Mommie Dearest

Rating:
Summary: Where is the Joan Crawford memorial?
Review: It is sad as a fan we have to search around endlessly for any movies by someone who has made over 50 yrs worth. There isn't even a official website, no memorial, not even a fan club.
This book is a hideous slap in the face to one of the greatest female actors of all time. Joan made her mark and earned the right to a legitimate memorial to such an achievement.
Coming from a family with abuse myself I chose to give my own perspective here.
It is VERY SAD this book/movie is what the public have chosen to remember Joan Crawford by.
If anyone has seen Joan Crawfords movies there are several parrallels between her movies and Mommie Dearest. From IMDB.COM-The producers of "Mommie Dearest" clearly took copious notes

from the real-life Crawford canon; traces of everything from

"Mildred Pierce" to "Harriet Craig" to "Strait-Jacket" show up in that

biopic-from-hell, but the film it most closely resembles is the 1955

cult classic, "Queen Bee."

Scenes of an imperious Crawford being served coffee in bed;

destroying a bedroom with a riding crop (wire hanger?); and her

children crying out in the dark are lifted directly from this movie;

and Crawford's stunning appearances in various Jean Louis

gowns--descending a grand staircase, posing in a doorway,

preening in front of a mirror--are a harbinger of the demented

fashion show Faye Dunaway would put on in her Crawford

assasination.
Too many to make me think it is anything more than an overexaggerated piece of crap. Watch her movies then watch Mommie Dearest and any fool can see what I'm talking about. Christina Crawford was nothing but a spoiled Hollywood brat right up there with all the ones there are today etc etc etc, except she never could achieve her own fame so she threw her mothers life long reputation in the trash to make a few bucks, so she could go into reclusion and live in the Idaho boon docks. I hope she never finds peace and is bothered until one day she finally comes clean with the truth.
Until then Joan Crawford I love you and hope you rest in peace!
Chris in NC

Rating:
Summary: Not only notable for its bio of Joan Crawford
Review: Joan Crawford's spiteful, spoiled-diva behavior was notorious long before her daughter's memoir was published. Christina gives us more insight into the woman behind the Hollywood glitz - a vicious, physically abusive mother was well. I read this book back in 1981 and it was the first time I had ever heard of another adopted child being abused. The view back then, and among much of society now, is that adoptive parents are all wonderful, loving, perfect parents. Christina and the death of Lisa Steinberg helped expose the truth - yes, there ARE abusive adoptive parents. To Christina's sisters and detractors - yes, it's also very common for only one child to be singled out for abuse, while the others remain untouched or even favored. Christina, thank you for having the courage to tell your story, for working for adoption reform, and for being a voice for victims of child abuse.

Rating:
Summary: Mommie Dearest
Review: People that discredit Christina's childhood memories, didnt live through it either. I wish I could have spoke to Christina myself after reading her book in 1980. I felt she was talking about my mother. What a POWERFUL book. And as far as the twins please spare me. Somebody should have shot the bitch, but she had too much money. Shame on ALL of you who didnt help but saw all of this. As far as I am concerned your just as responsible as Joan. Chris and Christina I was there too!!!

Rating:
Summary: Who's afraid of wire hangers? [e-mail]
Review: Something about the late Joan Crawford always intrigued me. Maybe it was her versatility, maybe it was her long-lasting career, maybe it was her sense of style or maybe it was all the controversy surrounding "Mommie Dearest." Several years ago, I read the original version of "Mommie Dearest" and it was one of the best books I ever read. I devoured each page and I wanted to learn more about this screen legend. I had more questions and more questions that I needed answers to. And, then when "Mommie Dearest (20th Anniversary Edition)" was ublished. I was very intersted in reading it and learing more about this silver screen movie queen.

Joan Crawford was an extremely talented actress that made over 80 films. She did a lot of TV work and radio work as well as many commercials. And, Joan was the Pepsi spokeswomen for more than 20 years. However, Joan Crawford was also an abusive alcoholic who never should have had children. And that is what "Mommie Dearest" is about.

This book is equally fascinating than the first book. It includes some extra passages by Christina Crawford, interviews with the people who knew her (both before and after Joan Crawford's death) and some additional information since Joan's death. This was really an enthralling book and I am so happy that it was published again. However, I wish it included even more information. Such as interviews with Joan's other children. I also would have liked an update on Christina Crawford.

Most people that are big Joan Crawford fans try to discredit "Mommie Dearest." I firmly believe that without this book Joan Crawford would not be in the public eye anymore. In August 2002, TCM devoted an entire month to Joan. Admittedly so, they said it had a lot do with "Mommie Dearest." Joan Crawford would have loved the additional attention generated by this book. Most people can't even remember two of her movies, but they surely know who had the wire hanger fixation!

I firmly believe all of the allegations by Christina Crawford. Because she was Joan Crawford's daughter and had firsthand insight on what life really was like. Also, because she included many letters that Joan sent her over the years. These letters are peppered with abusive statements as well as the syrupy sweet sentiments that Joan was famous for.

I also firmly believe after reading "Mommie Dearest" that Christina Crawford did love Joan Crawford and did NOT write this book out of spite. She wrote this book to tell the truth and to set the record straight. Also, many people forget that Christina did have a good relationship with her mother for many years. Christina also mentions many very complementary points about Joan Crawford (her generosity, her professionalism, her devotion to her fans, her work ethic, her sense of style and so on). So in my opinion, this book does not completely bash Joan Crawford.

If you're a Joan Crawford admirer than you should read this book and then form your own opinions about her!

...

Rating:
Summary: Double Standards
Review: Why is it that while many people believe children of abuse need to stop blaming their parents for their resulting difficulties, the very same people will then go on to point out what a hard time these parents had at the hands of THEIR parents? Is this not just a little contradictory? Yes, Joan Crawford would undoubtedly have come from a dysfunctional household, but so did Christina...yet she didn't turn into an abusing parent who terrorised her children.

This book may not have done a thorough inspection and interpretation of Joan Crawford's life, but this was not its purpose. It does do this of Christina's life, about whom after all this book is about. Christina is not a disinterested objective observer, she understandably has emotions in response to the treatment she received at the hands of her mother, and this is what she writes about. GFT, please, if you want to pass judgment on someone in whose shoes you haven't walked, at least get their name right.

This book is important in exploding not only Hollywood myths, but the ultimate myth that mothers would never treat their children in such a way. There are many non Hollywood mothers who do the same, under the guise of "discipline". And many siblings will have vastly different experiences within the same household. Ultimately it seems Christina has disgruntled many readers because she hasn't included a happy ending.