Mommie Dearest (20th Anniversary Edition)

Rating:
Summary: The Movie is Better
Review: I think this is one of the first times a really bad movie was better than the book it is based on.Dont get me wrong the book is great until the end.It seems christina is whinning.It annoying at best.She startes blaming her mother for her life failures.Makes you want to smack her and tell her to get a backbone and stand up to the woman.

Rating:
Summary: Probably truthful--unwittingly shows both sides
Review: This was the all-time "mother" of the celebrity tell-alls, no pun intended. Everyone knows the story: wealthy alcoholic crazed movie star adopts orphan girl and abuses her for a lifetime. And abuse her she does, if the book is accurate. There are some savage beating, some very cruel mental games, and some totally irrational behavior. But a lot of it was just JC's strange adherence to formality, manners, and the like. Everyone has some strange quirks, and BOY OH BOY did JC have them. Much of it fell far short of abuse. I don't think Christina meant to convey this, but she taunted her mother, A LOT. If your mother is manic about Christmas card lists, THEN DO THEM ON TIME! It doesn't take a genius. If your mother is drunk and trying to pick a fight, lay low and act nice, don't stand up for yourself and try to make a point! And Christina talks about money and her entitlement to it from her mother, A LOT. She complains about being impoverished after she dropped out of college and JC stopped supporting her. Well, she was an adult, and she did drop out of college. JC did tell her if she dropped out of college, she was on her own financially. You can't blame a woman for keeping her word. And then Christina whines that JC harldy ever gave her any cash while she was in college, even though JC was paying for evertything and poor Christina had to, to, to, TYPE TERM PAPERS to make a few extra bucks! Again, not exactly abuse material. The best one was when JC gave Christina Al Steele's 1955 Thunderbird. All Christina complains about is how expensive it was to park and fill with gas, like JC was supposed to pay for that, too. You get the impression that Christina was very, very greedy and wanted very much to be a movie star like her mother and to live the rich life like her mother. She clearly missed the obscene birthday parties, the limelight, and being publicly associated with her mother, all of which diminished when she got older. Well, this book put her right back next to her mother. JC was phyically abusive and sick in many ways, but I don't see JC as the total villain here either. Christina had a lot of annoying personality traits that would have led many to disinherit her and shun her as an adult also. It was a battle of the wills between them. Christina gets the last word. I think it's probably true, but I also get the impression that had JC had a lot of money when she died (she actually didn't have much) and had left a lot of it to Christina, this book would never had hit the shelves.

BTW, it made for a great movie.

Rating:
Summary: Helpful and Insightful!
Review: Christina Crawford in her book "Mommie Dearest" not only describes what it is like to be the adopted daughter of a famous Hollywood actress but also becomes a voice for all children of toxic parents.
Christina said Joan, her mother, considered herself the only keeper of the truth and would not listen to any contrary opinion. She perpetuated the image of Christina as bad girl throughout her life. Joan lied to herself until she could no longer tell the difference between reality and her own personal version. She became riveted on what she perceived as a personal slight but would not discuss it with you. The "insult" grew as time passed. Over time Joan became a bottomless pit into which you could pour years of loving, kindness and attempts at reconciliation without visible results. It failed to erase the one mistake. Joan could make Christina feel as though she had done something wrong whenever she expressed the slightest divergence from her wishes. She never came right out and said anything Christina could deal with directly. Many times, Christina was forced to defend herself against accusations that were fabrications.
Christina said, "Unless I was with my mother physically, she attributed to me all the devils of her own soul."
Joan disinherited Christina in her will when she died. She wrote, "It is my intention to make no provision therein for from my son and daughter, Chris and Christina, for reasons known to them."
Christina wrote in her book, "I was speechless and stunned. Not because of the money. It would have been nice gesture, but it wasn't the money. It was the insult. It was the implication that I have committed an unspeakable wrong. It was the humiliating innuendo that was left to be interpreted by the public."
Christina's story has not only raised more awareness concerning child abuse but her descriptions of Joan's behavior provide stunning insight into the minds of many toxic parents.

