O is for Oscar: Joan and her Academy Award

 

I don’t think the public knows what that Oscar means… to us. It is one of the most emotional things that can ever happen to a human being.

– Joan Crawford

Of all the movies Joan made, she only won an Oscar in one picture: Mildred Pierce (1945).

It was a well-deserved Best Actress award (when you see the movie, you’ll believe me), received in an unusual manner: in bed.

Unable to go to the awards ceremony because (according to her) she was sick, Joan listened to the program at home, with her daughter Christina. Besting contenders Ingrid Bergman, Greer Garson, Jennifer Jones and Gene Tierney in the category, Joan proved to the whole world— and to herself— that she is an actress.

(With “Mildred” co-star, Ann Blyth)

In Conversations with Joan Crawford, she shares:

I remember how I felt the night the Awards were presented. Hopeful, scared, apprehensive, so afraid I wouldn’t remember what I wanted to say, terrified at the thought of looking at those people, almost hoping I wouldn’t get it, but wanting it so badly–no wonder I didn’t go. I stayed home and fortified myself, probably a little too much, because when the announcement came, and then the press, and sort of a party, I didn’t make much sense at all, even though I wanted to spill over…

I’ve got to admit I was thumbing my nose at Metro for not supporting me in that department through all the years when they threw their big blocs of votes to Shearer or Garbo…What about Susan and God, A Woman’s Face, and Strange Cargo? I’d given better performances in those pictures than I did in Mildred Pierce. All without recognition…I think the Academy voters honored me as much that night for A Woman’s Face and Strange Cargo and maybe Grand Hotel as they did for Mildred. Or maybe it was for just staying around that long. Hollywood is like that; they compensate for their sins of omission later on, like the special awards they had to vote to Chaplin and Garbo in order not to seem completely ridiculous…

Nevertheless, her performance in Mildred Pierce was outstanding and she really deserved the award.

Happy blogging (and fangirling!)

(Photos from Joan Crawford Best and Pinterest)

M is for Memorable Roles: Joan’s Unforgettable Characters

I used my body, my face, my walk, my mannerisms to project what the character is.

– Joan Crawford

Joan’s career, which spanned almost half a century, spawned over 83 films— from silents to talkies to technicolor. With these pictures, she was given a wide variety of roles: extra, chorine, flapper, shopgirl, the other woman, scarred lady, trucking magnate, restaurant owner, dancer, stenographer, playwright, Western boss, crippled lady, psychotic woman, circus owner, doctor… all the possible roles you could imagine!

But out of all the characters she portrayed, there are few which definitely stand out until now. These roles have cemented her name in the motion picture industry and made her beyond famous. These characters have made their way into our hearts, as well. Sometimes, we even associate Joan with the roles she played. That’s how big the impact of her roles are.

Here are, in my opinion, Joan’s most memorable roles ever:

(Nanon Zanzi in The Unknown, 1927)

(Diana Medford in Our Dancing Daughters, 1928)

(Marian Martin in Possessed, 1931)

(Letty Lynton in Letty Lynton, 1932)

(Sadie Thompson in Rain, 1932)

(Janie Barlow in Dancing Lady, 1933)

(Sadie McKee in Sadie McKee, 1934)

(Crystal Allen in The Women, 1939)

(Anna Holm in A Woman’s Face, 1941)

(Mildred Pierce in Mildred Pierce, 1945)

(Helen Wright in Humoresque, 1946)

(Louise Howell in Possessed, 1947)

(Myra Hudson in Sudden Fear, 1952)

(Jenny Stewart in Torch Song, 1953)

(Vienna in Johnny Guitar, 1954)

(Eva Phillips in Queen Bee, 1955)

(Millicent Wetherby in Autumn Leaves, 1956)

(Blance Hudson in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?, 1962)

(Lucy Harbin in Strait Jacket, 1964)

Agree or disagree? Feel free to comment— just no bashing or irrational, violent reactions. 🙂 Thank you!

Happy blogging (and fangirling!)

(All photos from Joan Crawford Best)

J is for Jazz Baby: Flapper Joan

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.

Happy blogging (and fangirling!)

