I watched the odd movie Mommie Dearest last night for the first time. I know it was based on a true-story told by Christina Crawford. But since it’s only in her POV, do you think it’s true? Personally, I do. Besides Christina’s POV, I have read that Joan Crawford wasn’t the nicest woman to work with (i.e. Bette Davis).
By the way, what was with the son, Christopher? Young Christina didn’t seem to age at all but Christopher did, even though he was younger than her. Plus, he never seems to be around. I asked where he was at one point and my mom said, “I think he grew up to be Niles Crane.” The little Christopher did look a lot like a young Niles Crane.
This is based on memory, but I recall reading that Christina’s version of events have been disputed by people who knew the family, and IIRC, even by her brother.
If I had to guess I would say that Joan Crawford probably wasn’t the greatest mother, but perhaps the film exaggerates.
And Bette Davis calling Joan Crawford “not nice” sort of strikes me like this neat saying I just made up this morning: “Pot, meet kettle.”
I saw the movie years ago, which interested me enough that I took the book out of the library. I believe it, and think Christopher disputing it could be explained by the fact that he was younger and wouldn’t remember some of the earlier events, and that some of it happened when he wasn’t around. It also seemed that Christopher was the favored child, and would probably have sided with his mother. There are lots of child abusers out there, and probably more famous ones that we haven’t heard about.
Because search doesn’t seem to be working right now, the following is my recollection only.
A poster named Eve (who is no longer posting) had a number of sources inside the industry. According to them, the book was originally written by someone else and was actually fiction or about an entirely different person. It was decided that if it were about a celebrity, it would sell a lot better. So it was rewritten and sold very well.
I’m not saying that abuse never occurs or celebrities never abuse their kids. These things do sometimes occur. I am saying that there is doubt about this particular case.
I read a second biography of Joan Crawford, written by Bob Thomas, who had written other acurate show biz bios. He confirms much of the abuse Joan heaped upon Christine and her brother Christopher.
It was her Joan’s younger adopted daughters–“the twins”–who disputed Christina’s book. They were very young when Tina was living at home, and it’s possible they never saw much of the abuse and that Mommy Dearest explained it away.
Bette Davis is quoted in Thomas’s book as saying “Joan tried to be all things to all people. I just wish she hadn’t tried to be a mother.”
I read a second biography of Joan Crawford by Bob Thomas, who has written several accurate show biz bios. He cofirms much of the abuse Joan heaped upon Christine and Christopher.
Christine’s book was disputed by Joan’s two younger daughters–“the twins”–who were much younger than Christine, and either didn’t see much of the abuse, or had it explained away by Mommie Dearest.
The book’s style is very similar to Christine’s other books, so I doubt it was ghost written.
While the movie was high camp, I don’t doubt that the book was based in reality. Specific incidents may have been played up or inflated in hindsight, but in all the interviews I’ve seen with Christina and all the supplemental materials I’ve read, I’ve never seen anything that convinces me that she made it up. As for why Joan’s Hollywood and family friends would say it didn’t happen, well, how many abusers commit their abuse in front of other people or people outside the family?
Side note, I’d seen the movie a number of times but had never read the book. I was going in to the hospital for some surgery a few years ago. I’d bought an old used paperback and though it would be the perfect thing to take with me to read. Wow, was that ever a mistake. never read anything this depressing when you’re scheduled to go under the knife.
They play the movie ever year and I make my kids sit and watch it from begining to end.
And then I tell them the reason I watch it is so I can get tips on how to raise them.
I always thought the deal with wire hangers was because they are so thin and crease the clothing.
But my question is…
If she was so worried about clothing getting hung on wire hangers, why were they in the house in the first place?
Christina Crawford recently appeared as one of the mystery guests on the “To Tell The Truth” quiz show. One of the panelists was Paula Poundstone, who joked that she always kept writing materials hidden from her kids, to keep them from ever writing about her, which was kind of eerie given her later legal problems.
Did Christina become a “vengeful, unmanageable and emotinally disturbed girl” all by herself. Was she born that way? Joan adopted her as a baby; obviously, something in the way she was raised warped her.
Somewhere toward the beginning of the book Christina describes her childhood self as “stubborn” and “strong-willed” (I’m not quoting exactly here). There are several incidents where she takes the blame for Joan’s wrath. On the other hand, there are many more incidents in the book where the onus is on Joan.
Back in Joan’s heyday, it was a well-known Hollywood secret that she abused both Christina and Christopher. Couple that with Joan’s alcoholism, and it’s a wonder that Christina is still alive, coherent, and a semi-successful author. If she wasn’t “stubborn” and “strong-willed”, I would hate to think what would’ve become of her.
The little Christopher did look a lot like a young Niles Crane.