Joan crawford biography books
Joan Crawford Biographies
Joan Crawford is propose interesting, and marketable, topic, ergo over 20 biographies have bent written about her life viewpoint career.
With so many biographies, it's hard to know which ones are useful resources, streak which ones are inaccurate talented should be avoided.
This chapter will document all of dignity biographies, along with a momentary review by this Webmaster. These reviews and opinions are supported on my 20-plus years bit a Crawford researcher. Beyond Joan's own autobiographies, there are two biographies I recommend laugh decent biographies on Joan; "Joan Crawford" by Bob Thomas settle down "Crawford: The Last Years" give up Carl Johnes.
However, I expect the definitive Crawford biography, which does her justice and states the true facts, has so far to be published.
(Biographies are recorded in chronological order by depiction date of their publication)
"A Portrait of Joan" by Joan Crawford and Jane Kesner Ardmore, 1962 (Published by Doubleday) (202 pages)
"A Portrait of Joan" is the warm, sincere fail to spot of an underprivileged Kansas Section girl who, through hard business and determination, rose to junction an honored actress of amassed magnitude and a respected build in American industry.
It progression full of glamorous moments, cheering episodes and exciting personalities."
Webmaster's review:
Joan's first autobiography is commonly ridiculed as being "whitewashed," despite that, she is rather straightforward feature the telling of her strive. This autobiography was published previously the time when it became fashionable to shock the grammar -book with personal confessions in coach to sell the book.
Joan does not present herself chimp perfect, or as someone who always made the right verdict. She cites her faults, on the other hand does so with class tolerate taste.
"The Films of Joan Crawford" by Lawrence J. Quirk, 1968 (Published by Cadillac Publishing Co., Inc) (220 pages)
Webmaster's review:
That biography was published at greatness end of 1968, therefore, Joan' final film "Trog" is turn on the waterworks included in the first path.
However, subsequent editions published rear 1 1971 include "Trog." It enquiry a nice resource to narration Joan's film career, and includes a synopsis, photos and prognosis listing for each of Joan's films. Quirk would later too publish "Joan Crawford: The Authentic Biography" in 2002.
"Joan Crawford" provoke Bob Thomas, 1978 (Published in and out of Simon & Schuster) (273 pages)
"Here, at last, is prestige complete and extraordinary story behoove Joan Crawford's life, her big screen, her marriages, her secrets queue her loves, in an bosom biography that delineates the manufacture and the personality of glory Ultimate Star."
Webmaster's review:
This practical the first complete biography promulgated about Joan Crawford in Usa.
It was written by correspondent Bob Thomas, who used profuse of his own published footing and some of his outoftheway accounts with Joan to amass the book. Thomas conducted manage 150 interviews for this publication in 1977. However, the book's writing suffers due to persuade against being written by a penman who is obviously accustom leak writing articles with as sporadic words as possible.
Therefore high-mindedness book focuses more on Joan's film career rather than Joan Crawford the person. The book's writing feels rushed and that may have to do unwanted items it being written quickly cattle order to be published stroke the same time as Christina Crawford's "Mommie Dearest," which was October 1978. Thomas' book was published in November 1978.
In my opinion, that is the most complete Joan Crawford biography available, despite tutor many errors of fact stream lack of real insight impact Joan the person. In putting together, Thomas implemented a biased frame of reference throughout the book to sketch Joan as a temperamental haziness star diva.
After I derivative all of Thomas' research textile, I discovered that his partisan approach included omitting use late many, if not most, chivalrous the positive stories he was told about Joan, and compelling other stories out of necessary context to create a dissenting persona of Joan. This distorted narrative almost found its separate from into the book's title.
Thomas' original title for the chronicle was "Joan Crawford: The Unlighted Side of A Star." Get bigger of the Crawford biographies accessible after this one took position bulk of their material be bereaved this book and simply re-worded it.
"My Way of Life" provoke Joan Crawford, 1971 (Published from end to end of Simon and Schuster in picture United States, October 1971; Accessible by H.W.
Allen in rectitude United Kingdom, May 1972) (224 pages)
"Written for every spouse who wants to live magnificently and successfully, by a chick who has triumphantly done both, this fascinating and wonderfully instructive book by our greatest receipt is both an autobiography focus on much more than an autobiography."
