Pawsome Pet Pictures: Joan Crawford

What a great pic of Joan and her friend..

Pawsome Pet Pictures: Joan Crawford.

Personal Quote:

"There was a saying around MGM: "Norma Shearer got the productions, Greta Garbo supplied the art, and Joan Crawford made the money to pay for both".

Love on the Run (1936).

Love on the Run (1936). Cast: Joan Crawford, Franchot Tone, and Clark Gable. Love on the Run, is the seventh of eight cinematic collaborations between Crawford and Gable.

The story begins when, London based American newspaper reporters Michael Anthony and Barnabas Pells, flip a coin to see who will cover which of the two up coming stories.

Mike gets the story about millionairess Sally Parker's wedding to Prince Igor, while Barney, is to interview aviator Baron Otto Spandermann and his wife Hilda.

On the way into the wedding, Mike sees Sally the "runaway bride", run out of the church and follows her, in hopes to get a "big" story. At her hotel, Mike runs into Barney, but doesn't tell him that he is following Sally to her hotel room. When the prince arrives at the hotel, Mike hits him when he recognizes him as a reporter. Mike and Sally take off, wearing the baron and baroness' flying suits as disguises. Barney chases them to the airport, but they fly away, even though they cant fly. Just before they crash land in France, they find a map in flowers to be delivered to the baroness and realize that the aviators are really spies. Mike, sends a cablegram about Sally, to his editor Berger, who is excited about the "spy story".

Barney, catches up with Mike and Sally in Paris, soon after they are seen by the baron and baroness. As they run, Mike pushes Barney, into the back of the truck they steal and tells Sally that Barney is a reporter. They arrive at the Palace of Fontainebleau and sneak in to spend the night. It is not long before, they realize that they are in love. The next morning, Barney catches up with them, and Sally doesn't believe him when he tells her that Mike is a reporter.

Mike wanting to fess up, gives her a newspaper with his story and she realizes that he is a reporter. He tells her he loves her, but she still rejects him. When Barney arrives, she tells him that she will give him a great story. As they are traveling by train to Nice, Sally can't forget Mike and wants to go back to him, but the baron and baroness, come into their compartment with guns and demand that Sally give them the map, which she does not have.

Barney finds Mike, at a cafe in Paris and tells him what has happened, Mike, decides to go to Nice, to save Sally. In Nice, Mike finds Sally, at her hotel and they go to the train station. In the station, the baroness switches clothes with Sally, in the ladies room, then goes with Mike, pretending to be Sally. The baron, then takes Sally to a restaurant. She tries to convince two policemen, that the baron's is a spy, but instead they believe the baron's story. The baron, kidnaps Sally and the two policemen and take them to his chateau, where the baroness and Mike, are waiting. Barney, hot on their heels also arrives. Will they all be able to over come the spies plans?



This film may remind you of Gable's role in "It Happened One Night" with him as a newspaper reporter passing himself off as a friend to runaway heiress.

You will love the funny scene, when the caretaker at the palace Fontainbleu, thinks Gable and Crawford are ghosts and wants to give Gable a tip on his minuet style. Crawford, chemistry with both stars is excellent.

Mona Barrie (December 18, 1909 – June 27, 1964), was an English born actress and was educated in Australia and made her professional debut as a ballet dancer in Sydney at the age of sixteen. In 1933 she moved to New York, was given a test for films and this led to making her film debut in the 1934 film, Sleepers East. She was mostly cast in secondary roles, during a film career spanning almost twenty years she performed in more than fifty motion pictures.

I Live My Life(1935).

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I Live My Life(1935). Cast: Joan Crawford, Brian Aherne, and Frank Morgan, and is based on the story Claustrophobia, by A. Carter Goodloe.

While vacationing in the Greek islands, wealthy Kay Bentley meets Terry O'Neill, a young archaeologist. At the site of Terry's dig, Kay forgets to tie her mule and finds herself left behind. She pretends to have twisted her ankle to get Terry, to carry her back to where her yacht is docked. Terry tells Kay, he despises people who own yachts.

When they arrive in the village, Kay, admits that she had been faking her ankle injury. Angry, Terry grabs her, carries her back up the hill and forces her to walk back down herself. Later, Kay, who could not get the scientist out of her mind, has the yacht's captain return back to, Naxos.

