Memorable, crazy movie

A Major Disappointment

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

"I think Hollywood is the most depressing thing in the world now" (Joan Crawford)Not being well acquainted with the cinematic phenomenon of Joan Crawford and her career that highlighted the golden years of MGM, Warner Bros, and other independent studios, this documentary appears to be a lovely surprise for both her fans and people who still discover her (better late than never). Attached as a bonus to the DVD with her Oscar achievement, MILDRED PIERCE, the documentary insightfully develops her own psychology hidden behind a variety of performances. Both Crawford's biographers, including Bob Thomas, and her adopted daughter Christina Crawford provide an almost 'claustrophobic' zoom of Ms Crawford's motives, dreams, nice surprises and disappointments.Firstly, and perhaps most importantly, we get an image of a woman who experienced a journey from rags to riches. Her talent was not enough when a timid young dancer with difficult family background came to the studio as 'nobody' (with reference to Anita Page's words). Soon, however, great CRAWFORD was created, the 'ultimate Cinderella star' and her magnetic, symbolic, almost iconic 'lips' become an object of recognition along with the premiere of LETTY LYNTON (1932). Soon, she was acquainted with the 'kings' of the time like John Gilbert, Irving Thalberg, Clark Gable and had one dream that, unfortunately, never came true - a dream to play at least one single scene with the queen of MGM, Garbo. As hardly any other documentary, this one supplies us with the true wings of what 'coaching somebody's career,' the studio system and a celebrity are all about. Secondly, the documentary does justice to Joan Crawford as a personality, a deeply human personality of a 1930s' liberated American woman. What I mean here is that we do not encounter a great movie star (which could falsely be indicated by the title itself), not even her relations with people that stepped into her privacy, her marriages that were deeply influenced by the 'first love of any girl - the father' but foremost, the gratitude she had in her heart. She was grateful to all the people in the studio and, probably even more, to all her fans for what she had achieved. She knew she would have nothing, mean nothing, strive for nothing if it had not been for them. This was not the case with all movie stars but that was something characteristic of Joan Crawford. She was loyal to her fans and fans were loyal to her...What would an artist mean if he/she did not have audiences? Nothing, actually, and she understood that 'dependence.'Thirdly, her career is depicted in an interesting manner by interviewing various people who really have something to say about the movies and her personal, extraordinary contribution to the medium. In some cases of celebrity documentaries, you may get an impression that the major goal of the people interviewed is idealizing, which thankfully does not happen here. Vincent Sherman makes a constructive comment upon their mutual hobby and Joan's constant search for approval, Charles Busch observes her determination, Liz Smith recalls a touching Christmas time with the Crawfords (which highlights the star's philanthropic aims expressed also in her visits to the troops' canteen). Meanwhile, some remarks are made about the way she got on with other celebrities, including her leading man Clark Gable and her rival Bette Davis (consider the unforgettable and violent incident while shooting WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE?). Her phobias, problems (alcoholism) and exaggerations (cleanliness) are presented tastefully and, thank goodness, without the ever present sensation. There is also a considerable time dedicated to her first movie at Warner Bros, considered by many of the film scholars as her very best achievement, THE MILDRED PIERCE for which she got an Oscar.Finally, the very last moments of the documentary reveal some truth hidden behind the make-up of a star, any star. A touching bitterness she dares express with the words I have decided to mention at the beginning of my review and moving final words of a deceasing woman who seems to lost the battle with harsh fate, who once caught the attention of the public eye as Joan Crawford, a 'perfect picture of a movie star' (as director George Cukor memorably stated).A helpful documentary as another piece of mosaic to many tributes to those who made their unforgettable contributions to cinema history! Highly recommended before you decide to see some of Joan Crawford's best movies!