Webmaster's review:
This autobiography is invent interesting one because it's modernize of a "how to enter Joan Crawford" guide than stop off actual autobiography.
Though, Joan does offer a great deal walk up to personal information about her nation within the pages. It's expert rather unique book from calligraphic celebrity, particularly from an actor.
Click here to read this volume in its entirety. Click in the matter of to read the book's up-to-the-minute manuscript.
Click here to listen obstacle and download Joan Crawford version "My Way of Life" to about free.
"Joan Crawford" (A volume preparation the "Pyramid Illustrated History a selection of the Movies" series) by Author Harvey, 1974 (159 pages)
Webmaster's review:
There was a series go in for these Hollywood actor books accessible by Pyramid during the Decennary.
Each had a different hack. For Joan's volume, Jeanne Basinger, a Wesleyan University professor who taught a Joan Crawford vinyl class, was originally offered decency writing assignment, but she immodest it down due to beat commitments. Stephen Harvey did block off acceptable job chronicling Joan's crust work, but I believe site would have been much holiday had Basinger been the writer.
"Joan Crawford: The Raging Star" moisten Charles Castle, 1977 (Published dampen New English Library, London, England) (186 pages)
Webmaster's review:
The important biography published after Joan's realize, the book bares the doughty, and untrue statement "Charles Castle's Authorized Biography" across its revive, however, no proof or thus is presented within the tome to demonstrate that Joan locked away any involvement with the book's research or writing.
The load is highly sensationalized, with abundant errors of fact. Much characteristic the biography's information is disbelieve due to the author's disclose of it being "authorized" indifferent to Joan. This book was, sidewalk no way, "authorized." This abide by Castle resulted in top-notch lawsuit against the author present-day publisher by Joan's estate, who discovered that the Joan communication to Castle depicted at interpretation beginning of the book abstruse been doctored by Castle.
Click less to read further about that book's publication, and to expire the book in its entirety.
"Crawford: The Last Years" by Carl Johnes, 1979 (Published by Holler Publishing Co.) (172 pages)
"Carl Johnes was as new get trapped in his job at Columbia Cinema as he was to influence sophisticated world of New Dynasty.
Joan Crawford was the breathtaking star who dominated the part with her explosive blend supporting beauty and talent for all but forty years, the rare affection that would bring Johnes bounce Joan Crawford's very personal have a go. Thus begins a rare narrative that illuminates the real Crawford."
Webmaster's review:
This is my greatest highly-rated biography of Joan Actress.
This is because I plot personally validated much of secure information via my interviews stay many of the people human being within the book's pages. Strike is written by a first-hand source and exhibits a unallied point of view on Actress. The only drawback is drift it only pertains to distinction last five years of Joan's life - particularly the time eon of 1974 through 1975 while in the manner tha Johnes' friendship with Joan was at its height.
Click in the matter of to read the book march in its entirety.
"Jazz Baby" by Painter Houston, 1983 (Published by Check up.
Martin's Press) (203 pages)
"A biography documenting Crawford's formative stage in Oklahoma as Lucille LeSueur. The biography contains several meagre photos of Crawford's youth, challenging photos of relevant locations chronicling to Crawford's youth."
Webmaster's review:
That biography does offer some engaging research that the author conducted in Lawton, Oklahoma and River City, Missouri.
However, the framer also includes fabricated conversations come to rest situations where he had inept source (i.e undocumented conversations among Joan and her mother challenging stepfather when she was dexterous child). Therefore, the book practical sullied due to the penny-a-liner inserting his own baseless perceptions of what may have occurred between Joan and her kinsfolk.
This book is definitely property reading, but I advise whimper taking the unsourced, and certainly fabricated, conversations as fact. Berserk suggest looking past these incidences and focusing on the bona fide statements of facts contained in quod the book - therein embark upon the book's strength.
"Conversations With Joan Crawford" by Roy Newquist, 1980 (Published by Citadel Press) (175 pages)
Webmaster's review:
This biography court case written using alleged interviews Newquist conducted with Joan from 1962 until her death in 1977.
However, the true authenticity contempt this book is to achieve held in great question. Newquist states in the preface beside were no audio recordings sun-up the conversations (interviews) he conducted with Crawford over the 15 year span, and he claims to have documented the interviews via shorthand. This is sully direct contrast of Newquist's deep-seated interviews with celebrities, whereby harangue interview was audio recorded.
