Against our better judgment, we watched the ultimate campy biopic: Mommie Dearest (1981).
This movie explores the troubled relationship between Classic Hollywood actress, Joan Crawford, and her daughter, Christina.
The film is based on Christina’s memoirs, and it is a pretty severe look at Crawford’s parenting techniques.
We want to go on the record by saying we’ve not read the book, nor have we read any discussions about it. We have no opinion on how accurate the film is in relation to the book or real life.
We did notice, though, in the movie, Christina is Saintly and Long-Suffering, while Crawford is Petty and Irrational, but maybe that’s how it really was.
However. Our goal today is to examine the movie and warn you away from it.
Uh oh. Busted for pretending to be Joan Crawford. Image: Scared Stiff Reviews
Let’s look at things about the movie that Work.
The sets, props, and wardrobe seem suitable to the era. The film takes place from 1938 to Joan’s death in 1977, and there’s nothing we saw that feels out of place. Some of the exteriors were filmed at Crawford’s actual homes in LA’s Holmby Hills and Bel Air, which gives the movie some Street Cred.
Biopic Joan’s makeup skews heavily towards her 1950’s battle-ready-thick-eyebrow-and-lipstick phase, but her hair is delightfully Spot On. Sometimes it seems Joan herself is on screen.
She’s portayed by the fabulous Faye Dunaway. Although we (yours truly) feel Dunaway has tremendous talent, we think too much of it is enforced here, e.g. “NO! WIRE! HANGERRRS!” But more of that later.
The pace of the movie is terrific. It never wallows, never stalls, never explains; it gallops straight into the next crisis.
When it’s done, you can hardly believe two hours has gone by.
The downfall of Faye Dunaway. Image: Tenor
But here’s the thing: Mommie Dearest ruined everyone’s reputation.
Christina Crawford’s hugely popular memoirs decimated Joan’s personae. No matter how hard Joan worked hard throughout her life to build her Brand, Christina’s memoirs blasted it to Kingdom Come.
The movie puts these memoirs in a slingshot and shoots them as far as they’ll go, with a predictably weird result. It’s almost as though the biopic is mocking itself while winking at the audience: “Let’s see how far we can push this.”
Unfortunately, this does Christina no favours. The difficulties she experienced growing up seem almost cartoonish on screen; no wonder she was unhappy with the movie.
Even Paramount, when they realized how audiences were reacting to Mommie Dearest, began marketing the film as a camp cult classic. (“Meet the biggest MOTHER of them all!”)
Then there’s the Oscar-winning director, Frank Perry, who received a Razzie for Worst Director.
Now, we’ve never directed a film, let alone a biopic of a Hollywood Legend, but it seems to us Perry might have used a firmer hand here. He let Dunaway Run Amok with her performance; indeed, in the Wire Hanger scene, you can’t help but laugh at the histrionics.
Which brings us to Ms. Dunaway herself, and the nosedive her career took after the release of this film. She continued to work, but was never again offered the meaty, prestigious roles that previously defined her career and garnered her an Oscar.
That is a shame, because Mommie Dearest could have been a thoughtful look at a turbulent mother-daughter relationship while navigating the rough waters of Hollywood and stardom.
Have you seen this film? What are your thoughts?
Mommie Dearest: starring Faye Dunaway, Diana Scarwid, Steve Forrest. Directed by Frank Perry. Written by Frank Yablans & Frank Perry. Paramount Pictures, 1981, Colour, 129 mins.
Heard about this film for years, but I’ve never watched it, and I’m glad I didn’t as there was something far too sensational about the who thing when I read about it. I do believe Joan Crawford became much harder to work with as she hit middle age. During Johnny Guitar she tried to have Mercedes McCambridge put on the blacklist because she felt threatened by McCambridge’s powerhouse performance and was just generally nasty and cruel to her. Even Sterling Hayden admitted there wasn’t a price tag large enough to make him work with Crawford again, and that’s saying something. I fully believe Cristina Crawford wrote the book to make a quick buck, but I also believe Joan did lose a little of her mind by the 60’s and was at the point that even shlock filmmakers like William Castle only had the bare minimum of patience and tolerance with her.
Sadly, I have to agree re: her mental state. I’ve heard about her time with Mercedes McCambridge on Johnny Guitar, but didn’t realize Sterling Hayden was so adamant about not working with her again. It’s too bad things went that way. Anyhoo, thanks for dropping by!
If you want pure camp value, this is one to see. But It felt it was a rather sad experience due to the overwrought drama and the missed opportunity to say something insightful. It’s also sad to think Faye Dunaway believed she’d win an Oscar for her performance.
I felt that way after seeing the Gable and Lombard pic, if they’d just made the film without making it a biopic it would have been ok, rather than a really bad stab at telling two much loved movie stars lives.
That’s a good way of putting it. When I heard about the Gable + Lombard biopic, I resolved not to see it because I wasn’t convinced it would be handled well.
I totally dissected it when I reviewed it, so if you ever check out my post let me know if I missed anything. I felt the same after watching Frances Farmer’s biopic. It’s so upsetting as a film fan when they get things so horribly wrong. I can’t imagine how it must feel for their close fans and relatives.
Silver Screenings 
I did see this movie…will never get that time back 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
I hear you. It could have been a good, insightful movie, right?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes it really should have been!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Heard about this film for years, but I’ve never watched it, and I’m glad I didn’t as there was something far too sensational about the who thing when I read about it. I do believe Joan Crawford became much harder to work with as she hit middle age. During Johnny Guitar she tried to have Mercedes McCambridge put on the blacklist because she felt threatened by McCambridge’s powerhouse performance and was just generally nasty and cruel to her. Even Sterling Hayden admitted there wasn’t a price tag large enough to make him work with Crawford again, and that’s saying something. I fully believe Cristina Crawford wrote the book to make a quick buck, but I also believe Joan did lose a little of her mind by the 60’s and was at the point that even shlock filmmakers like William Castle only had the bare minimum of patience and tolerance with her.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Sadly, I have to agree re: her mental state. I’ve heard about her time with Mercedes McCambridge on Johnny Guitar, but didn’t realize Sterling Hayden was so adamant about not working with her again. It’s too bad things went that way. Anyhoo, thanks for dropping by!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’ve never wanted to see this. I’m glad to hear my caution paid off. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
If you want pure camp value, this is one to see. But It felt it was a rather sad experience due to the overwrought drama and the missed opportunity to say something insightful. It’s also sad to think Faye Dunaway believed she’d win an Oscar for her performance.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Loved your post, hate this movie. I thought it was just awful, in so many ways. It’s all but unwatchable for me. Once was enough.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You said it, once is enough. I was astonished at how bad it is.
LikeLike
I saw the movie and read the book—the book was definitely better!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Did the book seem more balanced, overall?
LikeLiked by 1 person
A little bit Joan was still very unhinged.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I felt that way after seeing the Gable and Lombard pic, if they’d just made the film without making it a biopic it would have been ok, rather than a really bad stab at telling two much loved movie stars lives.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a good way of putting it. When I heard about the Gable + Lombard biopic, I resolved not to see it because I wasn’t convinced it would be handled well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I totally dissected it when I reviewed it, so if you ever check out my post let me know if I missed anything. I felt the same after watching Frances Farmer’s biopic. It’s so upsetting as a film fan when they get things so horribly wrong. I can’t imagine how it must feel for their close fans and relatives.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It must be horrible for fruends and family to see such misrepresentation.
LikeLiked by 1 person