Rating:
Summary: True or not?
Review: A lot of what gets commented on about "Mommie Dearest" is whether or not the tale of child abuse is true or if Christina is just a spoiled, whining, vindictive person, who made a lot of money by tarnishing her mother's name. Well, my idea is that one doesn't necessarily cancel out the other. I saw Christina Crawford on Larry King a couple of years ago talk about her mother. She is now in her sixties. She is still trashing her mother's name. She even went so far as to suggest that Joan killed her last husband, Alfred Steele, by pushing him down the stairs. Christina complained to the extent of writing a book about her childhood abuse at the hands of JC. And yet, she goes around in camp circles, exploiting herself and what happened to her for the purpose of getting attention. Some defenders of Joan have claimed that Christina wanted her mom to get her into the movies and she became bitter and resentful when her mother didn't come through for her. This may seem like like "spoiled", "whining" and "vindictive", but that would also imply that Christina didn't have a right to tell her story. And it would also imply, if you are to use the perspective of many naysayers here as a starting point, that telling the truth about your parents, or anyone else for that matter, is necessarily disrespectful. If the person is a minor, then suspicion of child abuse must be reported. What law says we have to respect our parents, no matter what? Isn't respect something that you are supposed to earn? And if JC did this stuff, then why shouldn't she be held accountable for all of it? Responsibility is a two-way street. So is respect. And in what way, I would like to ask many here, is Christina refusing to take responsibility for herself? These are other people's issues, not Christina's. She's just telling her story. Yes, she says many unsavory things about her mother. So Joan was a pretty bad mother and Christina has never completely gotten over it. Yes, I do believe that, in a way, Christina has exploited her mother's name. I also think that she probably did it more out of a desire to validate herself, to get some attention and I am sure that anger was one of many, many emotions that Christina felt while writing the book. But, the story is as much Christina's as it is Joan's. We all carry our childhood experience with us in one way or another. And some of us can turn a negative experience into a positive, learning one. Maybe Christina has been less succesful with this than others. (Though she supposedly has raised much awareness concerning child abuse.) That's about the size of it. There is no reason to point a finger and be accusatory or judgmental of Christina or anybody else, especially if the worst thing it results in is an entertaining book like "Mommie Dearest"... What good does it do except possibly to relieve some of one's own tension and unresolved conflict about the subject of children and parents and child abuse in particular. I enjoyed her book tremendously. And Christina made a lot of money off that book. Good for her, I say. I love Joan Crawford, she is one of my favorite actresses. And I know the book has changed the public perception of her tremendously and forever. But why the hell should Christina not have written that book? What good would that do? It would keep the Hollywood image of JC intact, I suppose. But everybody should be able to tell their story. And it doesn't make JC into an evil person. And if you liked Joan before, then you probably will still like her. I don't know. We put people up on pedastals and then allow ourselves to be disappointed so easily. People take these kinds of things so personally and then feel compelled to take sides. I am not saying that Joan did not do these things to her daughter. I think that she did. But she didn't do them to me or anybody I know. And this all happened 40 years ago. Besides, I like Joan for her movies and particularly her persona which she projects on the screen. Watching any one of Joan's movies from the 50's ("Queen Bee" captures the persona more than any other), it is sooooo clear that JC was an over-the-top, raging, neurotic, self-possessed, narcissistic-to-the-gills gorgon, I feel that Christina's memoirs may have been underwritten!!! (I also sense that Christina's not having had any children of her own possibly speaks volumes on the legitimacy of her story.) And remember that Christina's story was not an all-out attack on Joan, there were parts that put Joan across as sympathetic, and relatively normal ranged. I just find it all very interesting that people think that Christina is a whiner who has used her famous mother to serve her own interests and that her story may not be true. I think that maybe Christina is a little bit annoying. Her going to Halloween parties and entertaining the gay troops with campy histrionics is a little sad and a lot obvious. Her upbringing doesn't excuse her, but why does she need excusing anyway? And I guess that is my point. I think Christina just wants some attention and I'm sure the cash is nice, too. Actually, I guess what seems to me the most relevant, accurate response would be to feel kind of sorry for Christina. That she never was able to get over it - both what JC did to her and how she interpreted what JC did to her. Christina just never found her own way, which I am sure would be very difficult for the child of any movie star, especially a glamorous gorgon like Joan Crawford. People who slam Christina are, I suspect, still dealing with their own issues in some way. Otherwise, why would they care? I find "Mommie Dearest" compelling and fascinating. And I will always love JOAN CRAWFORD!!!

