In a pre-title sequence taking place in 1917, “Baby” Jane Hudson is a star on the vaudeville circuit, tap dancing and singing to accompaniment from her stage father. With life-size dolls even bearing her name, the prima donna throws a tantrum at her sister Blanche. Her mother tells Blanche that one day she’ll be the one getting all the attention, and to remember to treat her sister better than this.

Now 1935, Hollywood producers suffer through the acting of an adult Jane (Bette Davis in the 1933 howler Parachute Jumper). No one likes the delusional former child star, but her sister Blanche is now one of the biggest stars in Tinseltown, and has insisted Jane be kept under contract. But Blanche is hit by a car at the front gate of her “tremendous place” and when Jane flees, we presume she is the one responsible.

Picking up in the early 1960s, Blanche (Joan Crawford) is confined to a wheelchair and retired from show biz, but has retained some of her screen looks and enjoys watching her old films debut on television. She is cared for by the brazen, alcoholic Jane (Bette Davis), whose scary makeup and wig qualify as a year-round Halloween costume.

Jane resents caring for her disabled sister and has limited her contact with the outside world to their maid (Maidie Norman). When Blanche makes arrangements to sell the house and commit her sister to psychiatric care, Jane becomes completely unhinged, disconnecting the phone, confining Blanche to her upstairs room and including dead animals with her dinner. Blanche plots an escape, but the story ends with an unusual twist.

Directed by Robert Aldrich, from a screenplay Lukas Heller adapted from a novel by Henry Farrell, Whatever Happened To Baby Jane? was a surprise hit at the box office in 1962 and briefly revived the careers of Bette Davis (who received an Oscar nomination for her performance) and Joan Crawford.

Legend contends that the two actresses were foes since the time ingénue Crawford was signed to a Warner Bros. contract and battled with Davis, the studio’s reigning star. Years later, Aldrich bought Farrell’s book, developed it and sent the script to Davis, who said yes after some negotiations. She got along fine with Crawford while Aldrich was on the set, but the stars started feuding again once Davis – but not the ultra-competitive Crawford – received an Academy Award nomination.

Whatever Happened To Baby Jane? may be the first and finest example of black comedy/horror/psychological drama. It’s intense in spots, funny in others, and even at a slightly overwrought 134 minutes, never ceases to entertain. Anyone who enjoyed Misery should enjoy the hell out of this.

The script is laced with the acidic wit and over-the-top dramatics that has made Davis a fan of many a drag queen, but Aldrich – a director best known for macho World War II or action films – doesn’t go for camp. The story is drenched in spookiness, and without making a noble effort to do so, also deals with the issues of toxic relationships, codependency, alcoholism, insecurity, denial and redemption that linger in many families.

I couldn’t help but respect Davis’ decision to play a has-been hag and have as much fun with it as she does. The film’s take on Hollywood is as ripe as Sunset Boulevard. Typical of Aldrich’s best work, it’s gorgeously lit in black and white by Ernest Haller, with Gothic art design by William Glasgow. The final scene was shot on the beach in Malibu in the same spot where Aldrich shot the climax of Kiss Me Deadly.