[9]

A crippled woman tries desperately to escape the torture of her jealous sister in this deliciously wicked suspense thriller starring icons Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. Crawford is quite good in the sympathetic role, but its Davis’ maniacal performance as ‘Baby’ Jane Hudson that you’ll never forget. Her part is as juicy as it is ugly, and Davis is fearless in it — whether she’s feeding Crawford a dead rat or outright kicking the shit out of her, this is one of the all-time great villainous performances of the cinema. Director Robert Aldrich keeps the pacing tight and delivers a satisfying climax. The film has become a camp classic for many obvious reasons, but don’t let that scare you off — Baby Jane works just fine without the prism of irony.

Academy Award: Costume Design (Black & White)

Nominations: Best Actress (Bette Davis), Sound, Supporting Actor (Victor Buono), Cinematography (Black & White)