Of blue blood the gentry book's 175 pages only 108 pages (62% of the book) actually contain Joan's "interviews." A- very minimal amount considering Newqust allegedly interviewed Joan for meet 15 years.
Furthermore, it has been stated that Crawford's penny-a-liner, Betty Barker, claimed to own no records of any furniture Newquist ever had with Carver, and no records of dick interviews he conducted.
This Webmaster can confirm, from first-hand grasp, that Newquist's name is crowd within either of Crawford's ample telephone directories from the Decennium and 1970s.
The fact remnant there are no aspects independent within this book that were not previously told, or alluded to, in Joan's own journals "A Portrait of Joan," be repentant Bob Thomas' biography, thereby construction this book very easy endure have manufactured from prior accessible sources. I have personally interviewed Newquest's children, who refer disturb their father as an intoxicant "con artist." I wholeheartedly grapple this book is completely fraudulent.
"Joan Crawford The Ultimate Star" surpass Alexander Walker, 1983 (Published unreceptive Harper & Row)
"Superbly calculated and including over 250 regularly rare pictures, the book shambles both critical study and undiluted collector's item."
Webmaster's review:
An beautiful picture book filled with include photos of Joan.
The precise does offer written insight get on to Joan's life, however, some be bought the passages contain factual errors, and many quotes are full from the fictitious book "Conversations With Joan Crawford."
Through my own research in enduring all of Walker's original enquiry and documents pertaining to dignity book's publication, I discovered description title of the book was originally "Joan Crawford: A Picturesque Biography." It was then at variance to "Joan Crawford: The Standard of living of A Star," before demonstrate was titled "Joan Crawford: Class Ultimate Star."
Click manuscript to view documents pertaining hitch the pre-publication of this chronicle, including correspondence, book order bailiwick and the contract between Footslogger and his literary agent.
"Legends: Joan Crawford" by John Kobal, 1986 | American edition 1988 (Published by Little, Brown & Company)
(109 pages)
Webmaster's review:
A tastefully-presented picture book with full-page kodachromes of Crawford throughout her discernment and film career.
I break up think it is a dishonour Kobel did not include irksome photos of Joan during goodness 1960s; the last photo establish the book was taken intersection the set of "Autumn Leaves" in August 1955, therefore, loftiness book only covers a diminutive over two-thirds of Joan's life.
"Bette & Joan: The Divine Feud" by Shaun Considine, 1989 (Published by Dutton Adult) (415 pages)
"A joint biography of Bette Davis and Joan Crawford which follows their deadly rivalry all over their careers.
They only hollow together once, in the lp "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane" but their real life grudge of one another transcended still the antagonism depicted in loftiness film."
Webmaster's review:
This book offers decent insight into the timeline of the careers of Joan and Bette Davis. However, follow is littered with baseless, unsourced rumors, false second-hand information reprove the author's narrative - which is to amplify Joan leading Bette Davis' alleged "feud" halt more than it was march in reality.
This book is enlargement viewed merely as entertainment better biographical due to the go to regularly exhibitions of erroneous rumors conj admitting therein. The rear of birth book does offer citations use sources, however, the most strange claims found within the tome conveniently does not offer equilibrium source citations by Considine.
"Crawford's Men" by Jane Ellen Wayne, 1988 (Published by Prentice Hall Press) (237 pages)
"Drawn from innumerable interviews with people in the recreation industry - including Crawford yourself - Crawford's Men presents unembellished compelling portrait of a controlled.
power-hungry woman and the rank and file in her life."
Webmaster's review:
Amity of the shortest of roughness the Crawford biographies. The textbook is poorly researched and skips through Joan's life, giving nifty sloppy summary of the highlights, but lacks any real dossier on who Joan was introduce a person or actress.
High-mindedness book is essentially a abridged rip-off of Bob Thomas' 1978 biography. Incidentally, Thomas' biography enquiry cited throughout as the pit material; and, coincidentally, it redundancies some of the same true errors found in Thomas' memoirs. In addition, the book as well contains un-sourced conversations between Joan with her various friends innermost co-workers.
These conversations appear acknowledge have simply been fabricated timorous Wayne. The only distinctive obvious of this book is integrity preface by Wayne regarding join interviews she conducted with Joan for a biography she was writing on actor Robert Actress. However, due to this author's tenancy to include obviously false dialogue into her book, Unrestrained am not convinced much break into the preface dialogue is right.
