Joan Crawford is a Hollywood legend. As long as her films remain available to be seen by the public, Joan Crawford will remain unforgettable to movie lovers around the world. Her immense talent is only surpassed by the longevity (1925-1970) of her appeal.
Crawford's ability to adapt to the expectations of Hollywood and film audiences enabled her to successfully entertain for decades. She creates her heroines rather than follow the lead of any other actress when playing a similar role. More ofter than not, it is they who follow her lead.
A Hollywood treasure who can only be defined as a true "movie star," Joan Crawford would light up every frame of a film in which she would appear. And her star persona was not limited to the screen as this quote from Crawford explicates, "I never go outside unless I look like Joan Crawford the movie star. If you want to see the girl next door, go next door."
From the very first day in 1925 when she arrived in Hollywood, Joan began a process of self-creation. She transformed herself from a slightly pudgy, undistinguished looking, aspiring actress into the mesmerizing characterizations the film camera would come to love for decades.
It was this power to adapt that would never permit movie lovers to tire of seeing her onscreen. Initially seen in only formula films with MGM, her move to Warner Brothers Pictures started out slowly. So slowly that it was rumored the studio was having difficulty finding the right pictures for Joan and were searching a reason to drop her.
This changed dramatically with her Academy Award winning starring role in 1945's Mildred Pierce. It was this role, as well as many others, that led Joan to be considered the master of the "women's picture." Joan's stardom with Warner Brothers Pictures would continue for another twenty years.
Her performances as a strong, determined women who, in the attempt to achieve love and/or success, displayed incredible spiritual strength. To the women in the audience, Joan seemed real, someone like them, who wanted something better out of life.
In reality, this same strength and tenacity paved the way for her unwavering pursuit of success. Entertainment Weekly has voted Joan as the 47th Greatest Movie Star of All Time. On the American Film Institutes "100 Years...100 Stars," she is ranked the #10 Female Greatest Screen Legend.
"I'll give Joan Crawford very high honors. She knew what she wanted, and she went out and got it."
Joseph Mankiewicz
Joan Crawford was the epitome of stardom during Hollywood's Golden Age; much more than just an actress...she was a true Hollywood movie star.
Crawford's ability to adapt to the expectations of Hollywood and film audiences enabled her to successfully entertain for decades. She creates her heroines rather than follow the lead of any other actress when playing a similar role. More ofter than not, it is they who follow her lead.
A Hollywood treasure who can only be defined as a true "movie star," Joan Crawford would light up every frame of a film in which she would appear. And her star persona was not limited to the screen as this quote from Crawford explicates, "I never go outside unless I look like Joan Crawford the movie star. If you want to see the girl next door, go next door."
From the very first day in 1925 when she arrived in Hollywood, Joan began a process of self-creation. She transformed herself from a slightly pudgy, undistinguished looking, aspiring actress into the mesmerizing characterizations the film camera would come to love for decades.
It was this power to adapt that would never permit movie lovers to tire of seeing her onscreen. Initially seen in only formula films with MGM, her move to Warner Brothers Pictures started out slowly. So slowly that it was rumored the studio was having difficulty finding the right pictures for Joan and were searching a reason to drop her.
This changed dramatically with her Academy Award winning starring role in 1945's Mildred Pierce. It was this role, as well as many others, that led Joan to be considered the master of the "women's picture." Joan's stardom with Warner Brothers Pictures would continue for another twenty years.
Her performances as a strong, determined women who, in the attempt to achieve love and/or success, displayed incredible spiritual strength. To the women in the audience, Joan seemed real, someone like them, who wanted something better out of life.
In reality, this same strength and tenacity paved the way for her unwavering pursuit of success. Entertainment Weekly has voted Joan as the 47th Greatest Movie Star of All Time. On the American Film Institutes "100 Years...100 Stars," she is ranked the #10 Female Greatest Screen Legend.
"I'll give Joan Crawford very high honors. She knew what she wanted, and she went out and got it."
Joseph Mankiewicz
Joan Crawford was the epitome of stardom during Hollywood's Golden Age; much more than just an actress...she was a true Hollywood movie star.
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