(All photos from Joan Crawford Best. GIF by Theodora Fitzgerald)

C is for Costumes Galore: Joan’s Memorable Film Costumes

Costumes hold a very important role in movies, especially those made in Hollywood’s Golden Era. Whether it’s Bette Davis’ stunning (and sinful) red gown in Jezebel (1938), or Vivien Leigh’s outstanding Southern number in Gone With The Wind (1939), these costumes have stayed in people’s minds longer than expected.

As one of Hollywood’s legends, Joan also had her share of awesome and memorable costumes. She’s even credited for the invention (and fame) of the shoulder pads in the 40s.

Here’s a quick tour:

(As Bobby the showgirl in Pretty Ladies (1925), her first credited role)

(Nanon’s circus getup in The Unknown (1927))

(Dangerous Diana’s cute dress in Our Dancing Daughters (1928))

(Flaemmchen’s stenographer outfit in Grand Hotel (1932), also starring the Barrymore brothers (John and Lionel), Greta Garbo and Wallace Beery)

(Sadie Thompson in Rain (1932))

(This is probably her most famous costume. Ladies and gentlemen, the unforgettable gown with puffy shoulders in Letty Lynton (1932))

(Another well-known gown from Letty Lynton (1932))

(Elegant gown in Sadie McKee (1934)

(Her gown in The Bride Wore Red (1937), which still exists today. Hurrah!)

(As Crystal Allen in The Women (1939), also starring Norma Shearer and Rosalind Russell)

(Of course… Mildred’s “padded” fur coat in Mildred Pierce (1945))

(As Jenny Stewart in Torch Song (1953))

(Jenny’s blackface number in Torch Song (1953))

(Vienna’s cowgirl outfit in Johnny Guitar (1954))

(Eva’s stunning black gown in Queen Bee (1955))

(Lastly, Lucy Harbin’s floral ensemble in Strait Jacket (1964))

Cheers to you and your amazing costumes, Joan! ❤

Happy blogging (and fangirling!)

 

(Photos from Joan Crawford Best)

To my beautiful baby, my wonderful child: Joan Crawford

Yesterday, a lot of people all over the world expressed their sincerest birthday greetings to you… including me.

Honestly, I’m still amazed by the number of adoring fans you have, even if you’ve been resting for 37 years now. (And no, I’m not talking about those “fans” who just know and acknowledge you as the “axe-swinging-wire-hanger-swishing-rodeo-quoting” lady that the movie Mommie Dearest and your ungrateful daughter Christina portrayed you to be).

For the first time, my fingers hurt because I had so many Instagram pictures to like. Normally, that doesn’t happen. But because it was your birthday, the hashtag #JoanCrawford was flooded with sooo many photos of you.

That still warms my heart until now.

I’m trying not to get too emotional every time I would post something like this, but I’m afraid my love for you won’t let me. Actually, I don’t even understand why I love you this much. This time last year, I think I don’t even know you. But ever since I discovered how amazing you are (thank you so much, documentary on Youtube), somehow, you became a part of my whole system. Now, not a day passes by that I don’t think of you. My phone is filled with your souvenirs. Your voice haunts me. You even turn up in my dreams.

And no, I’m not protesting. Haha.

I don’t know what to say anymore, so I guess I’ll just end (kind of) this post with the words, “I love you so damn much.” That’s it— my whole feelings all wrapped up in that one special sentence.

Thank you for letting me find you and for never allowing me to forget you. Thank you for always inspiring me and being my spirit guide in everything I do. Thank you for leaving such a wonderful legacy that we, your fans, enjoy in the present.

Thank you, Joan, for existing in this world. I don’t know what I would do had you not been born.

Oh, and don’t worry about that negative MD stuff that people still associate with your name. We, the real Joanuts, will take care of those haters and pretenders. 😉

Happy birthday again, my sweet angel!

Love lots,
Jane

(GIFs are all from Tumblr: Crawford in Motion, Nitrate Diva, Theodora Fitzgerald, Joan Crawfords, Weird Movie Village, Get on the Carousel and Baby Bacalling)

Joan Crawford: A Tainted Image

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!

(Photo: www.thesundaytimes.co.uk)

Happy blogging (and “fangirling”)!
Jane