Joan Crawford plays Lane Bellamy, a gal from the wrong side of the tracks. A carnival dancer/cooch wiggler who finds herself stuck in a small, southern, politically corrupt town, she soon develops a relationship with the sheriff of the small town, and decides she likes the small-town life. There's only one problem, though. The slimy head sheriff, deliciously played by Sydney Greenstreet, wants her out of town. This is the kind of role Crawford was born to play, and besides the fact that Joan is a bit too old for her part, "Flamingo Road" is still ridiculously entertaining.
Wonderfully film-noir with crackling dialoge, "Flamingo Road" was made during Joan's peak years. Hot off "Mildred Pierce" and "The Damned Don't Cry", this is a worthy follow-up effort. With Joan taking on political corruption in a small, Southern town- it's impossible not to enjoy this. Besides Crawford in her peak years, the always welcome Sydney Greenstreet plays a memorably corpulent and evil villain. Amazing that at 45, Crawford could still pull off a role like this, and probably do it in her sleep if asked. Always riveting, she commands attention, dominating every scene she's in. But that's just business as usual for Joan. "Flamingo Road" would even inspire the short-lived but infamous 80's series, starring Stella Stevens and Morgan Fairchild. Even if you're not a fan of Joan Crawford, it's hard not to get sucked into a film like "Flamingo Road".
The creamy 1959 classic "The Best Of Everything" is a high-gloss, big-screen soap opera centering on the lives and loves of four young career girls working at a New York publishing firm. Hope Lange, Suzy Parker, Martha Hyer, and Diane Baker star with the always glamorous and delicious Joan Crawford. Joan plays Amanda Farrow, a no-holds-barred bitch who just might have a heart of gold under all that tough and direct demeanor. She's the wise and older career gal who's been around the block or two, while presiding over the younger women.
Johnny Mathis croons the title tune, while the fabulously 50's credits in hot pink roll by- this film is a 50's lovers delight. This is the 50's version of "Valley Of the Dolls". Not an Oscar-winner by any means, but it's a gorgeously filmed 50's soap that never fails for one second to entertain. You just can't beat the glossy Cinemascope films of the 1950's and 60's, and this one is no exception. "The Best Of Everything" is chock full of gorgeous shots of a bustling downtown Manhattan, gloriously bitchy dialogue, male characters who are nothing more than sexist pigs, sensational retro costumes and set designs, and fabulous 50's style, with a sudsy soap opera to boot.
It's a fun and campy time capsule that gives us a look at working women and the obstacles they faced in a male-dominated 1950's. Practically an urban "Peyton Place", it's all-around delicious!
Joan Crawford won her first and only Oscar in 1945 with "Mildred Pierce", a deliciously watchable film-noir/mystery/soap opera. The movie opens with the murder of a slimy lounge lizard, Monte Beragon. Upon dying, he croaks a single word, "Mildred". This begins the mystery of "Mildred Pierce". Joan Crawford delivers a sensational performance as Mildred, proving once and for all that she was an actress to be reckoned with.
Joan plays a woman who leaves her philandering husband and makes a life for herself and her two daughers- the oldest being a cold-hearted, spoiled bitch played to icy perfection by Ann Blyth. This is classic film-noir- add up the top notch acting, spectacular cinematography, lighting, and sets, and you've got a great way to spend a rainy afternoon. Possibly Crawford's finest performance, "Mildred Pierce" is an Oscar-winning classic that also boasts a sparkling supporting performance by Eve Arden.
Two aging Hollywood sisters live together in a dark, spooky mansion. One, a former child-star who's career never amounted to anything afterwards, takes care of her invalid sister who was a much bigger star in her day. Now bitter rivals, the invalid sister, (Joan Crawford), is at the mercy of her angry sister, (Bette Davis), who's slowly unraveling into insanity...