Back on the island, Kay apologizes to Terry, who tells her the story of Pygmalion and tells her that he is in love with her and promises to visit her in New York. Kay, only thinks of their relationship as a passing fancy. Terry, sails to New York, accompanied by his assistant, Betty Collins, who believes that he maybe in over his head.

After his arrival in New York, Terry learns that he has been dumped by Kay, and decides to attend a museum, where the topic is a new archaeological acquisition. There he meets Kay's father, a board member who invites him to his home to continue their discussion.

Kay, is surprised to find Terry, in her house, but invites him to go with her, to meet her wealthy friends. Terry, is introduced to Gene, who Kay's grandmother, wants her to marry. Gene, sarcastically asks Terry, if his firm handshake is from playing polo. Terry, not liking what he sees tells her that her friends are very selfish, people.

Later, Kay learns that her father's very important business deal will fall through unless she marries Gene. Hoping to save her father from financial ruin, Kay leaves for Connecticut, where she plans to tell her Grandmother(owns her father's company), that she going to marry Gene even though she is in love with Terry.

Kay, can not believe it when she learns that her father's deal went through successfully. Did Kay's grandmother, have a change of heart?

One of the film's highlights is the chemistry between Crawford and Frank Morgan, who plays her father. Also, Arthur Treacher, Jessie Ralph and Eric Blore all give wonderful performances. Sterling Holloway, has small but memorable role as Aherne's assistant. Aline MacMahon, Frank Conroy, all these character actors do their part in this entertaining film. I wish that Granville Bates, the yacht captain, had a larger role. Loved his performance in the film, My Favorite Wife.

A Woman's Face(1941).

A Woman's Face(1941). Drama, directed by George Cukor, Cast: Joan Crawford, Melvyn Douglas and Conrad Veidt.

Most of the film is told in flashbacks: Anna Holm, is in the courtroom waiting for her murder trial to begin. The first witness, Herman Rundvik, begins his testimony: Late one night, while aristocrat Torsten Barring is hosting a party, one of the guests named Vera, is the wife of a well known plastic surgeon, Gustav Segert. When the tavern will no longer allow Torsten credit, he charms the badly scarred Anna Holm, into paying his tab.

Bernard Dalvik, then testifies: that he and Anna and Rundvik made most of their money from blackmail.

Vera testifies: When Anna, brings her letters, she demands more money. So while Vera is getting her jewels to pay for the letters, Gustav comes home unexpectedly and Anna tries to distract him. Thinking that Anna is a thief, Gustav wants to call the police, but Vera convinces him not to. Gustav, sees Anna's scars, and offers to perform plastic surgery on her.

Anna is sworn in next: She testifies that her childhood scars were caused when her drunken father accidentally started a fire. Anna, also tells the court that she had twelve operations, because she was in love with Torsten.

After the operation, Anna, is now a beautiful woman when she goes to Torsten, who tells her that his rich uncle, Consul Magnus Barring, is leaving everything to his four-year-old grandson, but.. if something happens to the grandson, Torsten, is next in line to inherit everything.

Anna, agrees to help Torsten, with his plan to kill the boy, by posing as a governess. To her suprise she finds that she really likes the Consul Magnus Barringand and his grandson. One night, Torsten comes to the chateau for a party, as does Gustav, who does not reveal her true identity.

The next day, while trying to listen to a conversation between Torsten and Gustav, Anna leaves the boy too long under the sun lamp and she becomes so upset, it makes Torsten think, she maybe changing her mind about helping him. He then gives her an ultimatum, that the boy must die... will she be able to go through with it?

Joan Crawford, has one of her first great roles in this part thriller part courtroom drama. A Woman's Face, gives Crawford the kind of role that showed off all her talents as an actress. This film, along with Mildred Pierce, Possessed, and Humoresque, might be one of her best.

Osa Massen (13 January 1914 – 2 January 2006) was a Danish movie actress who began her career as a newspaper photographer before becoming an actress. Her best known performance was as Melvyn Douglas' unfaithful wife dealing with blackmailer Joan Crawford in the film, A Woman's Face (1941).