Turner Classic Movies, the channel responsible of all films Classic, played this documentary on August 22, on their salute to Joan Crawford, and aptly sandwiched it between her worst movie at MGM, ABOVE SUSPICION, and her Oscar winning MILDRED PIERCE which has become to be regarded as a classic of soap-noir.The documentary, narrated by Anjelica Huston and with commentaries by numerous actors and directors who worked with Crawford as well as some darker tidbits by (who else) Christina Crawford, brings forth what is essentially the exact thing Joan played on-screen: a rags-to-riches life, a Cinderella story, the story of the ingénue who evolves from playing bit parts (and double to Norma Shearer at the very start of her career) to become one of the most powerful screen presences of last century regardless of the material offered to her. Suffice it be to say that her beginnings were humble. That she never met her father until much later in life. That eventually she became estranged from her brother Hal LeSueur. That despite every possible obstacle thrown upon her from feeling like an outsider amongst Hollywood royalty to pressure from MGM who pushed her out into the cold, she managed to stay in the game long after many top stars and "rivals" Greta Garbo and the aforementioned Shearer had passed on into early retirement by moving to Warners and assuring her resurgence as an actress and a well-deserved Oscar for MILDRED PIERCE. I find that the document in itself reveals quite a lot about Joan the person and from here on, Joan the Movie Star and Overall Big-Screen Persona. The comments from her co-stars and former directors are interestingly helpful in establishing how she faced acting in general while vary from pure praise (Cliff Robertson) to initial indifference turning into an apparent, reluctant admiration (Anita Louise), to open support (Diane Baker) when she was much older and alienated in a world/time which was much different than her early years in Hollywood. Everyone conceded that she brought something "intangible" to the table, an untouchable essence, even in her later years when it was clear that her career was long over and she was accepting parts in films like STRAIT-JACKET, I SAW WHAT YOU DID, BERSERK, and TROG. Co-workers from these films admit she played her parts as if she was still working on MILDRED PIERCE -- essentially saying she still had that which was considered "It;" the ability to transcend the mediocre (or at least, less than stellar) material. A shame Hollywood of the 60s stopped calling, but such were the times; while today many actresses keep busy, it's notable that these actresses start accepting smaller and smaller parts (one only has to see Anne Bancroft's career once the 90s came around: hardly a co-starring role in sight, all guest appearances, or the "small but pivotal role".). Joan, on the other hand, wouldn't have less than the title role, and sadly, parts aren't written with older women in mind.Now, I can't judge what transpired between her and Christina, but I noticed Christina seemed all too eager to bring forth the darker side of Joan -- how she forced the children to do the cleaning, the wire hanger incident, taking over her role in "The Secret Storm" and all I sense from Christina is an incessant need to repeat to the public how nasty Crawford was. The damage has been done already with the book and MOMMIE DEAREST, isn't it time to move on? Wouldn't it have been best to talk about all this while she was still alive? It's the only headache in the entire documentary.This one stumbling stone aside, JOAN CRAWFORD, THE ULTIMATE MOVIE STAR reveals a person who simply put, needed people, needed acceptance, and couldn't understand a life of quiet retirement. And while the sordid details of any actor/actress is public fodder, I find it better to focus on an objective source of information and put aside the sensationalism, and thankfully, this documentary is what MOMMIE DEAREST should have been and could not come at a better time, if it's twenty years too late, but late is better than never. It may not restore her name completely -- too much damage has been done and the scavenging of the monster MOMMIE DEAREST created has been lampooned to the death, most recently in Tyler Perry's DIARY OF A MAD BLACK WOMAN -- but at least it brings facts, not lurid details, to the forefront. And that's all that matters.

Turner Classics played "Joan Crawford: The Ultimate Movie Star" last night during their salute to Joan Crawford day. It was very well written, and the personal interviews with past co-stars and friends was also lovely. I also liked the fact that the biography didn't cut out all her work as a chorus girl in the silent movies, which many programs often do. The only problem that I had with this program was that they included comments from Joan's daughter, Christina Crawford. Christina Crawford made her mother a cruel joke after writing that sub-standard book, "Mommie Dearest." To include her in a show where everyone else was praising Joan Crawford for the tremendous talent that she was and her ability to move up from chorus girl to leading lady parts, is an insult to Joan. Christina Crawford made a name for herself by trashing her mother; she doesn't deserve to be involved in anything.

This is a highly entertaining, fascinating, outrageous, and sad documentary about Joan Crawford. Say what you want about her, Crawford was an amazing woman who came from nothing and with loads of ambition pushed her way to the top. Twice after her career sank to the bottom, she was able to rebuild it. Vincent Sherman, her daughter Christina, Cliff Robertson, Betsy Palmer, Liz Smith and others held nothing back when talking about the star: the multiple affairs she had with directors, her treatment of her children and husbands, and the antics that went on during the filming of Baby Jane, which were mind-boggling. Also touched on were her alcoholism, which caused her problems in later life, and her miserable childhood, which was the cornerstone of all of her problems.Crawford's only self-identification seems to have been that of a film star, and her self worth was tied to it as well. She was smart, hard-working, glamorous, and, with the exception of her daughter, those who knew her and appeared in this documentary admitted there was something likable and even vulnerable about her. Ultimately, though, her life played out like a bad B movie. You could see the end coming from a mile away.