Rating:
Summary: Interesting Book!
Review: I know there is a big controversy about this book and it's claims that a famous Hollywood movie star was an abusive mother and there are complaints in some of these Amazon customer reviews that Christina Crawford spelled a lot of words wrong but to be honest I didn't notice any spelling mistakes but then I was I think around 11 years old when I read the book so I wasn't really noticing how she spelled her words and I just enjoyed reading the book and got the feel of how sad and scary it may have been for Christina if she had to grow up in an extremely dysfunctional household and experience her mother's erratic personality!

Rating:
Summary: A shameful tribute to someone who can't defend herself
Review: I am giving this book 3 stars for the suspense features of the saga. However, I would like to know this: if Joan Crawford was on this Earth today, what would be her side of this story? It is disturbing to me that Christina Crawford would wait and write a book about her late mother when she is not around to defend herself! And are those child abuse allegations true--or are they embellishments of what could have been "needed discipline" only to strike back at Joan Crawford the very moment she is not here to confirm or deny those stories? The only person who can set the record straight is Joan Crawford and she must have had her reasons for excluding her from the will for "reasons well known to them." I believe the reason is that Joan Crawford knew that this was going to happen when she passed away. Joan Crawford, rest in peace, and wherever you are, know that your true friends and fans will refuse to dishonor your memory. Christina, it's past time to move on, you have made enough money at the expense of your mother, get over it! Last I have heard, insisting on impeccable manners, keeping your house clean, writing thank-you notes, having you giving your Christmas and birthday presents to the less fortunate, and cleaning your plate at mealtimes is NOT ABUSE, it's called learning discipline and respect for others!

Rating:
Summary: An unpleasant read
Review: This poisonous little tome leaves a bad taste in the mouth. Whatever the truth or untruth of Christina Crawford's allegations, the idea of a child so thoroughly denigrating a parent's reputation is a very sad thing, and unpleasant to read.

Joan Crawford was by no means a perfect woman - emotionally crippled, alcoholic, almost delusionally possessed by her movie dreams. Nor was she a perfect mother, treating her children like small automatons programmed to spout a pre-set script for visitors and then return to being seen and not heard. But ironically, I could not help but find Christina Crawford as unlikeable as the intended villain. What comes across strongest of all is the fact that mother and daughter were just too similar to get along with one another, something which, as they got older, meant that they were in active competition with one another, especially when Christina began an acting career herself. As happens in so many cases, Christina appears to have taken on all the traits that she disliked most about her mother. For the child of a celebrity parent, establishing a separate identity is a difficult task, and one that could apparently only be achieved by obliterating the parent altogeher.

I have trouble accepting all of Crawford's allegations as fact; recalling conversations she could not possibly have been old enough to remember and occasionally distorting facts. The most important of these distortions, revealed in Fred Lawrence Guiles' 'Joan Crawford: The Final Word' is the fact that while the book gives an impression of having been written in a burst of justifiable ire after being left out of her mother's will, Christina had already begun the book before her mother's death, which may itself have been the reason that she was excluded. It's a small but crucial difference.

None of which excuses Crawford's behaviour which, even if it wasn't as severe as Christina makes out, was still very hard on a small child. It's just that Joan Crawford's name deserves to live on for more things than hideous stories about wire coathangers and rose bushes. There is a growing movement amongst biographers to resurrect Crawford's image, tarnished not even so much by the book itself but by the over-the-top movie adaptation which played fast and loose with the facts for additional dramatic impact. Many people have forgotten not only her ability as an actress, but the many millions of dollars she poured into charitable works throughout her life.

As I said, I found this book a very difficult one to get through, as much for its unrelenting style as its subject matter. Read it subjectively.

