Last week was the anniversary of Mommie Dearest the 1981 film based on the 1978 autobiography by Christina Crawford, Joan Crawford‘s adopted daughter. In her book Christina unveils a side of her mother not many had seen before. Joan is portrayed as a cruel, sadistic, alcoholic and abusive mother to her and her adopted brother Christopher (she later adopted two more children, twins Cindy and Cathy).

Mommie Dearest was released after Joan Crawford’s death and many of her friends like Marlene Dietrich, Myrna Loy and Katharine Hepburn denied the abuse events, they agreed Joan was very strict but never abusive. Some other friends like Helen Hayes, June Allyson and Betty Hutton verified that they witnessed the abuse.

We have to agree that Joan was a brilliant actress, one we love and miss. We miss her powerful female characters on Mildred Pierce, Berserk! or Johnny Guitar. But once you see the film Mommie Dearest or read Christina’s book, there’s no way back. It slowly corrupts all your Crawford memories… When Bette Davis gives her rat for lunch on What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? you feel like ‘it’s ok, she deserves that‘. So my advice is, unless you are Hollywood’s Golden Age obsessed, to avoid Mommie Dearest.

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