Mommie Dearest (1981)

Director:

Frank Perry

Writers:

Christina Crawford (book)
Robert Getchell (writer)
(more)

Release Date:

18 September 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Tagline:

To my darling Christina, with love...Mommie Dearest

Plot:

Mommie Dearest, best selling memoir, turned motion picture, depicts the abusive and traumatic adoptive upbringing of Christina Crawford at the hands of her mother...screen queen Joan Crawford.

Plot Keywords:

Hollywood | Star | Perfection | Mansion | Adopted Daughter

Awards:

6 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Faye Dunaway	...	Joan Crawford
Diana Scarwid	...	Christina Crawford (adult)
Steve Forrest	...	Greg Savitt
Howard Da Silva	...	Louis B. Mayer
Mara Hobel	...	Christina Crawford (child)
Rutanya Alda	...	Carol Ann
Harry Goz	...	Alfred Steele
Michael Edwards	...	Ted Gelber
Jocelyn Brando	...	Barbara Bennett
Priscilla Pointer	...	Mrs. Chadwick
Joe Abdullah	...	Captain
Gary Allen	...	Jimmy
Selma Archerd	...	Connie
Adrian Aron	...	Wedding Guest
Xander Berkeley	...	Christopher Crawford (adult)
Matthew Campion	...	Actor in Soap
Carolyn Coates	...	Mother Superior
Jerry Douglas	...	Radio Interviewer
Margaret Fairchild	...	Mother Superior
Phillip R. Allen	...	Pepsi Executive #1
James Kirkwood Jr.	...	Master of Ceremonies
Michael Hawkins	...	Pepsi Executive #2 (as Michael Gainsborough)
Matthew Faison	...	Pepsi Executive #3
Peter Jason	...	Pepsi Executive #4
Ellen Feldman	...	Ginny
Robert Harper	...	David
Cathy Lind Hayes	...	Nurse
Victoria James	...	Photographer
Dawn Jeffory	...	Vera
Virginia Kiser	...	Beth Simpson
S. John Launer	...	Pepsi Chairman
Russ Marin	...	Funeral Director
Nicholas Mele	...	Assistant Director #2
Belita Moreno	...	Belinda Rosenberg
Warren Munson	...	Lawyer
Alice Nunn	...	Helga
Norman Palmer	...	Male Guest
David Price	...	Tony
Jeremy Scott Reinbolt	...	Christopher Crawford (child)
Michael Talbott	...	Driver
Arthur Taxier	...	Decorator
Joseph Warren	...	Mr. Dodd
Erica Wexler	...	Susan
Dick McGarvin	...	Tour Bus Driver
Brent Dunsford	...	Fan
Joseph Dypwick	...	Fan
Wendy Pitzer	...	Fan
David Sanderson	...	Fan
Ian Bruce	...	Assistant Director
Peter Eastman	...	Doctor
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Josh Gans	...	Boy on carousel (uncredited)

Directed by
Frank Perry

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Christina Crawford		book
Robert Getchell		writer
Tracy Hotchner		writer
Frank Perry		writer
Frank Yablans		writer

Produced by
David Koontz	....	executive producer
Neil A. Machlis	....	associate producer
Terence O'Neill	....	executive producer
Frank Yablans	....	producer

Original Music by
Henry Mancini

Cinematography by
Paul Lohmann

Film Editing by
Peter E. Berger

Casting by
Nancy Klopper
Lynn Stalmaster

Production Design by
Bill Malley

Art Direction by
Harold Michelson

Set Decoration by
Richard C. Goddard

Costume Design by
Irene Sharaff

Makeup Department
Kathryn Blondell	....	hair stylist: Ms. Dunaway
Claude Díaz	....	wig maker: Faye Dunaway
Lee Harman	....	makeup artist: Ms. Dunaway
Charles H. Schram	....	makeup artist
Vivienne Walker	....	hair stylist
Sylvia Nava	....	hair technician (uncredited)