She also appeared as a mysterious woman with something to hide in the film, Deadline at Dawn. Later in her career she performed in guest roles on many television programs. She performed with Lloyd Bridges in the B-movie, Rocketship X-M (1950). Her last role was on television in 1962.

Today We Live (1933) .

Today We Live (1933). Cast: Joan Crawford, Gary Cooper, Robert Young, and Franchot Tone. The film is based on "Turnabout" by William Faulkner. Faulkner also provided the dialogue for the film, making it the only film version of his work that he co-wrote. Joan Crawford's character was added to the film to add a love interest. She met her future husband Franchot Tone on the set of the film. They married two years later.

In World War I, Diana, a English girl, gets caught up in a love triangle between British Naval Officer, Claude and an American fighter pilot, Bogard. A rivalry for Diana develops between the men. Claude is blinded in action, just as he realizes Diana and Bogard's true feelings for one another. A suicide mission comes up, the men all go off to fight the war. Who will come back for Diana?

Fun Facts:

Variety reported in its review that director Howard Hawks used footage from the movie, Hell's Angels (1930) for the big bomber expedition sequence, the main dogfight, and the head-on collision of two airplanes.

Film debut of Franchot Tone.

I thought this film had beautiful sets and interesting costumes. Joan Crawford's fans will find that she was at the height of her beauty and dominates the first forty-five minutes of the film. This love story is a strange one.

When Ladies Meet (1941).

When Ladies Meet (1941). Cast: Joan Crawford, Robert Taylor, Greer Garson, Herbert Marshall, and Spring Byington. The screenplay by S.K. Lauren and Anita Loos was based upon a 1932 play by Rachel Crothers. The film was directed by Robert Z. Leonard, who also co-produced the film with Orville O. Dull.

The story is about, Mary Howard, a novelist with different ideas about love and marriage. Things become complicated when she falls in love with her publisher, Rogers Woodruff. She decides to take him away from his wife. Mary's friend Jimmy, is convinced he's the right man for her and comes up with a plan to end her relationship with, Woodruff.



He invites Mary and Woodruff's wife Claire, to meet at the house of a friend. The two women do not know each other, but during their visits they become friends. When she learns Woodruff is a womanizer, she realizes she does not love him... It is interesting to watch the two different acting styles of Joan and Greer, play off each other. Once again, Spring Byington perfectly plays the ditsy-rich-lady character. I just love her. You may find yourself routing for.. Greer Garson. I also thought the sets were absolutely beautiful..

Joan Crawford.

Joan Crawford, was one of Hollywood's most famous movie stars, but her films began losing money and by the end of the 1930s she was labeled "box office poison". After a two year break from performing on screen, Crawford, made a comeback in the film, Mildred Pierce (1945), for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress. TCM is celebrating Joan Crawford, with the five films listed below.

Mildred Pierce (1945) A woman turns herself into a business tycoon to win her self centered daughter's love . Cast: Joan Crawford, Ann Blyth, Jack Carson. Dir: Michael Curtiz.

Daisy Kenyon (1947). On the rebound from a married man, a woman marries a veteran, just as her lover becomes available. Cast: Joan Crawford, Henry Fonda, Dana Andrews. Dir: Otto Preminger.

This Woman Is Dangerous (1952) A female gangster learns she is losing her vision. Cast: Joan Crawford, Dennis Morgan, David Brian.



Goodbye, My Fancy (1951). When she returns to her alma mater to pick up an honorary degree, a congresswoman re-ignites an old flame. Cast: Joan Crawford, Robert Young, Frank Lovejoy. Dir: Vincent Sherman.



The Damned Don't Cry (1950), Fed up with her small-town marriage, a woman goes after the big time and gets mixed up with the mob. Cast: Joan Crawford, David Brian, Steve Cochran. Dir: Vincent Sherman.

Happy Birthday: Joan Crawford!

Joan Crawford (March 23, 1905 – May 10, 1977), career spanned over 45 years and over 80 films. She began dancing under the name, Lucille LeSueur, in traveling shows when she was spotted by producer Jacob J. Shubert. Shubert, put her in the chorus line for his 1924 show, Innocent Eyes, on Broadway in New York City. Looking for work, she went to Loews Theaters publicist Nils Granlund, who found a place for her with producer Harry Richmond. He arranged for her a screen test which he sent to producer Harry Rapf, in Hollywood, who offered Crawford a contract.

