Mommie Dearest (The Hollywood Royalty Edition)
First off, I read Christina Crawford's tell-all book of child abuse at the hands of her drunken, Obsessive Compulsive, Germophobe and probably manic-depressive Movie Star adopted mother, Joan Crawford, a few times before seeing the film. And I believed nearly EVERY WORD. I love my mother NOW, but as a child, she was ill. Bipolar that went untreated so she was..well..crazy and abusive for big hunks of that time. Almost everything Christina wrote about happened to me at either at the hands of my mother or step-mother. It was swept under the rug then, just a couple decades ago. I can ONLY IMAGINE what it was like in the 40s and 50s in a 'Hollywood Home'.
Faye Dunaway obviously did her home work. She looks, acts, CHANNELS Joan Crawford in a way I don't see many could have done. I know early on, they were thinking of Anne Bancroft, but she might have softened her too much unintentionally. Besides, before Joan died she said if anyone could every play her in her life story, her vote was on Faye Dunaway. Once Faye heard this, it was pretty much all she wrote. It's just such a shame she is so embarrassed by her spot on performance that she refuses to speak of "Mommie Dearest". She may have "taken it too far" a few times, but SO DID JOAN. She didn't just make up those lines and acts out of the clear blue sky. It was in the script because there were WITNESSES that said 'this is what happened'. A little Prozac would have gone a LOOOONG way, but back then...speed and booze were the answer to everything...which of course, only made the situation worse.
Let us not forget, Joan Crawford was a Movie Star of the highest caliber before the studio-system died. She did it the hard way and she worked for every part, every line, and was a perfectionist in her work. Yet once home, all those demons, troubles, and illness just came out. And who was there to take the brunt of it?!? Her staff...and the kids she adopted for more publicity. Yes, I connected with Cristina Crawford's book early on.
Now, of course, it's become it's own monster and 'Cult Classic'. I was going to do a little poll of our favourite lines, but who can pick between gems such as "I'm not mad at you, I'm mad at the DIRT", "Because I am NOT one of you FANS!!!", "Don't FUCK WITH ME, FELLAS!!!" and of course the ever so popular "No WIRE HANGERS EVER!!!!!!!!!!".
I hope this generation doesn't confuse Faye with Joan and forget about some of Joan's Amazing films. It's hard when an actress so entangles herself in a role and is so good at it, then refuses to even talk about it, as has been Ms. Dunaway choice. When you are as talented as she is as well, I suppose that's your choice and right.
Rest In Peace, Joan
And Lighten Up, Faye!!
Anyway, if you have never seen it before, get any copy and dig on the sets, furniture, drop-dead amazing costumes (spanning the 30s until the late 70s). If you HAVE seen this lovely mess of a delicious casserole, let John Water's talk you through the nuances of this wonderful cult classic!!
Love and Movies!!, Zuzu