Dancing was the only area of my life in which I was superior.
– Joan Crawford
Most Old Hollywood fans already know that Joan was a recognized dancer during her time.
Aside from being a legendary actress, she also became famous for her tap dancing, Charleston, jitterbugging, and other dancing skills.
And she had lots of trophies to prove it.
Joan actually started her career as a dancer, not as an actress. She was a chorus girl for J.J. Shubert’s plays before she became the star of the screen.
To those saying she can’t dance, I suggest having your eyes fixed. Lol. A better option is to watch this video and see for yourself:
(Gotta thank the genius who made this super awesome video!!!)
Before she was the Dancing Lady of the 30s, Mildred Pierce of the 40s, Queen Bee of the 50s, and Della of the 60s, Joan Crawford was The Taxi Dancer of the 20s.
People sometimes forget that Joan was a flapper and a silent actress before anything else. Some people only know her for her roles in the 40s, 50s and 60s, but what they usually miss out on is the fact that Joan was one of those few who successfully transitioned from silents to talkies.
In fact, Joan was one of 1920’s most bankable stars. In the last parts of the decade, she even surpassed the ranks of Norma Shearer, Anita Page, Greta Garbo, Gloria Swanson and Marion Davies— who were considered as the silent era’s big stars.
She made a total of 29 silent pictures from 1925-1929, including one where she played Norma’s double (Lady of the Night), five uncredited parts (Proud Flesh, A Slave of Fashion, The Merry Widow, The Midshipman, and The Only Thing), and one where she was credited as Lucille Le Sueur (Pretty Ladies). These mentioned films were all released in 1925.
She made three silent pictures in 1926 (Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, The Boob, and Paris), seven in 1927 (Winners of the Wildreness, The Taxi Dancer, The Understanding Heart, The Unknown, Twelve Miles Out, Spring Fever, and West Point), six in 1928 (The Law of the Range, Rose-Marie, Across to Singapore, Four Walls, Our Dancing Daughters, and Dream of Love), and two in 1929 (The Duke Steps Out, and Our Modern Maidens).
After talkies fully dominated Hollywood, Joan continued working on the screen— thanks to her undeniable talent, sound-worthy voice, and unbreakable determination to succeed. Fortunately, she wasn’t forgotten in the years that came, unlike most of her colleagues in the silent era. In fact, Joan’s star shone brighter in the 30s and 40s.
Here are some of Joan’s early videos… if you want to see her act without sound. 😉
(Joan’s first screen appearance as Norma Shearer’s double in Lady of the Night)
(The Taxi Dancer (1927))
(With Billy Haines in West Point (1927))
(Joan and Ramon Novarro in Across to Singapore (1928))
(In her smash-hit, Our Dancing Daughters (1928))
Happy blogging (and fangirling!)
(Photos and videos from Joan Crawford Best and Youtube)
Most people associate Joan Crawford with her roles in the 40s, 50s and 60s, but what they usually forget is the fact that she was, originally, a true-blue 20s gal.
Yes, you read that right. Before the world saw her getting slapped by Ann Blyth (Mildred Pierce, 1945) or kicked in the head by Bette Davis (Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?, 1962), she was just like any flapper during the Roaring Twenties: young, wild and free.
Joan was the epitome of a real jazz baby in the 1920s. The period also had Clara Bow, Louise Brooks, Colleen Moore and many others, but Joan rose to the top when she portrayed Dangerous Diana in Our Dancing Daughters (1928). The role reflected her off-screen persona and showed the audience what real flappers are like— always dancing, always partying… but still decent.
(From the film Our Dancing Daughters, 1928)
She’s also remembered as the young flapper who’s always dancing in night clubs (one of them being the famous Cocoanut Grove), Charleston-ing her way to many, many trophies— proof that she is the one and only Charleston queen.
(With her Charleston trophies, 1926)
Even the famous F. Scott Fitzgerald took note of Joan’s embodiment of the free-spirited flapper. According to him:
Joan Crawford is doubtless the best example of the flapper, the girl you see in smart night clubs, gowned to the apex of sophistication, toying iced glasses with a remote, faintly bitter expression, dancing deliciously, laughing a great deal, with wide, hurt eyes. Young things with a talent for living.
Let’s not forget the young, vibrant, and energetic All-American dame that Joan was before. She truly is one of Hollywood’s (and America, in general) legendary flappers.
Joan Crawford may have passed away 37 years ago, but her legacy still lives on today.
Unfortunately, it’s not the good one.
(Photo: quoteko.com)
Upon the release of Christina Crawford’s (her first adopted daughter) book, Mommie Dearest, Joan’s image drastically changed— from a strong woman who dazzled the silver screen to a horrible, abusive mother. She may have ended her struggles in life when she died, but this is one battle that she’ll have to fight forever… even though she can’t defend herself anymore.
(Photo: pleasurephotoroom.wordpress.com)
(Photo: fineartamerica.com)
I feel sorry for Joan (or Lucille LeSueur, her real name). Whenever I watch her videos on Youtube, I always see the comment section flooded with opinions about her being a terrifying mother. It’s always “No more wire hangers,” “Mommie Dearest,” and almost all offending adjectives that anyone could ever use to describe a person. Only few people recognize her worth, talent, and the legacy she left for future generations. For most people, she is “Joan Crawford the Beast” rather than “Joan Crawford the Actress.”
(Photo: www.spellboundbymovies.com)
(Photo: acertaincinema.com)
(Photo: www.joancrawfordbest.com)
(Photo: www.liveauctioneers.com)
I feel bad for her not just because I’m one of her adoring fans, but because the world’s being so unfair to her. She’s already resting, yet people still point out her bad qualities over the good ones. Christina’s still talking about “surviving her mommie dearest.” It’s been ages; why don’t we just give the lady the respect she deserve for bringing joy and entertainment to us, right? I always think, “Can we forget Mommie Dearest for a while and not bring it up whenever there’s a video or article about her? Can we just recognize her for being a professional actress who didn’t give less for her fans?” After all, it’s none of our business if she was, as they say, an abusive mother. We shouldn’t judge her for her personal shortcomings. We weren’t there when she was “beating” her children, so how should we know, right?
(Photo: thelastdrivein.com)
If only people could set that book aside for a moment and really look into the Joan Crawford that we (her fans) know: the angelic-faced star who delighted audiences for almost half a century; the actress who is best known for her hit films such as Mildred Pierce, Whatever Happened To Baby Jane?, Our Dancing Daughters, and more; the 5 foot 3 inches-tall movie goddess who stood taller than anyone else, with her trademark broad shoulders, thick eyebrows and full lips. The Joan Crawford who gave us some of the best films in Hollywood history.
(Photo: pictify.com)
Joan, may you rest in peace, knowing that there are still people who see you for your wonderful contribution to the film industry, not for your personal problems. We love you, Joanie!
Etcetera 