As Lucille LeSueur, her first film was, Pretty Ladies(1925). A silent comedy-drama. The film is a fictional story about the, Ziegfeld Follies. Directed by Monta Bell. The story begins when.. Maggie, a Broadway dancing comedienne whose husband leaves her for another woman. Who finds love by being herself. It was also the film debut of, Myrna Loy (then still performing under her real last name Williams), who became a star in the film, The Thin Man (1934).

Also in 1925 she performed in a small role in the films, The Only Thing and Old Clothes. MGM publicity head Pete Smith, ran a contest in a popular fan magazine, Movie Weekly, which allowed fans to select her new name. Crawford, disliked the name throughout her life but, she said, "liked the security that went with it".

Becoming frustrated over the fluffy parts she was given, Crawford went on a self-promotion campaign. She began attending dances held at hotels around Hollywood, where she often won dance competitions. Her strategy worked and MGM cast her in the film, Sally, Irene and Mary (1925). In the same year, Crawford worked in, Lady of the Night, starring Norma Shearer.

Next, Crawford performed in the film, Paris(1926), where she showed off her sex appeal. Also, Crawford performed in the film, The Unknown (1927), starring Lon Chaney, Sr. She said that she learned more about acting from watching Chaney work, than from anything else in her career. "It was then", she said, "I became aware for the first time of the difference between standing in front of a camera and acting."

In 1928, Crawford starred opposite Ramon Novarro in the film, Across to Singapore, but.. it was her role in the film, Our Dancing Daughters (1928) that made her a star.

On June 3, 1929- May 1939, Crawford married Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. at Saint Malachy's Roman Catholic Church in New York City. Fairbanks, was the son of Douglas Fairbanks and the stepson of Mary Pickford.

Her first talkie film was, Untamed (1929), opposite Robert Montgomery. Crawford made the transition into sound movies with ease. The story is about, oil prospector Hank, who has raised his daughter Bingo, in the jungle of South America. He asks his friend Ben, to come work for him on his oil wells. Just as Ben arrives with Howard, Hank is killed by an oil worker who is in love with Bingo.

After, she has inherited her father's company, Ben becomes her guardian and she calls him and Howard both uncles, even though they are not related. Her "uncles" decide that Bingo should move to New York, to learn to behave like a lady. While they are aboard the ocean liner, she meets the well-educated Andy and it is love at first sight .



Because she is wealthy, he is afraid of what people might think and tells her that he cannot marry her and live off her money. Andy turns to Marjory and Bingo, goes into a jealous rage and shoots him in the shoulder. Changing his mind about leaving her, Andy decides that Bingo, is the woman for him .

After the sound film, Our Blushing Brides (1930), MGM began to develop a more sophisticated image of Crawford, rather than continuing the flapper girl of the silent era.

She went on to star opposite Clark Gable, in the film, Possessed(1931). A Pre-Code drama film directed by Clarence Brown. The film is the story of Marian Martin, a factory worker who rises to the top as the mistress of a wealthy attorney. Possessed, was the third of eight movie collaborations between Crawford and Gable. First video of 8.




The studio then cast her in the film, Grand Hotel, which starred the most famous actors of the 1930s. Crawford starred opposite Gable in the film, Dancing Lady (1933), in which she received top billing. Crawford's, next movies were, Sadie McKee, Chained and Forsaking All Others (all 1934).

In 1935-1939, Crawford married her second husband, Franchot Tone, a stage actor from New York who planned to use his film salary to help support his theatre group. Tone and Crawford performed together in the film, Today We Live (1933). The couple built a small theatre at Crawford's Brentwood home and put on plays for their friends.

Crawford, gave wonderful performances in the films: The Women(1939), Strange Cargo (1940), her eighth and final film with Clark Gable, A Woman's Face (1941).

Crawford, made a cameo with many other stars in, Hollywood Canteen (1944). Crawford said one of the main reasons she signed with Warner Bros. was because she wanted to play the character "Mattie" in the 1944 film version of Edith Wharton's novel, Ethan Frome (1911). It turns out, Bette Davis wanted to play Mattie and told Jack Warner, "Joan's far too old, and besides, she can't act."

