An In-Depth Analysis and Modern Response to the 1960s Classic Horror Film, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?
Robert Alderich’s 1962 film, What Ever Happened To Baby Jane?, a horror film portrays a scary monster. No, not a blob-like alien creature, not a serial killer, but rather a monster that can be found today in “normal” families homes, in banks, and in nursing homes… Elder abuse. In the 1960’s and 1970’s the public started to become aware of certain forms of family violence, it wasn’t until the 1980’s that elder abuse came to widespread public attention (291 Wallace). Undoubtedly Alderich’s film played a role in the beginning of the attention to the subject of family violence as critics have raved about the use of black comedy in the film …show more content…
In What Ever Happened To Baby Jane many of these aspects are in play. Blanche and Jane are sisters who both saw fame in their lifetime, Jane as a child star and Blanche as an actress later on in life. In the beginning of the film Blanche is in the shadows of Jane, and later on the roles are reversed. In their childhood Jane is the controller of the family, even her parents listen to her spoiled requests, in adulthood Blanche achieves more fame than Jane, and Jane is forgotten as a child star and only known as Blanche’s washed up, drunken, and less talented sister. Blanche still treats Jane kindly through adulthood, demanding her producers and directors that for every movie she does, they must have one for her sister, regardless of the fact that she was not a good actor. An accident happens that confines Blanche to a wheelchair and her and her sister age together in a secluded mansion. It is in their old age that the issue of elder abuse is apparent. Jane abuses Blanche in more ways than one. Jane physically, verbally, psychologically, materially abuses and actively neglects
Robert Alderich’s 1962 film, What Ever Happened To Baby Jane?, a horror film portrays a scary monster. No, not a blob-like alien creature, not a serial killer, but rather a monster that can be found today in “normal” families homes, in banks, and in nursing homes… Elder abuse. In the 1960’s and 1970’s the public started to become aware of certain forms of family violence, it wasn’t until the 1980’s that elder abuse came to widespread public attention (291 Wallace). Undoubtedly Alderich’s film played a role in the beginning of the attention to the subject of family violence as critics have raved about the use of black comedy in the film …show more content…
In What Ever Happened To Baby Jane many of these aspects are in play. Blanche and Jane are sisters who both saw fame in their lifetime, Jane as a child star and Blanche as an actress later on in life. In the beginning of the film Blanche is in the shadows of Jane, and later on the roles are reversed. In their childhood Jane is the controller of the family, even her parents listen to her spoiled requests, in adulthood Blanche achieves more fame than Jane, and Jane is forgotten as a child star and only known as Blanche’s washed up, drunken, and less talented sister. Blanche still treats Jane kindly through adulthood, demanding her producers and directors that for every movie she does, they must have one for her sister, regardless of the fact that she was not a good actor. An accident happens that confines Blanche to a wheelchair and her and her sister age together in a secluded mansion. It is in their old age that the issue of elder abuse is apparent. Jane abuses Blanche in more ways than one. Jane physically, verbally, psychologically, materially abuses and actively neglects