Is Mommie Dearest based on a true story? - Was Joan Crawford an abusive mother?

[The Last Stand]

Inspired by this thread, I pose a question.

Are the events portrayed in Mommie Dearest, the book, actually true?

For those who do not know, Joan Crawford adopted several children over the years. She wanted to be a mother but had a couple miscarriages.

One of her adopted children, Christina Crawford, wrote a tell-all book describing Joan Crawford as an alcoholic, abusive mother. That same book turned into a movie, a cult classic to say the least.

However, her other children, even her rival, Bette Davis denied said allegations.

Do you think she was abusive? Or is her reputation ruined?

 

[SiccDicc]

People lie in books. So probably fake and gay.

 

[Miss Misery]

Bette Davis' own daughter BD eventually wrote a book about how horrible Bette was as a mother; said book was also roundly denounced.

A few of Joan's friends said they saw behavior from Joan toward Christina that was "questionable" but not outright abusive (note: late 70s standards of "abuse" were in play then). But most of them stood by her and shamed Christina for writing the book - which wasn't even published until after Joan had died.

Personally, I think most of it was exaggerated or outright fabricated. Joan Crawford was a strong ambitious woman who probably was doing what she thought was best within the standards of the time. It's likely the truth would come across as "abusive" now, but in the context of its time? No.

This is actually a pretty fascinating article on the subject: https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2008/03/crawford200803

 

[Xenomorph]

Chrstina is a lying biatch hungry for money lmao Im so g lad Joan had the final laugh cutting her ass out the will.

 

[The Last Stand]

Chrstina is a lying biatch hungry for money lmao Im so g lad Joan had the final laugh cutting her ass out the will.

Then Christina got some of the estate anyway. I do not know the deal with Christopher, but Christina appeared to had milked that for all she could.

Apparently, she even regretted the Mommie Dearest film.

 

[kadoink]

Apparently, she even regretted the Mommie Dearest film.

Not as much as audiences did.

 

[whatever I feel like]

Well, it gave us a classic SNL skit, if nothing else.

 

[High Tea]

The way Joan allegedly parented was by using corporal punishment, which was common when she was raised. It was just starting to be vilified by the time Mommie Dearest was written, so the book coming out wasn't great timing.

From what I gather, Christina and Christopher hated Joan and were therefore not in her will, but because rich people's wills aren't usually followed because everyone the court deems should have gotten something, usually do (see the bulk of Marilyn Monroe's estate going to Lee Strasberg's second wife). they got money regardless of Joan's wishes. I think there is a little warning there.

When Christina and Christopher were little, Joan was still a major player. Actresses were working mothers and often single or married several times, their kids would be some of the first people to feel the effects of basically being latchkey kids raised by a single mother (since Joan was in and out of relationships) and strangers. They had servants of course, but just like day care workers, that's really not the same thing. Feeling abandoned, probably acting out, and therefore getting punished, left an impression. One usually remembers the highs and lows of childhood and we sometimes don't remember how things actually happened. This is also aggravated by trying to sell books and the publisher wanting something juicy.

Do I think she was an amazing parent? No. Servants basically raised her kids. But do I think she was a horrible parent? No. She wasn't a saint, but she also wasn't the evil villain that pop culture has made her.

 

[Scarlett Johansson]

I believe she knew Christina was writing the book, so she wrote her out of the will. Christopher unfortunately got caught up in the counterculture war of the 60s then the Nam stuff. Shame he died though.

Faye Dunaway literally put it best: the only people that know what truly happened are Joan, Tina, and God

 

[BarelyLegalGreta]

I'll be the contrarian and say yes. Instead of adopted dogs imagine those were animals. Plenty of white people pre-1990s beat up their pets. But she treated them the way say Paris Hilton treated her chihuahuas, used as props and then let servants take care of them, and basically neglecting them the rest of the time.

 

[The Last Stand]

They had servants of course, but just like day care workers, that's really not the same thing. Feeling abandoned, probably acting out, and therefore getting punished, left an impression. One usually remembers the highs and lows of childhood and we sometimes don't remember how things actually happened. This is also aggravated by trying to sell books and the publisher wanting something juicy.

Do I think she was an amazing parent? No. Servants basically raised her kids. But do I think she was a horrible parent? No. She wasn't a saint, but she also wasn't the evil villain that pop culture has made her.

Funny you mention that, the movie just focuses on Christina and Joan with a little bit of Christopher. Granted, I heard the script was rewritten against Christina's original vision.

It does not mention her other adopted children, particularly the twins. They had positive experiences to share after Mommie Dearest.

They did mention her being a disciplinary parent and being frustrated but not to the lengths Christina portrayed.

It is speculated that Joan adopted all her children through an illegal broker.

Crawford adopted three children — Christina and twins Cathy and Cindy — as a single parent, which was prohibited in California. She used illegal baby brokers and traveled with baby Christina, who was born to a young unwed woman in Hollywood, to New York and then Nevada to legalize the adoption. Her other child, a son, was adopted when Crawford was married to Phillip Terry. For a brief time, this boy’s name was Phillip Terry II; when the marriage dissolved, he was rechristened Christopher Crawford.

 

[stares at error messages]

It's probably true but exaggerated. It sounds more interesting of an idea then it actually is. Why would you want to read about some adopted bitch's shitty life. Her birth parents could have also been alcoholics. If it were fake, it's not like there are any shortage of child abuse stories going around, it could be like a KF mashup with different threads all being edited to be about the same person. Any way, it a great way to put a nail in the coffin of your needy attention whore mother. It came out in '78 and people are still yacking about it, so the legacy stuck.

 

[The Last Stand]

Joan Crawford was an alcoholic, we've established that. But I doubt she was overly abusive.

While we're at it, let's discuss the star role in Mommie Dearest: Faye Dunaway.

I heard SHE was hard to work with. Even Bette Davis said so.

 

[Oats12345]

I feel some parts are true and other parts are not. That's my opinion.