Crawford wanted to play the title role in the film, Mildred Pierce (1945). a story about a woman who spoils her daughters while husband Bert looks to another woman for affection. They soon divorce, leaving Mildred to raise the girls by herself. Realtor Wally Fay, who is love with her, introduces her to Monte Baragon who sells her the property that becomes the first of a chain of restaurants. Meanwhile, Veda pretends to be pregnant by wealthy Ted Forrester in order to get a large amount of money from his family. Mildred tears up the check, is slapped by Veda and orders her daughter out of the house. After time away, Mildred returns home to find Veda singing in a club. Mildred marries Monte, but.. it soon becomes clear that something is going on between her daughter and Monte, with tragic results...

Davis was first choice, but..did not want to play the mother of a seventeen year old daughter and she turned the role down. Curtiz demanded Crawford take a screen test.



From 1945 to 1952, Crawford, performed in the films: Humoresque (1946), Possessed (1947), for which she was nominated for a second Oscar for Best Actress, Daisy Kenyon(1947), It's a Great Feeling (1949), Flamingo Road (1949), The Damned Don't Cry (1950). After filming, This Woman Is Dangerous (1952), Crawford asked to be released from her Warner Bros. contract. She then went on to perform in the film, Sudden Fear (1952) at RKO, which was the movie that introduced, Jack Palance, to the screen and earned Crawford a third and final Oscar nomination for Best Actress.

After her success in RKO's Sudden Fear, Crawford performed in films, Johnny Guitar (1954), Autumn Leaves (1956), What Ever Happened To Baby Jane? (1962). A story about two faded actress sisters Blanche and 'Baby' Jane Hudson, who now live together. Jane was the most famous, but as they grew older, it was Blanche who became the better actress, which Jane resents. Blanche, is now confined to a wheelchair and Jane is now in control, keeping everyone away from her, while she torments her sister.



Joan Crawford's last films were: I Saw What You Did (1965) and Berserk! (1967).

Please click here to read past Joan Crawfords movie reviews.

Grand Hotel (1932).

Grand Hotel(1932). Drama directed by Edmund Goulding. The screenplay by William A. Drake and Béla Balázs is based on the 1930 play of the same title by Drake, who had adapted it from the 1929 novel Menschen im Hotel by Vicki Baum. The film is the only one to have won the Academy Award for Best Picture without it or its actors being nominated in any other category. The film was remade as, Week-End at the Waldorf (1945).

The film begins when, Grand Hotel permanent resident Doctor Otternschlag, a veteran of World War I , watches while people are coming and going.

Next.. you have Baron Felix von Geigern, who supports himself gambling and part-time jewel thief. He becomes friends with Otto Kringelein , who is dying and wants to spend his last days in a beautiful hotel after a life time scrimping and saving.

Then you have.. Kringelein's former employer, Preysing, closing a deal with the help of his stenographer, Flaemmchen. Who really wants to become an actress and she is willing to do anything to advance her acting career.

Another guest is... Russian ballerina Grusinskaya , whose career is beginning to fade. When She returns from the theatre, she finds Baron in her room stealing her pearls and she tells him, "I want to be alone." Baron decides to stay and Grusinskaya, does not seem to really want him to leave.

The next morning, Baron returns Grusinskaya's pearls, but after a wonderful night with him, she does not seem to concerned about the necklace and invites him to travel with her to Vienna, which he accepts the invitation.

Later, during afternoon tea, the Baron joins Kringelein and Flaemmchen, talks the frail man into dancing with her. Preysing, demands she join him in his suite. Not happy, with his former boss rude behavior, Kringelein gives him a piece of his mind. Preysing, is about to hit Kringelein up side the head, when the Baron jumps in and invites him to join him in a game of cards. Kringelein accepts and wins everything, when he becomes intoxicated and drops his wallet, the Baron picks it up and hides it in his jacket pocket. When Kringelein, begins to search for his lost wallet, the Baron pretends to have suddenly have found the wallet returns it to him.

