Figure 1.-Here is a birthday party at Joabn's Breatwood mansion. The children were given lavish parties, always photograohed for the publicity. The children were not allowed to keep the presents they received. |
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"Mommie Dearest" is based on the book of the same name by Christina Crawford's experiences with her mother, Joan Crawford. She was of course one of the greastest Hollywood stars. I don't particularly appreciate her, but of course countless movie fans did. She adopted four children at different times. It is diificult to know just what motivated Joan. Some have described a void in her life because she had no lasting relationships with men. We do know one motivation that does not see to hsve been present, the welfare of the children. She used her adopted children as ornaments for publicity about her homelife. Joan told her current boyfriend and lawyer, Greg Savitt, that she is lonely living in her huge Brentwood mansion with just her secretary Carol Ann and the housekeeper Helga (1939). Greg takes care of the paperwork for her adopt a baby girl. Joan named her baby Christina. She promises "to give her all the things I never had". The children, especially the first two she adopted (Christina abd Chrisgtopher), got an insight into her chracter and behavior that was hidden from her fans. Christina's home life ranged from luxurious comfort to sadistic discipline. Joan is obsessed with absolute perfection, and Christina is caught in the bind of trying to live up to her mother's impossible standards. Her brother Christopher who Joan subsequently adopted found it even more difficult. Her mother was aging, but desperately struggling to keep her public life and movie power. She is beaten with clothes hangers, made to scrub floors, and sent to school all semester in only one dress. Christina also deals with her brother, Christopher who was kept in a harness when he was put to bed until he was 12 years old. The harness is pictured twice in the film. He usually appears in short pants outfits, including an Eton suit. This is a blue suit with very short pants and mid-calf white socks. There is a long scene with him in his suit setting down between his sister and Joan being interviewed on the radio. Unfortunately his appearances are all to brief. Yet, her problems with alcohol, men, and the pressures of show business get in the way of her personal life, turning her into a mentally abusive wreck seen through the eyes of Christina and her brother Christopher, who unwillingly bore the burden of life that was unseen behind the closed doors of "The Most Beautiful House in Brentwood."
"Mommie Dearest" is based on the book of the same name by Christina Crawford's experiences with her mother, Joan Crawford.
Joan Crawford was of course one of the greastest Hollywood stars. I don't particularly appreciate her, but of course countless movie fans did. Joan Crawford by the time she adopted Christina was aging, but desperately struggling to keep her public life and movie power. Joan's problems with alcohol, men, and the pressures of show business get in the way of her personal life, turning her into a mentally abusive wreck seen through the eyes of Christina and her brother Christopher, who unwillingly bore the burden of life that was unseen behind the closed doors of "The Most Beautiful House in Brentwood."
She adopted four children at different times. It is diificult to know just what motivated Joan. Some have described a void in her life because she had no lasting relationships with men. We do know one motivation that does not see to hsve been present, the welfare of the children. She used her adopted children as ornaments for publicity about her homelife. Joan told her current boyfriend and lawyer, Greg Savitt, that she is lonely living in her huge Brentwood mansion with just her secretary Carol Ann and the housekeeper Helga (1939). Greg took care of the paperwork for her adopt a baby girl. Here he cut some corners to obtain a child for Joan. Joan named her baby Christina. She promises "to give her all the things I never had". The children, especially the first two she adopted (Christina abd Chrisgtopher), got an insight into her chracter and behavior that was hidden from her fans. Christina's home life ranged from luxurious comfort to sadistic discipline. Joan is obsessed with absolute perfection, and Christina is caught in the bind of trying to live up to her mother's impossible standards. Her brother Christopher who Joan subsequently adopted found it even more difficult.
Faye Dunaway played Joan Crawdord. Some have criticized her for being "over the top" as she played Joan/ But of course Joan herself was "ovder the top". The children were played by two child sctors we have not noted previously. Mara Hobel played Christina as a child. Jeremy Scott Reinbolt played Christopher as a child.
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"Mommie Dearest" does not have a plot. It is more of a documentary recreation of the Crawford home. Joan's publicity mill depicted her as as a generous, warm-hearted mother. Christina tells a very different story. Some might accuse Christina of exagerating, except that there is outside coroberation for what Christiana writes in her book. The moview id faithful to the book. Joan beats Christina and Christopher most famously with clothes hangers. They are made to scrub floors. Christina also describes her brother's experiences. Christopher was kept in a harness when he was put to bed until he was 12 years old. The harness is pictured twice in the film. Unfortunately his appearances are all to brief to completely inderstand what he experienced.
Clothing plays aajor part in the film. The nice clothes Joan bought for the children were t the hear of the "clothes hanger scene" which by itself makes "Mommie Dearest" a cult classic. Apparent Joan as a child lived in a laundry. She was insistent that the children not hang their nice clothes on wire hangers. It's a little unclear why, if she hazted wire hangers, they were even present in the closets. Christina as a punishment for some infraction is sent to school all semester in only one dress.
Christopher usually appears in short pants outfits, including an Eton suit. The Eton suit is blue with very short pants and mid-calf white socks. There is a long scene with him in his suit setting down between his sister and Joan being interviewed on the radio.
Christopher took off when he was 12 years old. I'm not sure who he went to live with, but just couldn't take Joan anymore. We're not sure just what the particular issues were. Christina does discuss it in detil and it is also not mentioned in the film. We think that the bed harness may have been the issue. But having to wear short pants outfits may also have been a major issue.
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