Queer Film 101: What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

Queer Film 101 is back at Cheer Up Charlies on Sunday, September 13, and this time they're screening What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?. If you're not familiar with the movie, it's a 1962 psychological thriller about two former child stars—sisters Jane and Blanche—trapped in a crumbling mansion, with Jane tormenting the paralyzed Blanche in a slow-burn descent into madness. It's a high-camp classic that fits the night's vibe perfectly.

The whole evening is built around that specific movie: the two divas at the center of it and the cursed house they can't leave. The organizers pitch it as queer film school with camp on the side, and they're not kidding about the side part. Along with the screening, there are cocktails and free popcorn to keep you going through the runtime. The night also includes trailers, so you'll get a look at what's coming up before the main feature kicks off.

It's a queer-cinema night that pairs the film with camp, cocktails, and sister drama, so it's as much about the atmosphere as it is about the movie itself. If you've never seen Baby Jane, it's a great place to start with the campy, gothic side of old Hollywood. If you have, it's a good excuse to revisit it with a drink in your hand and a room full of people who appreciate the drama.

Things get underway at 5:30 PM at Cheer Up Charlies, 900 Red River in Austin. Between the cocktails, the popcorn, and the trailers, it's a full evening rather than just a movie screening.