As part of a merger, Preysing must travel to London and he asks Flaemmchen to join him. Later, when the two are in her room, Preysing sees the shadow of the Baron going through his things. He confronts the Baron and the two get into a fight. Preysing hits the Baron with the telephone, killing him. Flaemmchen comes in and sees what happened. Preysing, insists he acted in self-defense, but Kringelein calls the police and has Preysing arrested.

Grusinskaya leaves for the train station, expecting to find the Baron waiting for her. Kringelein, offers to take Flaemmchen, to Paris to find a cure for his illness. As they leave the hotel, Doctor Otternschlag once again watches, the people coming and going in "Grand Hotel"....

Greta Garbo, is definitely the star of the film, but Joan Crawford, also gives a wonderful performance. Lionel Barrymore and John Barrymore are also impressive. The cinematography is beautiful, as it gives us the grandness of the Grand Hotel, the overhead shot of the operators who are taking the calls and then focusing on everyone who are busy with their own lives, is very interesting to watch.



Fun Facts:

There are no scenes where Greta Garbo and Joan Crawford are in the same frame. This was done to eliminate the possibility that one of the two great stars might upstage the other.

Joan Crawford was irked by Greta Garbo's insistence on top billing and decided to take her revenge. Knowing that Garbo loathed tardiness and Marlene Dietrich in equal measures, Crawford played Dietrich records between shots and made sure to arrive late on set.

The only Best Picture Oscar winner not to be nominated for any other Academy Awards.

Lewis Stone (November 15, 1879 – September 12, 1953). He performed in the film, Nomads of the North(1920), playing a Royal Canadian Mounted Policeman. He performed in the title role in the silent film version of, The Prisoner of Zenda(1922), as well as, Rudolf Rassendyll.

Stone was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for, The Patriot (1929). After that, he performed in seven movies with Greta Garbo, in both the silent and sound periods. He played the role of Dr. Otternschlag in the Garbo film, Grand Hotel, in which, completely unaware of all the high drama that is going on, he says the famous closing line: "Grand Hotel. People come. People go. Nothing ever happens". He played a larger role in the Garbo film, Queen Christina(1933).  He performed in the films, Big house, The Lost World (1925),The Mask of Fu Manchu (1932) and Missing Persons (1933).

In 1937, Stone began the role which would become his most famous, that of Judge James Hardy, in the Mickey Rooney "Andy Hardy" series. Stone performed as the judge in fifteen movies, beginning with You're Only Young Once (1937).

Pawsome Pet Pictures: Joan Crawford.

Joan Crawford Personal Quote:
Of all the actresses ... to me, only Faye Dunaway has the talent and the class and the courage it takes to make a real star.

I Only Wanna Talk About The Nice Things.

Well, unfortunatley darling, if that applies to you, don't read on. Me and my Mum have just forceed my Dad into watching Whatever Happened To Baby Jane?. Mwaaaa HAHAHAHAHA!!!! But the more we all watched it, the more we felt sorry for Jane, and we all decided that both Joan Crawford and Bette Davis did some of their finest work while at  each others throats. It is a very, shall we say, surprising (?) film. I will try to keep most of it some of it a surprise, but this is me we are talkin' about honey.

Whatever Happened To Baby Jane?

Cast:

• Joan Crawford ..... Blanche Hudson
• Bette Davis ..... Jane Hudson
• Victor Buono ..... Edwin Flagg
• Maidie Norman ..... Elvira Stitt

Plot:
(Parental guidance: This film is rated 12 on my DVD cover, and whenever I ask my 8 year old sister to watch it, she cries. Bear that in mind if you want to show this to a young child.)
The film opens in 1917 at a vaudeville show, in which Baby Jane Hudson is performing. Jane is also a spoilt brat who has become used to having her father dote upon her night and day, while her sister Blanche and her mother watch from the wings. We then skip to 1935, where their roles are reversed considerably. Blanche is now a glamourous Hollywood star while Jane tries desperately to keep up with mediocre pictures that hardly ever got released. Now known as a "talentless broad", Jane takes to alcoholism, and also becomes renouned for her behaviour. One night after a party, the sisters arrive at their mansion and one of them gets out to open the gate. It is unclear who is doing what, but the sister driving drives straight into the sister at the gates. We are now in the present (1962) and Jane is "looking after" Blanche. She feeds her, shouts abuse at her, never lets her out and disconects her phone. Call that looking after? No, me niether.

