Rating: 
Summary: Clean up this MEEEEEESSSSSS!!!!!!
Review: Perhaps the most unfortunate thing about "Mommie Dearest" is that it so easily could have been an excellent movie. Its production values are excellent, its scenes are infrequently riveting and its subject matter is compelling. Unfortunately - or not, depending on your penchant for camp - the film we get is a tepid "good parts" version of Christina Crawford's taut, tough memoir: a disjointed series of vignettes showing a dreary battle of wills an overbearing harridan wages with a petulant daughter and a chauvanistic boss. At best, the film is the grand guignol of over-the-top melodrama. At worst, it's the great-grandmother of after-school specials.
"Mommie Dearest" has become such a staple of the popular lexicon that it's impossible to begin viewing the film without some sense of anticipation. Christina Crawford's shocking novel about the abuse she and her siblings allegedly suffered at the hands of Hollywood legend Joan Crawford, their adoptive mother, opened the floodgates to grave-robbing Hollywood tell-alls. As soon as the opening credits roll, we expect feathers to fly.
It's unfortunate that this is the case, because early on, "Mommie Dearest" hints at an intriguing story of a strong-willed woman trying to hold her own in a smothering, male-dominated career.
It's a story that bears telling, and Joan Crawford would be a tantalizing focal point. Crawford was an adequate if unspectacular actress who nonetheless enjoyed a stunningly durable career, from the silent era through the early 1970s. Her 50-year run was singular: Only the likes of Bette Davis, Katharine Hepburn, Olivia DeHavilland, Greer Garson and Rosalind Russell have ever matched her. Crawford's career peaked time and again when so many of her more talented contemporaries faded to Hollywood footnotes. By most accounts, Crawford accomplished this through iron determination and no short measure of business acumen: She had a keen sense of what the public wanted, and she gave it to them - from Adrian-bedecked goddess to suffering soap queen. She was a shrewd publicist who, if she worked on the other side of the camera, could probably have made a mint for any studio as part of a promotion department.
The image of Crawford as a keen publicity user is one of the legs on which "Mommie Dearest" props itself: Her career floundering, Crawford adopts a baby to get her name in the papers and enjoys a gush of fawning attention. It's a claim that Christina Crawford makes even today, that her mother regarded her as but a pawn in a concerted, shameless publicity drive. Whether or not this is the case, publicity shots of the day support the fact that MGM had no qualms about exploiting Crawford's adopted sense of domestic bliss.
Christina's alleged plight begins when the novelty around her adoption wears off. Joan's career spirals despite her desperate attempts to keep her glamorous persona alive. According to the book, as her star burns itself out, Crawford succumbs to alcoholism and subjects her children to sadistic, abusive, vengeful discipline that lasts throughout the rest of her life - and beyond, when she inexplicably cuts daughter Christina and son Christopher out of her will.
It's a story that has been passionately disavowed by Crawford's other two daughters (who are mentioned in the book but not the movie). But, family disputes about veracity aside, Christina Crawford's novel had the makings for an excellent drama about a determined, desperate, lonely woman who comes precariously close to destroying herself and her loved ones. Great performances have been built on less, and Faye Dunaway's no-holds-barred turn as the demonized Crawford is fairly operatic in its intensity. If the direction had been consistent, the screenplay less disjointed and the editing more fluid, "Mommie Dearest" could easily have been the controversial masterpiece its creators wanted it to be, and Dunaway would have been rightfully lauded for a performance which instead stunted her stellar career.
The movie can't decide whether it's a domestic soap opera or a driven, man-against-the-machine potboiler. Instead, it dances on the edges of both without giving either premise the depth it needs. One minute we're viewing a scene intimating Joan's conflicts with motherhood, the following minute we're watching a scene that blushes at her behind-the-scenes battles with an autocratic studio head. At one point, we're watching Joan marry a soft-drink CEO. Next, the next we're watching a newly widowed Joan exact a corporate takeover of Pepsi Cola. Scene One: Joan wins an Oscar. Scene Two: Joan in Kabuki-esque makeup lays waste to her daughter, her daughters bathroom and some unfortunate wire hangers.
Sheesh.
The result is that, whether the movie concerns itself with Joan and Christina or Joan vs. the studio, we're left wanting. The movie doesn't delve deeply enough into any facet to draw a visceral response. One of the more unfortunate results is that we don't get a true sense of the torments that plague Crawford - torments that could cause an intelligent, driven woman to throttle her daughter or trash her own home in piques of rage.
The uridly violent scenes, laughable dialog, pretentious aspirations and gorgeous costumes have made "Mommie Dearest" a favorite on the gay film circuit, and in truth, viewing the film as a camp treat is a mild guilty pleasure - if you don't allow yourself to wonder what might have been.
Rating: 
Summary: Pure Camp Trash
Review: Too funny in parts, too campy in others, this movie will go down in the annals of Hollywood history with the same regard as "Valley of the Dolls," and other campy movies that generate a following. Whether the story is true or not, is immaterial, the classic lines are made for stand up comedy routines and snap back retorts. Rent it when you need to laugh and escape into a bizarre world of mayhem, over acting, and "Baby Jane" of Christina Crawford!
Rating: 
Summary: for spoiled kids to watch. while on punishment
Review: this movie is an old one but it is in color...there are some real life ...beatings in this movie, then again...i glad my parents did not go that far. emotional movie and you will be glad you don't live in that house.
Rating: 
Summary: Mayer should know the price I pay!
