Joan Crawford: This Woman's Work

COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the material used in this video. All material belongs to their respective owners. Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use", including non-profit, educational or personal. This is purely a fan video. No copyright infringement intended.

'Her heart on her sleeve, her finger on the trigger'... runs the tagline of my Joan Crawford Signature DVD collection.

These days Joan Crawford's legacy is overshadowed by the book and film Mommie Dearest. Her personal life often turns people's attention away from the legacy she left on the screen. Starting out in MGM silent pictures, usually playing a flapper due to her talent of dancing, Crawford became MGM's biggest star, before Greta Garbo came at the end of the 1920's.

Working with directors like George Cukor, and starring opposite leading men like Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy, Robert Montgomery, John Garfield, and having infamous feuds/ competition with other great actresses like Norma Shearer and ofcourse, Bette Davis, Crawford was among the best Hollywood had to offer. At the peak of her stardom, she played role after role of critically acclaimed roles, and was eventually, after a slight blip in her career, awarded the Best Actress Oscar for her fantastic performance in Mildred Pierce.

Her beauty was seductive and inspiring- women across the globe wanted the Crawford 'smear' lips, and those big gazing eyes, and that sensational figure.

By the end of her career Crawford had many a critic and enemy, but aside from her stardom, feuds, reputation off the screen and incredible beauty, one thing everyone agrees on is that she was an incredibly gifted actress, and to this day one of the best to have graced the screen, along with Hepburn, Davis, and Stanwyck. As well as her phenomenal acting ability and professionalism, Crawford was every inch the Hollywood star, epitomising glamour, class and stardom.

This is for you Joan, I chose the Kate Bush song because the majority of your character's were in an emotional despair, trying to escape their troubles. Clips are from Mildred Pierce, Humoresque, The Damned Dont Cry, Grand Hotel, Rain, Possessed, The Women, Dancing Lady, Sudden Fear and others from TCM's documentary on Crawford.

The music that appears in this video:
The Forbidden Mountain- Sleeping Beauty Soundtrack
This Woman's Work- Kate Bush

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• joan
• crawford
• movie
• star
• classic
• hollywood
• actress
• mildred
• pierce
• damned
• dont
• cry
• possessed
• grand
• hotel
• sadie
• thompson
• rain
• kate
• bush
• this
• womans
• work
• clark
• gable
• john
• garfield
• humoresque

[asongforxx456]

funny how Bette Davis always had something against Joan,for what? Joan was a fan of Bette and had said she enjoyed her films and her acting,Bette was pretty much a hater. I Think she was jealous because Joan was beautifal Talented and Feminine. I like bette davis,i dont like the things she said about and things she did to Joan, Joan Crawford had said " I had no idea the hate she had for me,she really wanted me dead!"

[MonroeSmile]

@asongforxx456 Bette was jealous of Joan's beauty but that was only because, if what I have read is correct, Bette was in love with Douglas Fairbanks Jr (I think it was him), and so she was heartbroken when Joan Crawford married him. If this story is true, you can't blame Bette, any woman would have felt the same.

[asongforxx456]

@MonroeSmile

Yes,it was Franchot Tone,but again bette had just met him in '35,when they starred together,at warner brothers,Joan had known him since 1933,at MGM where he started,so it wasnt like Joan came along and 'stole' him from bette,

[MonroeSmile]

@asongforxx456 I wasn't sure who the actor was but I knew Bette was jealous of a man Crawford had, which is understandable. Some of the things she said about Crawford were harsh, but Davis was outspoken on everyone and everything, if she didn't like Joan, she wasn't gonna lie about it. Crawford too spoke her mind if she didn't like someone, I have often read things she has said on others and thought equally harsh. Davis is actually quoted in saying she respected Crawford, but didn't like her. 

[ZZTopRockman]

Which is the clips with her face all scarred on one side?

This is a stunning tribute- brilliant song, and brilliant clips. Joan was very talented and very beautiful for a lot of her life (sometimes she had a bit too much makeup, which made her look scary, but even in Baby Jane I thought she looked lovely)

[MonroeSmile]

@ZZTopRockman Thank you very much. Those are from the film A Woman's Face. I agree, her make-up got too harsh as she grew older, although that is the case for most actresses, Joan's was more so.

[azula123321]

i cried

[KURISUCHRIS99]

anyone who says "She cant act at all!" is a complete fool,bette davis said this about her and many people have since,its unfair

[twilson11208]

She was an exquisite creature.

[Tribecaguy]

Beautiful - thanks for helping to resurrect the incredible legacy and talent of Joan Crawford - she was the best there ever was. Just try taking your eyes off her in any moview - even her bad ones, you just can't. She is that magnetic and talented. Long live Crawford!

[billyjonnes]

Absolutely masterful and spectacular Joan Crawford tribute. Her gentleness and strength you have captured brililiantly with some of her outstanding pictures and stills. I have watched it many times. A compliment to your talent.

[asongforxx456]

@MonroeSmile

yes,your right,i feel like Bette's personality could be to be too Honest,wich means somewhat rude/disrespectful and arrogant,i admire her personality though,she was a strong woman,i just feel like she had alot of hate for Joan for no reasons,it is understandable her being upset over Franchot,but her facts were wrong alot of the time

[brownhulk2000]

This is a nice tribute.