BABY JANE? may be the latest in the long string of recent remakes, but it’s not your typical redux. Written and directed by William Clift, it’s a take-off on the 1962 Gothic classic WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE?—only with male actors (Matthew Martin and J. Conrad Frank) camping it up in drag in the roles originally portrayed by Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. And it is now ready for its coming-out party.

BABY JANE? will have its world premiere as part of the Frameline34 LGBT International Film Festival on Tuesday, June 22 at 9:45 p.m. at the Castro Theatre (429 Castro Street). Actor Jeff Dylan Graham, whose long genre résumé includes NOVEMBER SON, BEYOND THE DUNWICH HORROR and 100 TEARS, co-stars in the film and was thrilled to be a part of it. “Being a huge fan of WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE?, I was more than enthusiastic about being involved in this film,” he tells Fango. “It was amazing to me that no one had yet attempted to make a feature-length parody of this true cult classic.

“I was amazed by the sheer brilliance of Matthew Martin, who literally channels Bette Davis, but is a strong actor in his own right,” adds Graham, who plays Detective Joe and Bert in the movie. “All of the actors I worked with on this film were incredibly talented, which I believe will help the film stand on its own two feet. I was given the opportunity to not only play a dual role, but in a period film which stayed very true to the era that we were portraying. The costumes, sets and vehicles were incredible! It was so much fun to live in that time for the whole shoot."

Produced by San Francisco-based Just Fine Productions, BABY JANE? also stars Allotta Boutté, Heklina, Mike Finn, Ethel Merman and Vincent De Paul. You can see the trailer and a message from “Bette” and “Joan” below, and visit the movie’s official website here.

 

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