Blanche is convinced Jane is mentally ill (well, duh - she is kinda alcoholic!?) and wants to send for a doctor as her maid, Elvira says, but due to lack of couragepans phone, she fails to do so. Jane  puts an advert in a newspaper for a pianist to come and re-do her old numbers for a new act, but when he arrives he is 6ft 3 and more than a bit overweight.

Expecting a gorgeous young man to crush on, she is slightly taken aback, but ends up loving him anyway. Increasingly crazy, Jane goes out to get some new costumes and while she is away Blanche crawls down the stairs to call a doctor. Upon arrival, Jane takes one look at Blanche and kicks her and half kills her.

Later, Elvira comes by to see Blanche and is told by Jane that she is fired. They both go away leaving Blanche unnatended. 5 minutes later Elvira comes back and tries to get into Blanches room - which has been locked - with a hammer. Jane is furious when she sees, and as soon as Elvira gets in, Jane kills her with the hammer.

Thats it! I can't tell you the surprise ending, you'll never forgive me!!!

A fabulous lawn display for Halloween inspired by Baby jane.

The Review:
As creepy and sick minded as this film may sound, it is a rather breathaking film. Bette Davis' physicality is just out of this world. She never lets herself out of her slumpy attitude. The hatred between Joan Crawford and Bette Davis is apparent the whole way through. A-n-y-w-ay... it is a really good film. The first thing my dad said really really made me laugh, "Joan looks like Gregory Peck in a wig." LOL :-D!!!!! He said it must have been his most interesting role! Me and my mum also said that even though Joan was wonderful, Bette can just do anything. Me and Libby were having a chat via email the other day about how she was offered the role of a female lumberjack (!) and how we would have paid a large sum of money to see her do it. Yeah. Just amazing.

Yesterday I went to see an amazing musical adaptation of Roald Dahl's Matilda at the Royal Shakespere Company, and it was truly amazing. The man who played Mrs. Trunchbal was just superb. It was a real treat. Thanks to my grandma, if you're reading, who took us.



~Bette

P.S. This picture of shoe moulds of classic movie stars is just awesomesauce. They are all probably around a 5/6 and then Ingrid Bergman popps up and must be like a size 10! Wow, she must have had to have shoes specially made.

Forsaking All Others (1934).

Forsaking All Others (1934). Director: W.S. Van Dyke. Cast: Joan Crawford, Clark Gable and Robert Montgomery. Screenplay was written by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, which was based upon a 1933 play by Edward Barry Roberts and Frank Morgan Cavett. Forsaking All Others is the sixth of eight movies between Crawford and Gable.


Mary Clay, is about to marry Dillon Todd, who she has known since childhood. That same day, Jeff Williams, another childhood friend, returns from Spain and is also looking forward to proposing to Mary. When Jeff learns that Mary and Dill, are about to marry he decides it is best to keep his feelings to himself and agrees to give the bride away. He orders cornflowers for Mary, knowing that they are her favorite flowers. The night before the wedding, Dill runs off and marries Connie Barnes, a woman he met in Europe a couple of months before. Mary with her aunt Paula decide to spend some time in the country and when Jeff and their friend Shep visit, she says she is completely cured. Soon Dill, realizes his mistake, begs to see Mary again. Jeff warns Mary not to get involved with a married man, but she agrees to see Dill. While riding in the country, their car breaks down, a rainstorm starts, and they find shelter in Paula's country home. What will Mary Clay decide to do?

Another wonderful film pairing of Crawford and Gable, in a romantic triangle which seems to become the norm for most of Crawford's films from the 1930s. I also thought it was a very believable story and maybe even a little predictable. It was also fun to see an early performance by Rosalind Russell.


Frances Drake, was performing as a nightclub dancer in London when she made her first film performance under her birth name of Frances Dean, including Meet My Sister (1933) and The Jewel (1933). Returning to America in 1934, she began coaching with opera singer and actress Marguerite Namara.

Mannequin (1937). Fashion Show.

Mannequin (1937). Director: Frank Borzage. Cast: Joan Crawford, Spencer Tracy and Alan Curtis. In the film, Crawford plays Jessie, a young working class woman who wants to improve her life by marrying her boyfriend, only to find out that he is no better than what she left behind. Jessie meets a self-made millionaire with whom she falls in love despite his financial problems.