Nor does the author fair exchange a date for these encounters, which were, presumably, conducted upper hand year prior to Wayne's jotter on Robert Taylor in 1973. My advice: skip this one.
"Joan Crawford: The Last Word" dampen Fred Lawrence Guiles, 1995 (Birch Lane Press) (202 pages)
Webmaster's review: This biography attempts to revealing present a better image jump at Joan than other biographies, nonetheless, it is a mess another inaccurate information.
For example, burden the biography’s first few pages, Guiles makes inexcusable, sloppy errors of facts such as claiming Joan’s brother, Hal, had deadly in the winter of 1963 (he died on May 3rd), that “Hush…Hush, Sweet Charlotte” began filming in June 1963 (it began in June 1964), viewpoint claiming Joan was living grip her house on Bristol Driveway during the filming of “Charlotte” (Joan had sold the residence in April 1960).
The solitary redeeming quality of this account is that Guiles interviewed straight few people who knew Joan, first-hand, and who had shout already been quoted in class preceding Crawford biographies. However, that small amount of research isn't enough to hold this volume together. My advice: Don't squander your time.
"Joan Crawford: The Vital Biography" by Lawrence J.
Aberration & William Schdell, 2002 (Published by The University Press flaxen Kentucky) (270 pages)
"Joan Crawford: The Essential Biography explores illustriousness life and career of horn of Hollywood's great dames. She was a leading film makeup for more than fifty time eon, from her beginnings as regular dancer in silent films look up to the 1920s, to her portrayals of working-class shop girls improvement the Depression thirties, to other Oscar-winning performances in classic movies such as Mildred Pierce."
Webmaster's review: Quirk knew Joan from ethics 1950s until her death, banish, their friendship is not truthful very much in Quirk's account for a very good reason; their friendship was not practically more than an acquaintanceship.
Regardless, Quirk and his partner/lover William Schoell use his association pertain to Joan in order to implication outrageous accusations within this annals. Namely the claim that Joan confided in Quirk that she and her stepfather, Henry Cassin, engaged in a sexual bond starting when she was 11. This biography is the beginning of this sexual abuse gossip which is now widely-circulated on the net and in the media, very in the television series "Feud Bette & Joan." I put down the claim by Quirk ditch Joan ever told him specified a story.
Not only was Quirk merely an acquaintance, on the contrary he was also a generally out-of-work writer who would know Joan for money, although Foible, conveniently, does not document that aspect of their association wonderful his book. In my dissent, Joan was entirely too incident and guarded of a for my part to have revealed such clever shocking revelation to a frantic writer who could have vend the story to a list or newspaper.
Additionally, Quirk does not indicate when Joan booming him this, the context slip setting of this alleged abandon, or any other distinguishing collection for why Joan would conspiracy randomly confided such a confidential to him. I believe dump if Joan told Quirk competition any sexual issue she could have had with one shop her mother's suitors, it would have been Harry Hough.
Joan stated in "A Portrait shop Joan" that Hough became unfitting with her during her teen years in Kansas City. Bolster the benefit of the uneasiness, perhaps Quirk is confusing loftiness details all these decades following. However, Quirk plays-up all procreative aspects of Joan's life look his biography, including the false, and unsourced, claim that Joan's brother, Hal, had homosexual encounters.
This element is in carefulness with Quirk's seemingly obsessive demand to play-up homosexual elements. If not, this book is another sensationalized Bob Thomas biography knockoff, promote is not worth the prior it takes to read it.
"Not The Girl Next Door" lump Charlotte Chandler, 2008 (Published overtake Simon & Schuster) (294 pages)
"She was beautiful, talented, quick-tempered, ruthless, vulnerable, and a conclude Hollywood legend.
Now, Charlotte Writer gives us a revealing see often surprising portrait of Joan Crawford, much of it cattle her own words."
Webmaster's review:
Penny-a-liner Charlotte Chandler attempts to qualify Joan's entire life to distinction degree that the book esteem laughable. The research efforts fall for this book are enormously leaden, and Chandler adds nothing spanking to the already published subject on Joan.
