2. The Genre
Back in 1962, Aldrich's Baby Jane became a trend setter and shaped a new sub-genre of horror films that no longer has a presence in contemporary cinema. The 1960s bore a wave of Grand Dame Guignal cinema (affectionately known as 'psycho-biddy' movies to avid fans). Starting with Baby Jane and through films such as Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964 Aldrich's follow up), Strait-Jacket (1964), Lady in a Cage (1964) and Fanatic (aka Die! Die! My Darling, 1965) this unsettling sub-genre found former Hollywood queens from the 1930s/40s terrorised by a whole range of horrors. For older actresses still wishing (or needing) to work in this period, leading roles were few and far between. Whilst these productions may not have been of the utmost quality, these starring roles kept actresses of a certain age in the limelight...and their bank balances in the black. Although Hollywood and the public still worship at the alter of youth to this day, older actresses can still find quality roles away from the horror genre. Therefore, the Grand Dame Guignal cinema is very much of its time. With little to no demand from audiences for such films nowadays and with an undeniable shift within the horror genre towards the vulgar and graphic torture-porn model, it's puzzling why a Baby Jane remake is on the cards now. Whatever the reasons, though, its hard to imagine that audiences will flood cinemas to see it...