Aldrich's 1962 Hollywood adaptation of Henry Farrell's gothic novel would star Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, both then in their mid 50s, as quarrelling sisters, confined to the living tomb of a Los Angeles mansion that's filled with skeletons and a noxious resentment that lingers in the air.
Both actors were in their mid-50s when tackling the 1962 classic, and Davis received an Oscar nomination for her role as Jane — but the movie almost didn't get made due to ageism and sexism in Hollywood in the 1960s.
In 1947, at the age of 39, Davis gave birth to daughter Barbara Davis Sherry (known as B.D.), and later wrote in her memoir that she became absorbed in motherhood and considered ending her career.
*MORE* BETTE DAVIS on JOAN CRAWFORD — Diva on Diva
How old was Bette Davis in the movie Baby Jane?
While most of the attention given to 1962's What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? has focused on the alleged enmity between stars Bette Davis, then 54, and Joan Crawford, then 57 (forming the basis for FX's Feud, which begins March 5), THR's focus was on money.
Eventually, Davis became a huge star, overtaking Crawford. By the 1940s both stars were employed by the same studio, Warner Bros., where they had adjoining dressing rooms.
After “Baby Jane,” Crawford made the William Castle thrillers “Straight-Jacket” (1964) and “I Saw What You Did” (1965), and guest starred on such TV series as “The Man From U.N.C.L.E” and “The Lucy Show.” When her daughter Christina Crawford, who would publish her scandalous memoir “Mommie Dearest” in 1978, became ill, ...
Who won best actress for what happened to Baby Jane?
Joan Crawford was infamously not nominated for her performance in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane, while her co-star Bette Davis was. Anne Bancroft eventually won and Joan accepted the award on her behalf. Do you think Joan deserved a nomination for the movie as well?
On May 10, 1977, Joan Crawford died from a heart attack at her New York City apartment. At the time, outlets reported Bette's response to her colleague's death as they quoted her: "You should never say bad things about the dead, only good… Joan Crawford is dead? Good."
How old were the actresses in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?
Aldrich's 1962 Hollywood adaptation of Henry Farrell's gothic novel would star Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, both then in their mid 50s, as quarrelling sisters, confined to the living tomb of a Los Angeles mansion that's filled with skeletons and a noxious resentment that lingers in the air.
' Unsurprisingly, tales from the Dangerous set did reach Joan, and Miss Crawford was quick to marry Mr. Tone. Ever after, Bette claimed that Joan Crawford stole Franchot Tone from her. Joan's marriage to Bette's co-star went down in flames four years later, but the Crawford-Davis feud went on … and on … and on.
Davis continued receiving several other awards and nominations, including 3rd Place from the Laurel Awards for ... Baby Jane? followed by a win for her performance in Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964).
Was What Ever Happened to Baby Jane nominated for an Oscar?
The film was met with critical acclaim and was a box office success. It was nominated for five Academy Awards and won one for Best Costume Design, Black-and-White, with Davis receiving her tenth and final nomination for Best Actress.
Crawford was married four times. First to actor Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. and then to actor Franchot Tone. Her third husband was actor Phillip Terry, and her fourth and last husband was Pepsi executive Alfred Steele.
She continued acting in film and television regularly through the 1960s, when her performances became fewer; after the release of the horror film Trog in 1970, Crawford retired from the screen.
Davis starred in her final film Wicked Stepmother, although she felt that the script was poor. The film had production problems, with Davis often quarreling with Larry Cohen, and she withdrew from the film shortly after production began. After fifty-eight years of acting, she made her final appearance.
St. Joan of Arc, (born c. 1412, Domrémy, Bar, France—died May 30, 1431, Rouen; canonized May 16, 1920; feast day May 30; French national holiday, second Sunday in May), national heroine of France, a peasant girl who, believing that she was acting under divine guidance, led the French army in a momentous victory at ...
In spite of their many differences, Bette Davis and Joan Crawford were ultimately bound by one heartbreaking similarity—difficult relationships with their eldest daughters, both of whom dabbled unsuccessfully in acting before taking their angst public with nasty tell-alls.
Davis won Oscars on her first two nominations for “Dangerous” in 1935 and “Jezebel” in 1938. Strangely Davis won for arguably the two least acclaimed and remembered films of her 10 nominations. The other bids were for: “Dark Victory” (1939), “The Letter” (1940), “The Little Foxes” (1941), “Now, Voyager” (1942), “Mr.
The actress' peppers were so stunning and prominent they inspired the classic 1981 Kim Carnes song “Bette Davis Eyes”. And while the song still resonates so too does the envy of Davis' big, beautiful eyes.
