See all 17 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Crawford, in marked contrast to her rival greta garbo, employed a maniacal. A few weeks ago, while discussing johnny guitar here, i cited an acerbic remark of joan crawfords about the film which i found in patrick mcgilligans new biography of nicholas ray. Ive been protected by studio publicity men most of my life, so in some. Cathy crawford lalonde, joan crawfords daughter who lived in. The concern on louises face as we see her slowly falling apart is very dramatic. Joan reads her 1971 lifestyle book, with all the drama, glitz and glamour that can only be joan crawford. After she died her adopted daughter christina wrote a scathing tellall book called mommie dearest. A more thorough, revealing, and sympathetic portrait of the often maligned movie starmost notably lambasted, perhaps, in the scandalous bestseller, mommy dearest possessed is a fascinating study of the real. She wasnt able to have children, but she adopted 5 children.
In possessed, his subject is the inimitable joan crawford, one of the most electrifying divas of. Joan crawford crawford in humoresque, 1946 born lucille fay lesueur march 23, 190. Joan crawford naismith memorial basketball hall of fame. Was joan crawford as terrible as she was portrayed in mommie. Donald spoto ive been protected by studio publicity men most of my life, so in some ways im a goddam image, not a person. Joan crawford reads my way of life 1971 audio book youtube.
Heflin plays david sutton, the object of louises obsessional love and madness. This is a satisfying potboiler of a 1940s movie with themes of love of course. In saying that though, her films were her life, she was her movies and im sure if. With joan crawford, van heflin, raymond massey, geraldine brooks. In possessed, his subject is the inimitable joan crawford, one of the most electrifying divas of the golden age of american film. Spoto speaks about crawfords relationship with gay men, her rumored bisexuality, and the truth about her daughters. Details about 1932 august screen book movie magazine joan crawford cover. May 24, 2008 in 1978 christina crawford exposed her filmstar mother joan as a cruel, abusive alcoholic in the memoir mommie dearest. The final blow to crawfords ego came the following yearas shown on feudwhen she was photographed unflatteringly outside a book party she cohosted for john springer.
Spoto goes beyond the popular caricature to give us a threedimensional portrait of a. Joan crawford stars as louise howell in possessed, alongside van heflin 3. Joan crawford shines as the woman afflicted but does not realise she is suffering until dire circumstances result in her actions of being obsessed by a man. Johnes was a young assistant initially sent by columbia as a favor to help joan sort out her book collection in 1972. May 10, 1977 was an american film and television actress who began her career as a dancer in traveling theatrical companies before debuting as a chorus girl on broadway. Mommie dearest most shocking joan crawford accusations. A more thorough, revealing, and sympathetic portrait of the often maligned movie starmost notably lambasted, perhaps, in the scandalous bestseller, mommy dearest possessed is a fascinating study of the real joan. The two eventually became friends and remained so from 1974 til her death in 77. Joan crawford a pyramid illustrated history of the movies. Possessed book chicago public library bibliocommons.
Below is a list of joan biographies and related books, such as paper doll collections, letters, etc. In fact, the joan crawford presented in these pages is so goodmannered, so wellintentioned, and so hightoned that one wonders at single word that has been selected as the book s name. Nov 02, 2009 in fact, the joan crawford presented in these pages is so goodmannered, so wellintentioned, and so hightoned that one wonders at single word that has been selected as the book s name. New york times bestselling author donald spoto has already brilliantly explored the lives and careers of numerous hollywood stars and entertainment iconsgrace kelly, james dean, alfred hitchcock, and marilyn monroe, to name but a few. Cathy crawford lalonde, joan crawfords daughter who lived. In the book christina claims that joan was an oversexed alcoholic who frequently beat. My way of life by joan crawford meet your next favorite book. The reader, perplexed at the intensity of the title possessed might suggest that, given the book s content, a better choice might well have been fastidious. Possessed was a very gripping film, accompanied by a brilliant musical score by franz waxman, who also provided the music for films such as a place in the sun 1951. Joan crawfords daughter wins suit against sister the. Many people might remember her adopted daughters memoir and the subsequent television film, mommie dearest.
Joan crawford might not have been a monstrous mother after. The problem with mommie dearest, both christina crawfords book and the 1981 movie, is that rather than reveal the real, whole person, they flattened joan crawford down into an. In saying that though, her films were her life, she was her movies and im sure if you asked her that shed joan crawford, what a woman. Joan crawford was a complex, contradictory, driven human being, but not the alcoholic, sadistic monster depicted in the notorious book, mommie dearest, which appeared a year after her death. The life of joan crawford by donald spoto new mgm, clark gable, wb. A tough offensive player who possessed exceptional rebounding and passing skills, joan crawford was an amateur athletic union star and a leader of the womens basketball movement in the late 1950s and throughout the 1960s. Possessed is a 1947 american film noir psychological drama directed by curtis bernhardt, starring joan crawford, van heflin, and raymond massey in a tale about an unstable womans obsession with her exlover. The last time we saw joan crawford, in the warners humoresquethe last time, that is, before just seeing her in that same studios possessedshe was walking out into the ocean with the intention of drowning herself because john garfield didnt love her as much as he loved musicspeaking fictionally, of course.
