"Sister, sister, oh so fair, why is there blood all over your hair?"
What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? - Movie Quotes
Memorable Quotes
But you are, Blanche, you are in that chair!
— Jane Hudson
Context:
This line is spoken by Jane after she has served Blanche her pet parakeet for lunch. Blanche, horrified, exclaims that Jane wouldn't be able to do these things to her if she weren't in her wheelchair, to which Jane delivers this cutting reply.
Meaning:
This iconic line encapsulates the psychological cruelty at the heart of the film. Jane delivers it with a chilling blend of mock sympathy and sadistic glee, reminding Blanche of her helplessness and her own power over her. It is a moment of pure, unadulterated malice.
You mean all this time we could have been friends?
— Jane Hudson
Context:
On the beach, after Blanche confesses the truth about the accident, a now completely delusional Jane turns to her and asks this question, seemingly unaware of the decades of cruelty she has inflicted.
Meaning:
This line, delivered in the final moments of the film, is drenched in tragic irony. After a lifetime of hatred and resentment, and after Blanche's confession, Jane has a moment of childlike clarity, questioning the wasted years of animosity. It is a poignant and heartbreaking line that underscores the tragedy of their lives.
I've written a letter to Daddy...
— Jane Hudson
Context:
We first hear the song in the opening scene, where a young Jane performs it on stage. Later in the film, an adult Jane sings it to herself in the mirror, a chilling and pathetic attempt to recapture her lost youth and fame.
Meaning:
This is the opening line of Baby Jane's signature song, a saccharine and sentimental tune that becomes increasingly creepy as the film progresses. The song represents Jane's regression into childhood and her desperate longing for her father's approval and the adoration of her fans.