan was always knitting on the set. Bette prepared her role in her dressing room because she had a psychotic part and really had to think, prepare and get into that mindset. No one could of done better.

[@Garsons-oq4lh]

Still going with the Joan campaigned and cost Bette the Oscar narrative, are we? There is no evidence (from a voter or their family) that has come to light in 60 years since the 1963 Oscars that Joan conducted a campaign or anything to prevent Bette from winning.

[@thomasalbert6687]

I remember 2 things that Bette said about Joan during the years the elderly actress was on the chat show circuit and Crawford had already passed: how Joan's "tits stood straight up" as she lay on the beach due to wearing "falsies." Then she let out that deep laugh. The other was her assertion that on-set during "Jane," Crawford put vodka into the Pepsi she paraded around drinking. The episode of hijacking the oscar acceptance by Joan Crawford that year, I thought, showed what a small person Joan could be.

[@FritzandtheOscars]

hey, I'm only doing the videos in English :)

[@mtoscani]

I never read Bette saying Joan was parading Pepsi and vodka on the set. Ugh. Really. Like there was time for that? Where is this from? What do you mean Joan killed herself? No she didn't.

[@kjgammon1658]

​@mtoscani You're correct... that comment is totally false...

[@roybrowning2685]

What a strange English the narrator speaks...I wonder what her nationality is,

[@FritzandtheOscars]

Hard to say...

[@kjgammon1658]

Germanic accent

[@josephcollins6033]

I watched as much as I could. Your English!! Learn to make the 'th' sound. And the 'v' and 'w'. If you are going to work here and try to benefit from being here, LEARN THE LANGUAGE!

[@FritzandtheOscars]

I neither work "here" nor do I live "here", whatever "here" is

[@josephcollins6033]

@@FritzandtheOscars Good. I hope you do very well.

[@FritzandtheOscars]

@josephcollins6033 not sure what you mean but to be honest, yelling "LEARN THE LANGUAGE" at someone who speaks it fluently just because of the pronunciation or their accent is rather rude

[@josephcollins6033]

@@FritzandtheOscars I wasn't yelling, and perhaps the fact that you don't understand what I said should tell you lots. You need to learn the language if you are attempting to create videos in English.

[@FritzandtheOscars]

@@josephcollins6033 ich glaube, mit dem Schmarrn reicht es jetzt

[@austriaco4132]

You really did a great job!

[@FritzandtheOscars]

Thanks so much!

[@johnryskamp2943]

You missed an important aspect of the film: it's a whodunit, a mystery film. Part of Davis' performance is her realization that Jane is innocent of trying to kill Jane. That"s the dreamlike character of her performance: Jane lives in the fog of her own misunderstanding, that is, she believes that shectried to kill her sister. Also, it accounts for the sense of guilt missed in studies of Joan's performance. Crawford is aware that Blanche knows that she did try to kill Jane. Of course, the film is so well known that we forget that a person watching it for the first time would likely feel confused. For that reason, it would be interesting to check the reactions of a first time viewer as the viewer watched the film, and stop the film periodically to ask: what is the background story? Who do you sympathize with at this point? BTW, Hush hush...is the same kind of film. Charlotte thinks she killed a man, but she didn't. Is this actually a genre? characters who are sure they commited a crime, but actually haven't? If so, what are some other ones?