It is 1939, Joan Crawford (faye Dunaway) is one of Hollywood's biggest stars and in the pantheon of fame . But she tells sweetheart lawyer Greg Savitt (Steve Forrest) that she isn't happy living in her Brentwood mansion with just her devoted secretary Carol Ann (Rutanya Alda) and housekeeper Helga. Greg arranges for Joan to adopt a baby girl (grown-up is Diana Scarwid) , but then things go wrong . To my darling Christina, with love...Mommie Dearest. The meanest mother of them all...Meet the biggest Mother of them all!. The greatest role of her life...was her life. Faye Dunaway is Joan Crawford, a star...a legend...and a mother...The illusion of perfection. One thing is certain: You'll never look at a wire hanger the same way again!
Movie based on Christina Crawford's memoirs of her incredibly abusive and violent infancy at the hands of her adoptive mother , actress Joan Crawford . The tale is controversial and sometimes corny and trashy , but fairly well made nevertheless . However , it is also campy and the Crawford-Dunaway screech 'No wire hangers ever !' became so associated with Dunaway's awesome acting that it was thought by some to have damaged the actress's extraordinary career . Good intentions to redress the balance of a vengeful Christina against her bad mother adapting on a bestseller bio are in evidence aplenty , but how else than as a campy tale can you take Faye Dunaway's waxwork Joan Crawford screeching for an axe , or throwing a scenary-chewing fit over her daughter's use of wire coathangers in the wardrobe . Director Frank Perry doesn't help with his credit sequence tease withholding our first glimpse of the stellar visage and his determination to pose Joan Crawford in geometrical symmetry with the lines of her spotless deco domestic mausoleum. The picture contains some biographic remarks : By the early 1940s, M. G. M run by Louis B. Mayer : Howard Da Silva , was no longer giving her plum roles ; newcomers had arrived in Hollywood, and the public wanted to see them. Crawford left MGM for rival Warner Bros, and in 1945 she landed the role of a lifetime : Mildred Pierce (1945) gave her an opportunity to show her range as an actress, and her interpretation as a woman driven to give her daughter everything garnered Crawford her first, and only, Academy Award for Best Actress .The following year she appeared with John Garfield in the well-received Humoresque (1946). In 1947, she acted as Louise Graham in Possessed (1947); again she was nominated for a Best Actress from the Academy. Mommie Dearest(1981) is surprisingly well played by Faye Dunaway , providing a sensationalistic and extreme acting . Being finely accompanied by a nice cast , such as : Diana Scarwid as her avengeful daughter , Steve Forrest , Howard Da Silva as Louis B. Mayer , Mara Hobel , Rutanya Alda , Jocelyn Brando , Priscilla Pointer, Michael Talbott , Xander Berkeley, among others .
It contains adequate and evocative musical score by stunning composer Henry Mancini . As well as colorful and appropriate cinematography by cameraman Paul Lohmann. The motion picture was professionally directed by Frank Perry , though it has some flaws , gaps and shortfalls. Frank Perry was an expert director and producer, known for David and Elisa (1962) , The Swimmer (1968) , Last summer (1969) , Trilogy (1969) , and this Mommie Dearest(1981) . Rating : 5.5/10. Passable and acceptable , being especially appointed to Faye Dunaway fans .
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Movie based on Christina Crawford's memoirs of her incredibly abusive and violent infancy at the hands of her adoptive mother , actress Joan Crawford . The tale is controversial and sometimes corny and trashy , but fairly well made nevertheless . However , it is also campy and the Crawford-Dunaway screech 'No wire hangers ever !' became so associated with Dunaway's awesome acting that it was thought by some to have damaged the actress's extraordinary career . Good intentions to redress the balance of a vengeful Christina against her bad mother adapting on a bestseller bio are in evidence aplenty , but how else than as a campy tale can you take Faye Dunaway's waxwork Joan Crawford screeching for an axe , or throwing a scenary-chewing fit over her daughter's use of wire coathangers in the wardrobe . Director Frank Perry doesn't help with his credit sequence tease withholding our first glimpse of the stellar visage and his determination to pose Joan Crawford in geometrical symmetry with the lines of her spotless deco domestic mausoleum. The picture contains some biographic remarks : By the early 1940s, M. G. M run by Louis B. Mayer : Howard Da Silva , was no longer giving her plum roles ; newcomers had arrived in Hollywood, and the public wanted to see them. Crawford left MGM for rival Warner Bros, and in 1945 she landed the role of a lifetime : Mildred Pierce (1945) gave her an opportunity to show her range as an actress, and her interpretation as a woman driven to give her daughter everything garnered Crawford her first, and only, Academy Award for Best Actress .The following year she appeared with John Garfield in the well-received Humoresque (1946). In 1947, she acted as Louise Graham in Possessed (1947); again she was nominated for a Best Actress from the Academy. Mommie Dearest(1981) is surprisingly well played by Faye Dunaway , providing a sensationalistic and extreme acting . Being finely accompanied by a nice cast , such as : Diana Scarwid as her avengeful daughter , Steve Forrest , Howard Da Silva as Louis B. Mayer , Mara Hobel , Rutanya Alda , Jocelyn Brando , Priscilla Pointer, Michael Talbott , Xander Berkeley, among others .
It contains adequate and evocative musical score by stunning composer Henry Mancini . As well as colorful and appropriate cinematography by cameraman Paul Lohmann. The motion picture was professionally directed by Frank Perry , though it has some flaws , gaps and shortfalls. Frank Perry was an expert director and producer, known for David and Elisa (1962) , The Swimmer (1968) , Last summer (1969) , Trilogy (1969) , and this Mommie Dearest(1981) . Rating : 5.5/10. Passable and acceptable , being especially appointed to Faye Dunaway fans .
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