There is something about watching Joan Crawford on film. No matter the material, she achieved at a time when roadblocks were everywhere for women in general with emphasis on those of a certain age.
This film was released in 1952. Nearly 70 years later the same obtacles she faced as an actress and in the public eye continues today. But with a twist. With pumped up, botoxed, overly filled facial features, women today get to cheat the cameras by at least 20 years. Joan cheated those cameras decades ago without plastic surgery, continued illuminating the screen by leading with what she knew best; what her fans wanted to see.
This film looks cartoonish for many reasons. The leading one perhaps being the Joan-isms that Felix Feist (the Director) either allowed or intentionally looked in the other direction on. Joan doing Joan... complete with overly dramatic line delivery and plain and simple outdated melodrama moments.
Joan in a trailer park...lol. Really?? And in that scene her body double is so obviously not Joan it's distracting to true fans. Looking at the back of the double's head kissing David Brian... think of the actress who played Lois Lane in the 50s Superman series. Joan has an enormous head on a tiny body. Perhaps it would have been money well spent to not use a double?
Joan hated this film. Reportedly for a variety of reasons. The 50s were a tough time for film stars in general. Televisions were getting more affordable and Joan may have found herself competing with her 30s films now playing at the same times audiences were needed at the theaters buying popcorn and candy. Who was it that said movies were the best vehicle to sell popcorn?
Joan played younger and younger themes at a time when her look was becoming stronger, harsher, as she carried herself as if she was ready for a fight. The tension in this film is similar to her later role as Jenny in Torchsong. Why was Jenny so angry and on edge in nearly every scene?
Joan was famous for playing the strong suffering masochist who endures any torture for... ? Love? Money? Power?
This film could have been better if Joan brought more of the Edith Whitehead energy she displayed in the Damned Don't Cry. Joan's typical character arc often looks like a personality change midstream or by the secon reel. Who didn't want to see a relationship blossom with the Dr.? And her adorable scenes with his daughter as she admits to not knowing how to make Princess Dressing at dinner.
As a film noir, there are great moments on film here with great supporting scenes dramatically lit that carru the story where the lead performances miss the mark. The telephone operator, the nurse, the calls to the Florist on Halsted St. maintain the drama as this storyline stumbles on it's merry way.
It does lack Joan's "A" team behind the scenes with the absence of Monty or Perc Westmore, lighting design that does not make the most of Joan's amazing eyes and bone structure, and flat, not very glamorous costumes. Of course her character does buy these dresses in a small Indiana town...lol. Why? They are a gang of criminals who just scored $90K split four ways. And did anyone notice Joan's character Beth Austin mentioning travellers checks? Cash is king in the world of crime.
The stunt near the climax of the film when (spoilet alert) David Brian's character falls through the glass of the surgery gallery after being shot... you can clearly see the stunt man bounce on a mattress covered to resemble the operating room floor...lol.
Joan gets shot.... again. No one takes a bullit on film like Joan Crawford. Almost like she wanted it. The bad girl had to pay the price in films back then. Even if she didn't cheat on her man.
Joan should have had a gun well before Johnny Guitar. How much fun would it have been if Veda (Mildred Pierce) got pistol whipped for slapping Joan in the face for tearing up her fake pregnancy check extorted by blackmailing the wealthy boy who had sex with her? SO much fun.
This film gets very slow in the middle as the storyline goes in too many directions... visiting the women's prison, the little boy who must have plasma or he will die. Yawn.
The ending is pretty lackluster. Beth is every bit the hardened criminal as her pals but the fuzz are going to show mercy as she is in a hospital bed recovering from her lover's gunshot wound. The last camera shot ending on Joan's stunning, shiny red (I assume) freshly manicured nails. Where does a busy career criminal gal in the 1950s find time between gunshots and casino robberies to get get her nails done?
That's our little Joanie.
Joan was famous for being glamorous even when the character she played wouldn't have been (Letty Lynton). It has been reported that in her early scenes in Possessed wandering through downtown Los Angeles searching for,"David.... David....David?"... that she had NO make up on at all. Which I believe because you can see her freckles, no lashes, and maybe just a hint of lip liner.
I would still recommend checking this film out. It did mark a milestone in Joan's career as she left Warner Brothers after 9 years to produce her next Academy Award Nominated film Sudden Fear. How cool would it have been if Joan became a producer or director later in her career?
None the less... she did achieve so much for so long in a male dominated field and remained the consummate professional even when her only vehicles were B pics like Berserk and Trog.
Joan's body of work over her 50 year career is worthy of study. Name another actress who took so many risks, came back, flopped, reinvented and came back again, over and over? Bette Davis can't even say that. Well... she probably could... but this review is All About Joan!
