Joan Crawford, the ultimate star!

The other day I watched Mommie Dearest again. The histrionics and banshee like screeching of Faye Dunaway's Joan Crawford never gets old, obnoxious yes, but never old. I've always wondered why the director didn't tell her to turn it down a notch or thirty. 

I read Mommie Dearest years ago and I believe Christina. I always found there to be a meanness underneath Joan's smile and eyebrows, a meanness that only became more apparent the older she got.

Joan's black market "twins" always disputed Christina's claim of abuse, they probably were treated differently than Christina was, after all sometimes abusive parents will only target one child to take their rage out on.

Joan's fans went ballistic when Christina's book was released, above are some parts of her interview with Donahue where Christina took some verbal abuse from her mother's fans. 

I absolutely loved the film she made with William Castle, Strait Jacket, it's a campy delight. My favorite scene and the scene I feel Joan really shines in is when she starts to hit on her daughter's boyfriend. She goes from a nervous wreck to slutty tramp in snap of your fingers, it's really a brilliant moment. 

Here is the short documentary on the making of Strait Jacket. 

In a war between Bette and Joan, I'll always pick Joan. Joan was obviously crazy and a drunk to boot and her eyebrow situation was a glorious one. She also wrote the ultimate guide to life. 

I've never read and yet I know it's the ultimate life guide, because Joan was the ultimate star. I'm guilty of finding a copy and spending more for it than I should (I'm eagerly awaiting it's arrival), but who can blame me? It's Joan Motherfucking Crawford!