The Grand Dame of Cinema Schlock- "Whatever Happened To Baby Jane?" will never cease to amaze, fascinate, and entertain. This movie not only gave Bette Davis and Joan Crawford a much-needed comeback, but also kicked off a wave of movies that would become known as 'horror hag'. Just take an aging Hollywood star, put her in a cheaply made horror movie, and presto! Audiences flocked to these kind of flicks, and today they are all bona-fide classics of high camp.
Now, "Whatever Happened To Baby Jane?" is actually a great movie- Bette and Joan are certainly a formidable match onscreen. The pairing of these two giant Hollywood icons alone would have cemented its legendary status. But besides that, we are treated to a genuinely creepy and unsettling look at old Hollwood, ala "Sunset Boulevard". Way more than just a cheap horror film, "WEHTBJ" is a riveting psychological study of 'stars' in Hollywood, and how desperate they will become to keep those stars shining. It's cheaply made, but rather creative and very influential.
Bette Davis and Joan Crawford simply could not be replaced in this movie- they are absolutely pitch perfect. Bette scowls, brays, shrieks, and howls- she is truly a tour-de-force in acting here. There is a reason why she's called one of our greatest actresses of all time. As great as Bette is, Joan equally holds her own here. We immediately sympathize with Blanche, and we're with her all the way. Considering the myth of their supposed 'feud', it certainly makes watching this movie all the more fascinating. You can practically feel the underlying tension ooze off the screen, what with the legendary rumours of their hatred for one another. Whether any of this is true or not, it certainly adds to the movie.
This movie was a huge hit when released in 1962- and made such an impact that there is now a licensed action figure set of the two stars. It's a horror classic, and one of the biggest and most memorable films of the 60s. The character of Baby Jane ranked #44 on the American Film Institute's list of the 50 Best Villains of American Cinema. "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane" inspired a slew of knock-off imitations and drag queens around the world as well. It also resurrected the careers of Miss Davis and Miss Crawford. And we'll forever have the charms of "But ya are, Blanche, ya are in that chair!"
Kids, Joan Crawford with an ax is all you need to know for this one. After the success of "Whatever Happened To Baby Jane?" in 1962, suddenly middle-aged actresses everywhere- (Crawford, Bette Davis, Barbara Stanwyck, Olivia DeHavilland, etc.) were starring left and right in cheaply made horror movies. "Straight-Jacket" was Joan's follow-up to "Baby Jane" after leaving "Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte "(which is a story all on its own...). The plot is simple. Joan finds her husband in bed with another woman. She brutally murders them in bed with an ax. After being institutionalized for 20 years, she is released to live a normal life. She goes to live with her daughter on a farm. She seems alright at first, but has Joan fully recovered? But she quickly starts to wig out as a series of brutal ax murders rock the farm. Is someone trying to drive her back into madness? Or is it Joan, still crazy as a loon? I live for this kind of stuff.
First of all, "Straight-Jacket" is an absolute hoot from start to finish. There are so many things to love about this movie, I wouldn't even know where to begin. Joan Crawford is the star of the picture, for one. I'm sold already. Joan Crawford brandishing an ax. Yes please. And the infamous scene with Joan meeting her daughter's fiance is simply out of of this world and must be seen to be believed. She's decked out like an 80-year old hooker in a floral print dress, dangling bracelets and black wig with bangs, right? Swilling bourbon like a lumberjack, she blatantly comes on to the poor guy in a scene that's creepy and disturbing... yet you can't take your eyes off it. Besides Joan in all her glory, you have to love the blatant placing of Pepsi products. "Straight-Jacket" also boasts a truly original, fun depiction of the Columbia Pictures logo at the end- complete with severed head lying at her feet. Miss Crawford goes about all this madness with the utmost sincerity, which is what makes it and her so watchable. "Straight-Jacket" simply is must-see entertainment. Whether you're a Joan Crawford fan (who isn't?), a William Castle fan, or just a fan of campy, retro B- movies in general, then "Straight-Jacket" is the one for you.