Production Management
Neil A. Machlis	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Alan B. Curtiss	....	second assistant director
Michael Daves	....	first assistant director
Robert J. Doherty	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Matty Azzarone	....	assistant property master
Kent H. Johnson	....	property master
Eugene S. Kelley	....	construction coordinator

Sound Department
Clint Althouse	....	boom operator
David E. Campbell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Denis Dutton	....	sound effects editor
Cecelia Hall	....	sound effects editor
Sean Hanley	....	dialogue loop editor
David J. Hudson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Larry Jost	....	sound mixer
John T. Reitz	....	sound re-recording mixer
George Watters II	....	sound effects editor

Special Effects by
Joseph P. Mercurio	....	special effects
Ken Speed	....	special effects assistant

Stunts
Sherry Peterson	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Doug J. Campbell	....	dolly grip (as Douglas J. Campbell)
R.B. Garig	....	dolly grip
J. Michael Marlett	....	gaffer
John C. Moulds	....	second assistant camera
Leo J. Napolitano	....	first assistant camera
Ralph Nelson	....	still photographer (as Ralph Nelson Jr.)
Guy Polzel	....	key grip
Timothy E. Wade	....	camera operator

Casting Department
Deborah Brown	....	casting: New York

Costume and Wardrobe Department
James P. Cullen	....	costumer
Bernadene C. Mann	....	costumer: Ms. Dunaway
Eric Seelig	....	costume supervisor: men
Andrea E. Weaver	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Greig McRitchie	....	assistant film editor

Music Department
June Edgerton	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Joel Marrow	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Mauri Syd Gayton	....	production coordinator
Ileen Maisel	....	assistant: Mr. Yablans
Marshall Schlom	....	script supervisor
Jonathan A. Zimbert	....	technical advisor

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1981) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1983) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• CIC Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Runtime:

129 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:AA (Ontario) | Iceland:16 | UK:15 (video rating) (1987) | UK:AA (original rating) | Sweden:15 | USA:R (original rating) | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Finland:K-16 | USA:PG (re-rating after appeal) | West Germany:12 | Australia:M | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Chadwick School - 26800 Academy Drive, Palos Verdes Peninsula, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

The movie's line "No wire hangers!" was voted as the #89 of "The 100 Greatest Movie Lines" by Premiere in 2007.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Diana Scarwid's stunt double's face briefly visible in a long shot during the choking scene.

Quotes:

Carol Ann: Your mother's been practicing and practicing. You know how perfect she always wants to be. Well this time, she must be perfect. Do you understand?
Christina Crawford: She wants everything to be perfect.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Wigstock: The Movie (1995)

Soundtrack:

Im Sitting On Top Of The World

"Why can't you treat me like I would be treated by any stranger on the street?"

"Because I am NOT one of your FANS!"

Simply said, this is superb trash. Enjoyable b.s. Faye Dunaway lobbied hard for the role of Joan Crawford (Christina Crawford wanted Anne Bancroft) and she admirably sinks into the part with relish. I loved the opening montage of "Joan" preparing for her day early in the morning: scrubbing her hands and nails, numbing her face in ice cubes, leafing through a script in her car, getting made-up, and then whirling around in her chair and letting loose with a breathy, "Let's go!"... Sadly, Frank Perry's direction is awkward and unsure, cutting off some sequences before they're allowed to build and letting other scenes ramble on. The movie doesn't do justice to the riveting book by Joan's adopted daughter Christina, committing to film the book's highlights, the talked-about bits where Crawford freaked out, but skimping on the details. We learn absolutely nothing about Christina's many tormented years in an L.A. Catholic Boarding School (we see her check in and we see her check out). Joan's marriage to Pepsi czar Alfred Steele and her three other adopted kids are also given the short shrift. What we do get with "Mommie Dearest" is pure, unadulterated Faye. She acts up a storm and revels in these primal opportunities. It's one of the highlights of her spotty career. **1/2 from ****