Joan Crawford: The Essential Biography

It's difficult to comprehend that Our Modern Maidens, Rain, Mildred Pierce and Berserk! all have the same actress as protagonist, but the Essential Biography does an excellent job of carrying through the characteristics which comprise that very great Hollywood star, Joan Crawford. Quirk and Schoell do a particularly fine job of following through Crawford's lifelong ambition to be perceived as a serious actress (and the envy that sparked in her over her What Ever Happened to Mary Jane? co-star, Bette Davis), while indicating as well how the quality of films in which Crawford appeared in the 1960s insured that "serious actress" would ever remain beyond her reach. The epilogue includes a very persuasive repudiation of Christina Crawford's sensationalistic Mommie Dearest.

This is a wonderful biography so far since I’m not done reading it. Most biographies about Joan feed into the lies about Joan Crawford being a abusive mother. Me being a Joan Crawford fan she deserves better than what she got. She was an amazing hardworking actress and a very generous person. I’m so glad that there is a biography that honors her instead of ridiculing her. Joan Crawford deserves better so thank you for this wonderful book ❤️

I’ve been reading lots of biographies of stars of the past and decided Joan Crawford was next. I got through the first chapter and couldn’t continue. The writing was poor and filled with lots of details trying to shock. I was hoping for a more detailed analysis of her life, but was sadly disappointed.

The picture of the author with Joan (inside the book) says it all: "An obsessed fan must not let Joan's star fade!" It's amazing that anyone would really think that some of Joan's movies (Queen Bee, Straight-Jacket, and Berserk!)were anything more than crazy camp. But these guys think so. Please! Much of this book is an insult to Crawford's acting credibility in the films where she does shine (and there are many)Way too much time is spent on going over the plots of each of Joan's films. Who really cares about the minute details of her bad films? There are also huge gaps about the details of Joan's private life. However, these guys spend pages and pages deriding Christina's story. It gets really tiresome. It only made me believe Christina more.It was nice to hear that Joan garnered respect and understanding from such performers as Ann Blyth, Diane Baker, and even Diana Dors. It was also interesting to read about Joan's sexual appetite for her co-stars. (Why did she even waste her time on Henry Fonda?...yech!)Joan was one amazing woman. Totally self-made, hard-working, generous, and considerate. Because she loved working so much, she made some bad choices in movies...big deal. And, she screwed up in the parent department; but who didn't in the forties and fifties? By trying to hide Joan's flaws, these guys only discredit her. Too bad.

As an avid fan of the late Joan Crawford, I did find this book disturbing. It gave me information that I had never read before. It saddened me to see what her childhood was like. No wonder she became a woman driven to succeed. When I finished reading the book, I left with a sense of sadness and regret. She was molded by her father's abandonment, her step-father's sexual appetite, and then a family who wanted the success she worked so hard to achieve. I am glad I read this book. I still appreciate the actress that I call my all-time favorite. Thank you, Joan Crawford, for everything. She had it rough, but she still persevered to be the best she could be. As a fan, I can only thank her for the years of entertainment and the excellent movies she has left behind.

I'm finding this read very fascinating. Most of the information is about specifics of her social life and acting, when she was filming each individual movie. I was hoping it was more of her personal life, but I am still finding this a fun read!

Words cannot begin to capture the complete satisfaction I have with this book. I have spent many years following the career (and the life) of this Hollywood icon, but this book enhanced the wealth of knowledge I already possessed of Miss Joan Crawford. I recently received this book as an unexpected, though much appreciated, birthday gift and to Joan's legion of fans, admirers (or even the curious), I am quite confident that you will come into a much better appreciation of her (from her stellar career to the many relationships/friendships she built, even to her generosity and goodness of heart). To the authors of this book, I sincerely thank you for such a magisterial piece as this.

This is a well-written, thoughtful and gracious homage to a wonderful American actress and Hollywood Star who, at her best was lauded, and at her worst was still celebrated. It's a great read with a lot of information I'd never read anywhere before including her many kindnesses to her peers with an occasional catfight just to show them she meant business! If you love Joan, you'll definitely want to read this - if nothing but to read about "Tina darling" getting a little bit of the dirt she flung in her mother's face thrown back at her!

Bought this lovely hardcover edition of a Joan Crawford biography. Can't wait to read it.

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