Gowns by Adrian.

Motherhood + Noir = Mildred Pierce (1948).

Mildred Pierce (1945). Cast: Joan Crawford, Ann Blyth, Jack Carson, Zachary Scott, and Eve Arden. Noir. Screenplay by Ranald MacDougall, William Faulkner, and Catherine Turney was based upon the 1941 novel Mildred Pierce by James M. Cain. Director: Michael Curtiz and produced by Jerry Wald with Jack L. Warner as executive producer. Mildred Pierce was Crawford's first starring film for Warner Bros. after leaving MGM and won her the Academy Award for Best Actress.

The film, begins with Beragon being shot. He whispers "Mildred" as he dies. The police believe that the murderer is Mildred Pierce's husband. She then tells her life story in flashback.

We see a very unhappy Mildred married to a unemployed Bert Pierce. He was a partner of Wally Fay. Mildred's wants to spoil daughter Veda, who longs for possessions the family cannot afford. Mildred finds a job as a waitress. One day, Veda gives their maid Lottie Mildred's waitress uniform, which forces Mildred to admit that she is a waitress, embarrassing Veda. When, Mildred's younger daughter Kay dies of pneumonia, Mildred throws herself into her restaurant. With the help of Ida, Mildred's new restaurant is a success. And Mildred opens a chain of "Mildred's" throughout Southern California.

Mildred continues to try to please Veda, by going into a loveless marriage with Monty Beragon in order to improve her social standing. Beragon lives the wild life supported by Mildred. When Veda becomes romantically involved with Monty, things come to a head at the beach house where the film began.

Monty's Beach House, was owned by the film's director, Michael Curtiz. It was built in 1929 in Malibu. It collapsed into the ocean after a week of heavy storms in January 1983.


Set in Glendale, California in the 1930s, Mildred Pierce is the story of a middle-class housewife's who goes out on her own to support her two girls during the Great Depression.

Joan Crawford "Our Dancing Daughters" (1928)

"Our Dancing Daughters" (1928) is a silent gem directed by Harry Beaumont. This "Jazz Age" melodrama focuses on three flappers out for a wild time finding men. Socialite Diana Medford, played by Joan Crawford, is an honest and decent girl noted for her love of dancing and wild parties. Diana's best friend Ann, played by Anita Page, is not only a conniving little tramp who passes herself as a good girl, but also a cold hearted gold digger. Beatrice, played by Dorothy Sebastian, is largely reformed, but she is a girl with a past.

The story begins with the three girls getting themselves ready for another Saturday night on the town. At the party, Diana entertains her friends by doing an uninhibited Charleston. Subsequently, she meets Ben Blaine, played by Johnny Mack Brown, a wealthy Southern gentleman who is smitten with her. Diana becomes very much interested in Ben, but Ann is determined to get him. She draws him away from Diana by pretending to be a pure and innocent girl longing for marriage and children. Diana tries to forget Ben while Beatrice marries Norman, played by Nils Asther, who disapproves of her old friends and frequently walks out on her. The ending is very dramatic. "Our Dancing Daughters" is memorable today because it made Joan Crawford a star. Watching Joan Crawford as a flapper is amazing to see; she was bursting with youthful energy and sex appeal. Modern viewers might not know that Crawford was well known for her energetic Charlestons in the early days of her career, and to watch her dancing is to see the real thing in the pure 1920's style. The supporting cast is particularly strong. Anita Page delivers a terrific performance as the beautiful but villainous Ann. Dorothy Sebastian is very charming as Beatrice. Johnny Mack Brown and Nils Asther provide solid support as the love interests. "Our Dancing Daughters" was intellectually ahead of its time and provocative enough to make the censors fume. It is also an interesting example of early female empowerment in film. Crawford's Diana is a free soul, the type of woman Hollywood frequently featured before the Hays Code. The film is also beautiful to look at with the Art-Deco sets, huge staircases, and elegant Adrian dresses. The photography is gorgeous with ample use of medium close-ups. "Our Dancing Daughters" is the definitive "Jazz Age" film that represents the peak achievements of Hollywood designers just before the advent of sound.