Enjoy!
This film was released in 1952. Nearly 70 years later the same obtacles she faced as an actress and in the public eye continues today. But with a twist. With pumped up, botoxed, overly filled facial features, women today get to cheat the cameras by at least 20 years. Joan cheated those cameras decades ago without plastic surgery, continued illuminating the screen by leading with what she knew best; what her fans wanted to see.
This film looks cartoonish for many reasons. The leading one perhaps being the Joan-isms that Felix Feist (the Director) either allowed or intentionally looked in the other direction on. Joan doing Joan... complete with overly dramatic line delivery and plain and simple outdated melodrama moments.
Joan in a trailer park...lol. Really?? And in that scene her body double is so obviously not Joan it's distracting to true fans. Looking at the back of the double's head kissing David Brian... think of the actress who played Lois Lane in the 50s Superman series. Joan has an enormous head on a tiny body. Perhaps it would have been money well spent to not use a double?
Joan hated this film. Reportedly for a variety of reasons. The 50s were a tough time for film stars in general. Televisions were getting more affordable and Joan may have found herself competing with her 30s films now playing at the same times audiences were needed at the theaters buying popcorn and candy. Who was it that said movies were the best vehicle to sell popcorn?
Joan played younger and younger themes at a time when her look was becoming stronger, harsher, as she carried herself as if she was ready for a fight. The tension in this film is similar to her later role as Jenny in Torchsong. Why was Jenny so angry and on edge in nearly every scene?
Joan was famous for playing the strong suffering masochist who endures any torture for... ? Love? Money? Power?
This film could have been better if Joan brought more of the Edith Whitehead energy she displayed in the Damned Don't Cry. Joan's typical character arc often looks like a personality change midstream or by the secon reel. Who didn't want to see a relationship blossom with the Dr.? And her adorable scenes with his daughter as she admits to not knowing how to make Princess Dressing at dinner.
As a film noir, there are great moments on film here with great supporting scenes dramatically lit that carru the story where the lead performances miss the mark. The telephone operator, the nurse, the calls to the Florist on Halsted St. maintain the drama as this storyline stumbles on it's merry way.
It does lack Joan's "A" team behind the scenes with the absence of Monty or Perc Westmore, lighting design that does not make the most of Joan's amazing eyes and bone structure, and flat, not very glamorous costumes. Of course her character does buy these dresses in a small Indiana town...lol. Why? They are a gang of criminals who just scored $90K split four ways. And did anyone notice Joan's character Beth Austin mentioning travellers checks? Cash is king in the world of crime.
The stunt near the climax of the film when (spoilet alert) David Brian's character falls through the glass of the surgery gallery after being shot... you can clearly see the stunt man bounce on a mattress covered to resemble the operating room floor...lol.
Joan gets shot.... again. No one takes a bullit on film like Joan Crawford. Almost like she wanted it. The bad girl had to pay the price in films back then. Even if she didn't cheat on her man.
Joan should have had a gun well before Johnny Guitar. How much fun would it have been if Veda (Mildred Pierce) got pistol whipped for slapping Joan in the face for tearing up her fake pregnancy check extorted by blackmailing the wealthy boy who had sex with her? SO much fun.
This film gets very slow in the middle as the storyline goes in too many directions... visiting the women's prison, the little boy who must have plasma or he will die. Yawn.
The ending is pretty lackluster. Beth is every bit the hardened criminal as her pals but the fuzz are going to show mercy as she is in a hospital bed recovering from her lover's gunshot wound. The last camera shot ending on Joan's stunning, shiny red (I assume) freshly manicured nails. Where does a busy career criminal gal in the 1950s find time between gunshots and casino robberies to get get her nails done?
That's our little Joanie.
Joan was famous for being glamorous even when the character she played wouldn't have been (Letty Lynton). It has been reported that in her early scenes in Possessed wandering through downtown Los Angeles searching for,"David.... David....David?"... that she had NO make up on at all. Which I believe because you can see her freckles, no lashes, and maybe just a hint of lip liner.
I would still recommend checking this film out. It did mark a milestone in Joan's career as she left Warner Brothers after 9 years to produce her next Academy Award Nominated film Sudden Fear. How cool would it have been if Joan became a producer or director later in her career?
None the less... she did achieve so much for so long in a male dominated field and remained the consummate professional even when her only vehicles were B pics like Berserk and Trog.
Joan's body of work over her 50 year career is worthy of study. Name another actress who took so many risks, came back, flopped, reinvented and came back again, over and over? Bette Davis can't even say that. Well... she probably could... but this review is All About Joan!
Enjoy!