Review: I love this movie! The more I see this film, the more I admire Joan Crawford. THAT LITTLE BRAT GOT WHAT SHE DESERVED! Also I would like to say that a lot of scenes in this film don't add up. 1) We will never really know what kind of meeting Joan and Mayer had. 2) Joan left MGM out of her own accord because she got tired of the parts she was being offered. 3) She did not used an axe, she used a saw! 4) Her other two adopted kids don't have any complaints about her. Joan had a very good relationship with them. 5) Why would Joan attack Christina in front of a reporter/columnist? 6) So Joan took care of her skin....big deal! 7) You really have to admire someone who made it as actress all the way from the early twenties to the early seventies. 8) That little brat knew that Joan had a major meeting with Mayer and she still f**d up! 9) As a child....if my mother told me to eat my steak and I refused....she would have smacked me across the table. 10) Joan had a difficult childhood. So I do understand her compassion for the poor orphans. So what if she got publicity for it! If I was paying for all those damn Christmas presents....I'm sure as hell get publicity for it too!
Rating:
Summary: Joan Dearest.
Review: To the point : Hollywood thought the film Mommie Dearest might embellish Joan's reputation, but after seeing the film I have more respect for this legendary actress than ever. If the story was true, then one can only say that there was only miscommunication between the actress and the daughter and that Joan was too busy as an actress to be a good mother.
From the film Joan came across as:
(1) a professional actress who cared for work and fans. This should teach some now-a-day actresses a thing or two.
(2) a disciplinary mother (with some of the kids you see these days, you would agree with giving them an old fashion spank on the behind).
(3) a cleaning freak - a bit of Harriet Craig at times, but that's no big deal.
The coat hangers scene was very scary especially with the Baby Jane mask on, but any lover of clothes would agreed that one should respect his or her clothes and have proper hangers for them. Faye Dunaway has done a great job for this under rated film and deserves another Oscar for her performance.
Rating:
Summary: ALL HAIL, MS.DUNAWAY!
Review: This has always been one of my favorite films ever since Sept.1981 when I begged my mom to take me to see it the weekend it opened. It was the first time I saw Faye Dunaway on the big screen. It was the first "grown-up" movie I saw. Let me tell you it was alot for a 14yr. old kid to take in, but, I loved it! This film was one of the first video tapes I purchased in the mid eighties so it's only fitting that Mommie Dearest should be the first of my DVD collection. Now, what would have made this DVD a five star choice is if it contained some sort of commentary or cast interviews, behind the scenes footage. There was plenty of promotion for this film back in 1981 I would think this would still exsist. I know the film has always been regarded as camp or an exersise in poor taste but I believe nobody sets out to make a bad film i'm sure all involved with the project went into it with the best of intentions. The fact remains no matter the outcome of the final product Faye Dunaway gives one of the greatest performances in film history! I mean she became Joan Crawford body and soul you can take that away from her! As for the DVD itself I wish Paramount would have put a litte more into it as far as extras at least we get the widescreen format as well as crisp color and sound which makes this a top-notch DVD. If you loved this movie, you'll love this DVD, warts and all!
Rating:
Summary: Why must EVERYthing be a CON-test??
Review: This is undeniably one of the best, camp classics out and it's a guilty pleasure to watch. I have seen music videos in various clubs that have the scenes taken out of the movie and put into the video...which make it all the more funny. The acting is just...overdramatic. It's a true classic and if you're a "family" guy, you must have this one in your video collection.My only complaint about the DVD is that it offers no special features (besides the trailer). Interviews with the cast, or Christina Crawford, or even "The Making Of 'Mommmie Dearest'" would have made the DVD a solid, 5-star winner. And remember, when you polish the floor you have to MOVE the TREE.
Rating:
Summary: Horrible! I love it.
Review: Well really what else can be said about Mommie Dearest? Faye Dunaway relentlessly chews up every scene she's in, with those crazy eyes blazing. It's so overwrought and melodramatic, that I start laughing as soon as the credits begin. I can't quite think of a role that simultaneously ruined a career and made its star a legend. Faye did that with this movie. Let's not forget that she starred in classic films like Bonnie and Clyde, Chinatown and won an Oscar for Network. After Mommie Dearest, her star hit bottom just like Joan's did with Metro. Special note should go to the fabulously wooden performance of Diana Scarwid as the older Christina. Diana is a great actress but she barely had a pulse in this movie, except for that one scene where she told Joan she wasn't one of her fans. That's just one of the memorable moments in this movie. Who can forget "No wire hangers," "Bring me the ax," "Box office poison," "When you clean the floor, you have to MOVE the plant. I'm not mad at you, I'm mad at the dirt," and of course "Don't f--k with me fellas!" It makes me all warm and fuzzy just thinking about it.
Rating:
Summary: Mommie Dearest
Review: This is the story of Joan Crawford...I really loved this movie..But she couldn't have been as bad as this...She beat her daughter so badly with a wired hanger it is unbeleivable..Who could think that a person with as much Savvy as Joan Crawford could be that cruel..This Film is excellent.
Rating:
Summary: NOT ONE OF HER FANS!!
Review: If you are looking for a theatrical piece of serious drama do not get this movie. However, if you are looking for one of the campiest, over the top dramatic performances ever, BUY THIS MOVIE! Faye Dunaway stars as Joan Crawford the screen legend who was glamorous and beautiful to her adoring fans, yet had a nasty hateful side at home. While the storyline is compelling , you cannot help but laugh at the portrayal of the roles. (With the exception of Diana Scarwid who puts in some good acting from time to time). Perhaps best known for it's one liners "No wire hangers" and "Im not mad at you Helga I am mad at the dirt", the movie is entertaining, and good for a laugh.
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