Rating:
Summary: Terrific read!
Review: The people who want to discredit Christina's work by saying it isn't true and can't be believed are obviously dillusional. Is it really so hard to discern the truth of this woman's life? I didn't even have to read the book to be able to tell. She was a social climber, marrying more for notoriety and money than for love, and had a larger-than-life ego that shined through her pictures and performances very clearly. It's pretty easy to figure out that if things didn't go Joan's way, Joan wasn't happy and found ways to make herself feel better, either by belittling her children or by becoming inebriated every chance she got. Sure the woman had a rough life as a child. So did my dad. My dad's childhood was horrible. My father didn't turn into a monster and abuse me. He has been a good father all of my life, so I don't buy the excuse that because Joan's childhood was so crummy, she had no other option but to turn into the diva she became.

Also, of course her friends and maybe even her own children would lie on her behalf. Many people choose to live in denial and I'm sure these folks are among them.

All in all, a terrific book and kudos to Christina for having the guts to come out and tell it like it is.

Rating:
Summary: Who's afraid of wire hangers? [e-mail]
Review: Something about the late Joan Crawford always intrigued me. Maybe it was her versatility, maybe it was her long-lasting career, maybe it was her sense of style or maybe it was all the controversy surrounding "Mommie Dearest." Several years ago, I read the original version of "Mommie Dearest" and it was one of the best books I ever read. I devoured each page and I wanted to learn more about this screen legend. I had more questions and more questions that I needed answers to. And, then when "Mommie Dearest (20th Anniversary Edition)" was ublished. I was very intersted in reading it and learing more about this silver screen movie queen.

Joan Crawford was an extremely talented actress that made over 80 films. She did a lot of TV work and radio work as well as many commercials. And, Joan was the Pepsi spokeswomen for more than 20 years. However, Joan Crawford was also an abusive alcoholic who never should have had children. And that is what "Mommie Dearest" is about.

This book is equally fascinating than the first book. It includes some extra passages by Christina Crawford, interviews with the people who knew her (both before and after Joan Crawford's death) and some additional information since Joan's death. This was really an enthralling book and I am so happy that it was published again. However, I wish it included even more information. Such as interviews with Joan's other children. I also would have liked an update on Christina Crawford.

Most people that are big Joan Crawford fans try to discredit "Mommie Dearest." I firmly believe that without this book Joan Crawford would not be in the public eye anymore. In August 2002, TCM devoted an entire month to Joan. Admittedly so, they said it had a lot do with "Mommie Dearest." Joan Crawford would have loved the additional attention generated by this book. Most people can't even remember two of her movies, but they surely know who had the wire hanger fixation!

I firmly believe all of the allegations by Christina Crawford. Because she was Joan Crawford's daughter and had firsthand insight on what life really was like. Also, because she included many letters that Joan sent her over the years. These letters are peppered with abusive statements as well as the syrupy sweet sentiments that Joan was famous for.

I also firmly believe after reading "Mommie Dearest" that Christina Crawford did love Joan Crawford and did NOT write this book out of spite. She wrote this book to tell the truth and to set the record straight. Also, many people forget that Christina did have a good relationship with her mother for many years. Christina also mentions many very complementary points about Joan Crawford (her generosity, her professionalism, her devotion to her fans, her work ethic, her sense of style and so on). So in my opinion, this book does not completely bash Joan Crawford.

If you're a Joan Crawford admirer than you should read this book and then form your own opinions about her!

...

Rating:
Summary: Christina's got Guts!!
Review: I read the first edition when it was released and then recently, the Anniversary edition. The first time, I approached it with the thought that Christina was just a whinny little hollywood brat! No question, my feelings were influenced by the fact that Joan Crawford was one of my childhood favourite actresses!! Pretty sad, I know.
But as I read more and more, I believe Christina was telling the truth. Instinct, perhaps, but her tale rang true to this reader.
Christina was humiliated by Hollywood for writing this book. In a recent A&E bio of Joan Crawford, they all but ignored this memoir and suggested it wasn't backed up by sources! Might as well call Christina a liar. But I think this is very unfair. June Allison was interviewed by Dick Cavett and she admitted seeing Crawford mistreat Christina.
Thanks Christina for your well-written, ground-breaking memoir and the courage it took to write it!