Joan Crawford been left near-penniless following Alfred Steele's death, accepted a small role in "The Best of Everything" (1959). Although she was not the star of the film, she received positive reviews. Crawford would later name the role as being one of her personal favorites. By 1961 Joan Crawford was once again her own publicity machine with a new script, "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?", sent by Robert Aldrich. Crawford starred as Blanche Hudson, an elderly, disabled former A-list movie star who lives in fear of her psychotic sister Jane, in the highly successful psychological thriller "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?"
What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962 film) the house for food and discovers Jane has been forging her signature on cheques to buy costumes for her act and to access Blanche's money should she die. Desperate for help, Blanche crawls down the stairs and calls their doctor, telling him of Jane's erratic behavior and begging him to come to the house. Jane returns to find Blanche on the phone and beats her unconscious before calling the doctor and telling the doctor not to come because Blanche has chosen to see a different doctor. Elvira returns the next day, but Jane abruptly fires her and sends her away.