The films of joan crawford as opposed to the life, it is a biography but it focuses about 60% on her films and 40% on the woman and her life. From joan crawfords early days as a flapper through to the grand guignol nightmare of what ever happened to baby jane. Was joan crawford as terrible as she was portrayed in. The life of joan crawford by donald spoto paperback. Possessed is a film delving into the intricacies of the mind and mental illness. Why bette davis and joan crawfords feud lasted a lifetime. Movie stars magazine july 1967, joan crawford,sinatra. Crawfords louise is a calm, quiet, very competent and tactful. In 1978 christina crawford exposed her filmstar mother joan as a cruel, abusive alcoholic in the memoir mommie dearest. Mar 17, 2017 christina released updated editions to commemorate the 20th and 30th anniversaries, and other memoirs, including not the girl next door.
The life of joan crawford by donald spoto goodreads. Click on a pink link to go directly to the book s description. Joan crawford said that the role of the nurse, louise, in possessed was the most emotionally and psychologically demanding she undertook in her long career. Possessed is a 1947 american film noir psychological drama directed by curtis bernhardt, starring joan crawford, van heflin, and raymond massey in a tale about an. Not the girl next door by charlotte chandler and possessed. By the time she was born, her parents had separated, and by the time she was a teenager, shed had three stepfathers. Died may 10, 1977 manhattan, new york city, new york, u. Joan crawford, seen, was famous for her role in possessed, but passed away in 1977 aged 73 after suffering a heart attack he told me. In some ways, donald spotos possessed is the ultimate hollywood book about a young woman, poor, abandoned by her father, but determined at all costs to. What ever happened to baby jane joan crawford was born lucille fay lesueur on march 23, 1906, in san antonio, texas, to anna belle johnson and thomas e.
Next i was lucky enough to find this best of everything joan crawford tribute page on the internet which was jam packed with tons of hard to find box office information from the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s. Joan crawfords life was a battle against the world, and her personal issues. Joan crawford, who by the time she wrote this book was in her late 50s, chronicles the way everyone should live the same as she does. On the book s reissue, she gives her first interview in a decade to. Van heflin is the man and, as usual, gives one of his fine performances. New york times bestselling author donald spoto has already brilliantly ex. The screenplay by ranald macdougall and silvia richards was based upon a story by rita weiman. Resting place ferncliff cemetery, hartsdale, new york, u. Mar 07, 2020 continuing the trauma, joan s stepfather, cassin, abused her sexually and continued to do so until joan joined a catholic school. For those curious about my rankings, he comes after van johnson and dick van dyke, but ahead of van helsing 2004 crawford and gable had a heated love affair on the set of. Along the way, she encourages dinner parties, and suggests a guest list that includes a starlet, an astronaut and a bearded poet.
Much beloved of drag queens thanks to her enduring fondness in later life for heavy eyebrows and lipstick, crawfords reputation was made. Like many of her awful but absorbing movies, this new biography of joan crawford 1908. Joan crawford was one of the most incandescent film stars of all time, yet she was also one of the most misunderstood. Jun 25, 2019 christina crawford, aged 7, with her mother, joan we dont recognise the longterm psychological damage that is inflicted on people who are abused. Mommie dearest, which in 1981 was made into a movie starring faye dunaway, cast joan crawford as a childabusing, alcoholic, sexually obsessed woman. Joan crawford, a personal biography and possessed, have. Continuing the trauma, joans stepfather, cassin, abused her sexually and continued to do so until joan joined a catholic school. Christina released updated editions to commemorate the 20th and 30th anniversaries, and other memoirs, including not the girl next door. The 1947 film also stars my third favorite van, van heflin. Using newly discovered archival information and exclusive interviews, spoto has created an illuminating, threedimensional portrait of a complex woman in possessed. Not to be confused with the joan crawford vehicle possessed from 1947, which has nothing to do with this one outside the title.
The life of joan crawford, by donald spoto, is a biography of that american movie star, whose heyday was in the 1930s and 1940s, but who continued working up into the 1970s. Sep 16, 2016 the problem with mommie dearest, both christina crawfords book and the 1981 movie, is that rather than reveal the real, whole person, they flattened joan crawford down into an image. The divine feud, shaun considine writes that tone loved working with davis, prompting crawford to wed him shortly after dangerous wrapped. Peyton place 1957 and rear window 1954 joan did an incredibly talented job at playing a mentally disturbed character. A couple of days earlier, mommie dearest, the musical based on her blockbuster 1978.
During her forty year career she appeared in more than one hundred films and was adored by fans all over the world. Joan crawford s life was a battle against the world, and her personal issues. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. See all 18 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Sep, 2011 a few weeks ago, while discussing johnny guitar here, i cited an acerbic remark of joan crawfords about the film which i found in patrick mcgilligans new biography of nicholas ray. Cathy crawford lalonde, daughter of hollywood actress joan crawford, died friday at her home in south whitehall township. Feb 03, 2011 joan crawford was a complex, contradictory, driven human being, but not the alcoholic, sadistic monster depicted in the notorious book, mommie dearest, which appeared a year after her death. Jun 25, 2019 joan crawford, seen, was famous for her role in possessed, but passed away in 1977 aged 73 after suffering a heart attack he told me. Johnes recollections of their times together are honest and humorous. In some ways, donald spoto\s possessed is the ultimate hollywood book about a young woman, poor, abandoned by her father, but determined at all costs to succeed. Donald spoto crawford was one of the most incandescent film stars of all time, yet she was also one of the most misunderstood. Crawford then signed a motion picture contract with metrogoldwynmayer in 1925.
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