Watched the full, 1961, movie Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? on Facebook videos. A long movie for a macabre but simple premise. I was in fourth grade in 1961, but the first time I saw this movie was on TV, perhaps in 1966, and I was in high school then. In 1966 I wasn't aware of the Bette Davis-Joan Crawford rivalry, and anyone who still isn't cannot completely appreciate this movie.

The first half of the movie now seems like the precursor of Stephen King's Misery, and the second half a Tennessee Williams play gone over the edge and shot and edited by wannabe Alfred Hitchcocks.

Too many mannerisms in acting, verging on overacting.

I will never look at patterned and papered risers on staircases the same way again. Henceforth, each time I do, I will expect to see Blanche Hudson at the top of the stairs.

It was also impressed on me that the movie is not just about actresses--it is also all about enfant terribles and proteges who end up being nobodies--and that includes creative writers, of whom I know quite a few!

In the last analysis, producers should be prevented from cooking up "acting vehicles" for performers. This one won only one academy award, and that was for best costume.