Joan Crawford

[Maxim]

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[Paul Raven]

Such a pity her latter roles were beneath her.

If only she had stayed on Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte.

She was announced for Return to Peyton Place but pulled out and Mary Astor took the role.

I thought she was excellent in Strait Jacket, but they shouldn't have shown her in flashbacks.

That movie needed a bigger budget, the cheap sets and photography took away the potential.

She looked so frumpy in her final role on The Sixth Sense.

[Maxim]

I agree 100 percent on all the points you made. 

Her last roles were very bad and her acting too, was not at the level she used to deliver. I actually cringe when I watch some of her late movies. There was this movie, Berserk, where she was lit from above in like every scene, I'm sure that was written in her contract, she didn't want to have a bad angle or bad shot. But it created the opposite, eerie effect. 

I also feel she should have stayed on Hush... How legendary it would have been! With Bette, one more time. 

Strait Jacket is like... my last favorite movie with her - she gave a performance, even though the movie was cringe. She was great in it. Really sinister and just... delivering.

Her career is a bit of a roller-coaster. When she was high - she was up in the stars and when she was down - she was flopping hard. 

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[Paul Raven]

Have you seen 'The Best of Everything'? She's great in that but her screentime is much too short.

It would have been great had her appearance in Rosemary's Baby had not been cut. It is a classic movie and she would have benefitted from being apart of it, if only in passing.

I can see why other actresses from that era avoided working in the 60's. They were regarded as has- beens pretty much and the roles available were poor.

[Maxim]

I actually never knew about her deleted scene in Rosemary's baby. God, and I thought I knew everything. Thank you a million for this little bit. I am now dreaming of how this scene looked and felt like. I would have loved Joan in Rosemary's Baby. She fits the Satanic undertone amazingly well. I mean... her success story... it could have been a wink-wink-sold-her-soul-to-the-Devil Faustian thing. I would have loved it.

Amazing. 

[Paul Raven]

It was merely an appearance with Van Johnson when Rosemary and a friend attend a play.. But it would have kept her in the public eye and had her associated with a prestige movie.

Just referenced this and there is some dispute about the veracity of it. Actress Rutanya Alda has told this story many times (she was Mia's stand in) but others have denied such a scene was planned or took place.

A fascinating read

http://www.theconcludingchapterofcrawford.com/debunking_rosemarysbaby

[Maxim]

This is so fascinating. I am starting to dive into it. Thank you again for sharing. 

[DemetriKane]

I tried to watch that last year. It was on TCM, and I just felt it was incredibly boring.

[Maxim]

It is.

[Maxim]

I would say these are my top 10 Joan movies. 

10. Straight-jacket - she's still got it, even though it's over the top.

9. A Woman's Face - stunning acting

8. Grand Hotel - Joan's charm at it's height

7. Humoresque - breathtaking story, amazing acting

6. Harriet Craig - soap opera, melodrama, LOVE IT.

5. Possessed - real, authentic Joan

4. The women - iconic movie, Joan has a very important role in it

3. Sudden Fear - one of her best acting performances. Should have gotten an Oscar for it.

2. What ever happened to Baby Jane? - it's in my heart.

1. Mildred Pierce - Joan's mark in this world. 

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[Paul Raven]

Female on the Beach is a must see for Joan in full diva 1950's mode.

Daisy Kenyon is underrated.

The Damned Don't Cry also worth a look.

[Maxim]

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[Paul Raven]

Joan's look in Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte is  on point. 

[Maxim]

That's a look I give when I'm about to fake flu (something she did many times - QUEEN) and ruin everyone's plans.