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Review It Yourself
What Ever Happened To Baby Jane? (1963)
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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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X: @YourselfReview
Instagram: reviewityourselfpodcast2021
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReviewItYourself
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