Mommie Dearest is a 1981 biographical drama film
Mommie Dearest is directed by Frank Perry and adapted from the memoir of the same name by Christina Crawford. The memoir was the first of it’s kind to show the dark family secrets of a Hollywood personality from the child’s perspective. The movie stars Faye Dunaway as Joan Crawford, a Hollywood icon whose reputation for elegance and glamour belies a deeply troubled personal life. The film, which explores Joan Crawford’s complex and abusive relationship with her adopted children, has been both criticized and celebrated for its portrayal of Crawford’s life.
Although the book was written from the child’s perspective, the movie focuses on the Hollywood icon. The film begins with Joan Crawford’s rise to fame, showcasing her successful career and the glamorous facade she maintained. As the story progresses, it delves into her turbulent relationship with her daughter, Christina Crawford, revealing the dark side of her personal life. The narrative demonstrates how the children were used and trained to be publicity tools. How their public image was of the upmost importance, because it reflected on how the star was perceived.
Mommie Dearest depicts Joan Crawford as a control freak with an OCD need for extreme cleanliness. The film shows several infamous episodes from Christina’s childhood, including the notorious wire-hanger scene, where Crawford violently reacts to finding wire hangers in her daughter’s closet. This scene, meant to highlight the extent of Crawford’s rage, was often mocked in theaters, with a Rocky Horror type of following. Throughout the film, Crawford is shown as increasingly erratic and abusive, falling into alcoholism as her career waned, but always maintaining a stark contrast between her with her public persona and her private behavior. The film ends with Joan Crawford’s death and Christina’s struggle to come to terms with her past.
Many argue that Christina Crawford’s memoir, Mommie Dearest, was meant as revenge against being overlooked in her mother’s will, as the youngest children contested it’s veracity. But anyone who comes from abusive household’s will be quick to note that the youngest children rarely experience the same treatment as the oldest. Furthermore, the trauma experienced was and is real enough for Christina. She herself never had children and admits to have difficulty in trusting people in general. In her book, Christina detailing her experiences of physical and emotional abuse at the hands of her mother, described Crawford as a domineering and emotionally unstable figure who inflicted severe punishment and psychological torment on her children.
Despite the controversy, “Mommie Dearest” remains a significant film for its portrayal of a troubled Hollywood icon and its impact on discussions about abuse and celebrity culture. Whether viewed as a dramatic exaggeration or a necessary critique, Mommie Dearest stands as a reminder that, “picture perfect” rarely is. They say that a picture is worth a thousand words, but a thousand words never tell the whole story. So be careful who you think to idolize or emulate, because you probably don’t know them at all.
