I'm not a big fan of Crawford during her ingenue period, she's horrible in "Dancing Lady" where she flails about, supposedly dancing. She is great as the villain in "The Women." She, along with Rosalind Russell and Paulette Goddard are the best characters in the film. I like "The Women," but I can't help but feel that the film is too long. It feels like they could easily chop at least 30 minutes out of it. I absolutely love Joan and her films between "Mildred Pierce" (one of my all-time favorite films, though Ann Blyth and Eve Arden are my favorite characters in it) and "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?" Joan made a lot of "woman in peril" movies during this time and she's great in them. I recommend "Sudden Fear" with Joan, Jack Palance, and Gloria Grahame. I also liked her in "Autumn Leaves" with Cliff Robertson and Vera Miles in a vixen role. Joan was also good in "Johnny Guitar," a Western with Sterling Hayden. She has a super intense scene with Mercedes McCambridge who was absolutely terrifying in that film.Lomm wrote: ↑March 3rd, 2023, 2:45 pmIt's funny how some stars just leave us cold, despite their fame and longevity. I feel the same about Crawford, even to the point where her presence in a movie leads me to actively avoid it. And I can't really articulate why.dianedebuda wrote: ↑March 3rd, 2023, 9:45 am Another film I've never seen: Mildred Piece (1945). Have read that Joan Crawford is very good in it, but haven't seen anything of hers except Grand Hotel (1932) that I've liked.
Unfortunately, I think Joan's image was overshadowed by the "Mommie Dearest" image bestowed upon her by Christina Crawford and Faye Dunaway's performance which remains a camp classic. While I don't doubt Christina's claims, nor do I think Joan was an angel, I think the real truth probably lies between the two portrayals. I also think that Joan adopting the image of the huge smeared lips with big eyebrows by the 1950s really did herself a disservice as well. I thought she was gorgeous in "Mildred Pierce." But by 1954's "Johnny Guitar," she could definitely be described as a "handsome woman." In "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane" when Joan is supposed to look disheveled and ill, I thought she actually looked very pretty because she didn't have the silly lips or eyebrows.