What Ever Happened To Baby Jane? (1963)

Sean is feeling the pressure this week as he and Sarah review his Auntie's favourite film: What Ever Happened To Baby Jane? (1963).

Discussion Points:

-What the hell happened to acting and film-making.

-The tour de force performances from Bette Davis and Joan Crawford.

-Sarah and Sean were surprised by the sheer class of the entire production.

-The career of Davis and Crawford.

-The golden age of Hollywood.

-The outstanding performances of the supporting cast.

-Sarah loves a sad and cynical film.

-The impeccable sound design.

-Sean and Sarah can't wait to watch 'The Letter' (1940).

-Whether Award-winning films have become more forgettable.

-The death of Hollywood star power and 'learning your craft'.

-Sean has nothing personally against Zendaya, he was just making a point about the lack of acting prowess in the "go-to actors and actresses" of today.

-The promotional tours the actresses went on.

Raised Questions:

-Have you ever made up your own words?

-Why don't we get films like this anymore?

-Why do older films see to be so much better than what we get now?

-Did the film make you question your own sanity?

-How have the Jane sister's become so isolated from the world?

-Are they in a cage of their own making?

-Who is the one really orchestrating the situation?

-Why doesn't Blanche just shout out of the window?

-Why are leading ladies pushed so much in modern-day films and series, when we had amazing actresses like Joan Crawford and Bette Davis in the past?

-How amazing was Bette Davis?

-Have we collectively dropped our expectations for films?

Time Stamps:

0:11 Introduction

3:43 Film Overview: What Ever Happened to Baby Jane

8:34 The Performances: A Masterclass in Acting

21:33 The Complex Relationship of Jane and Blanche

29:00 Cinematic Techniques: Lighting and Sound Design

35:42 The Twisted Backstory Unveiled

44:00 The Climax: Tension Builds

50:21 The Film's Conclusion: Layers of Manipulation and Resentment

52:28 Talent and Resentment

59:16 Playing the Victim?

1:08:20 Hollywood's Shifting Star Power

1:20:37 The Art of Acting

1:26:55 Behind the Scenes of Baby Jane

1:33:19 The Real-Life Drama

1:40:58 A Plea for Quality Modern-Day Cinema

1:44:07 Listener Engagement and Future Topics

Thanks for Listening!

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