I have posted a youtube video link below to Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox’s introduction to director Robert Aldrich’s 1962 classic psychological horror/melodrama/thriller Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?. Readers can also read Cox’s intro transcript here. The episode’s original airdate was August 25, 1991 (read here). Not much to add here except that Cox is absolutely spot on in his thoughts concerning Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?. For me, it ranks as the quintessential film about sibling rivalry. If any of you readers are interested, here is a link to my favorite Robert Aldrich films (read here).
Here is a youtube video link to Alex Cox’s Moviedrome intro to Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? The Moviedrome aspects of the video begins at the 0:55 mark and ends at the 5:08 mark of the video.
Here is a youtube video link to the film’s original theatrical trailer
BTW, a shout-out to frequent visitor Steve (his youtube channel is here) for reminding me about this International Film Series podcast hosted by Alex Cox and Pablo Kjoiseth (click here for the link). Four of the episodes on there talked about Cox’s Moviedrome days. If it was not for Steve, I would have never discovered it and each episode makes for fantastic listening 🙂
cinematiccoffee 
I originally watched that when I was young, and thought it was actually very scary. Seeing it again more recently, it felt rather hysteriacal, and over-acted. But that’s what you get when you pitch two cinematic legends against each other, I suspect. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
I haven’t seen this film, although I enjoyed watching Cox’s introduction, as always. I was interested to hear his thoughts on Robert Aldrich and Billy Wilder, who saw Hollywood as a ” vile cesspool in which the scum rises to the top.” From the recent Weinstein scandal it seems little has changed.
Yep and given the subject matter, it was probably inevitable that it would have ended up that way. Anyway, thanks for dropping by 🙂
Please do check it out Paul, you will not be disappointed. I too agree with you regarding the Harvey Weinstein scandal and how it neatly ties up with Cox’s assessment of how both Aldrich and Billy Wilder felt about Hollywood. Anyway, thanks for dropping by 🙂
Wonderful post about a great film, John. I would describe “…Baby Jane” as a melodrama with psychological horror overtones. It’s wonderfully unique.
My favorite Aldrich film is Kiss Me Deadly and “…Baby Jane” is second. Same as you. Then I go to Emperor of the North then The Big Knife. Great director.
Though our rankings are a little after number 2, I agree with everything you just said about both Baby Jane and it’s director Robert Aldrich in general 🙂 Anyway, thanks for dropping by 🙂