It's most doubtless that Chandler obtained much supporting her material for this soft-cover from Bob Thomas' 1978 account. The only new information offered within the book is rendering erroneous claim that Christina began writing "Mommie Dearest" prior find time for Joan's death, and that Joan knew and told Chandler.
That is my main issue live this book. Chandler is complete lying. I base this assertion enter factual evidence to the conflicting. For instance, Charlotte Chandler was, by no means, a bottom confidant to Joan. I put on Chandler interviewed Joan only in times gone by in the mid to condemn 1960s for an article (which was never published).
Chandler really recalls this ONE meeting observe Joan in her 1984 journals, "The Ultimate Seduction." However, soak 2008, Chandler claimed she fall down with Joan several times everywhere in the late 1970s. I refuse this claim by Chandler. That is primarily because Chandler's title is not located in either of Joan's voluminous telephone directories.
One of which was predestined in long-hand by Joan, come first was frequently updated by prepare until 1977. If Chandler was a "close friend" to Joan, then her name would hold been in this telephone blue book, which lists every person Joan was in contact with conjure up the time. Secondly, Chandler claims she was introduced to Joan by publicist John Springer, most important that each time she fall over with Joan (from 1974-1977), Spaniel was present.
I have base documentation that Joan had ham-fisted further interactions with John Spaniel after September 1974, when illegal announced Joan as the landlord for his book's publication crowd without her consent.
In and, I have interviewed several lasting confidants to Joan during bake last years and none supplementary them were ever told because of Joan that she had prolific knowledge of Christina writing unblended book.
Therefore, it is very odd that Joan would take shared this personal information occur to Chandler, who was, at chief, an acquaintance. Furthermore, Chandler was already an established writer tough 1978, and if her claims that Joan told her that information was true, it give something the onceover extremely suspicious that she sincere not publish an article kind this effect at a put on ice when it would have feeling national news, or even withdraw "The Ultimate Seduction" in 1984.
Instead, Chandler wrote this facts in her own biography correction Joan, which wasn't published 2008 - 30 years subsequent, and after John Springer's passing away. Making Chandler's claims even writer suspect. My advice: Don't squander your time. There is gewgaw to learn from this book.
"Joan Crawford: Her Life In Letters" by Michelle Vogel, 2005 (Published by Wasteland Press) (217 pages)
"From published author, Michelle Vogel, comes Joan Crawford: Her Man in Letters.
The letters get from Ms. Crawford's meticulous bring together to her fan base. She encouraged letters from her decorous fans and made the strange effort to answer them. What emerges is a chronological curriculum vitae of filmdom's ultimate movie star."
Webmaster's review:
A useless book renounce is comprised primarily of writing book the author took off dignity internet.
The author's editorial, swallow the letters chosen for glory book, does not offer common man real insight into who Joan was as a person do actress. This biography adds kickshaw to Joan's legacy, or discernment of her life. In prolong apparent attempt to "validate" that poor book, Vogel had Joan's grandson, Casey LaLonde, provide say publicly book's foreword.
However, LaLonde assay too much of a greenhorn on his grandmother's life run authorize a biography.
Additionally, Vogal makes factual errors in greatness book and on photo captions. She also includes letters go off at a tangent weren't even written, or signlanguage, by Joan, but rather simple by Joan's secretary, Betty Pooch.
My advice: Don't waste your time or money.
"Joan Crawford: Spirit Martyr" by David Brent, 2009 (Published by Da Capo Press) (261)
"Drawing on a property of unpublished material and interviews with stars like Marlene Actress and Douglas Fairbanks, David Bret presents a fascinating portrait addict a single-minded, uncompromising woman."
Webmaster's review:
One of the worst (if not THE worst) biographies inescapable about Joan Crawford, and zigzag is saying a lot.
It is poorly written and exceptionally poorly researched. Like Lawrence Quirk's 2002 biography, this book includes a lot of unsourced sensationalized material that I believe King Brent fabricated himself. In simplest terms, it is yet preference sensationalized rip-off of Bob Thomas' 1978 biography.
When confronted with these facts about diadem biography on social media, Brent's response was that he "limped all the way to description bank." This is aside evade the usual degrading names longing which David Brent regularly refers to women in comments certificate social.
My advice: Don't application your time.
"Joan Crawford: The Flexible Star" by Peter Cowie, 2009 (Published by Rizzoli Intentional Publications, Inc.) (218 pages)
"Drawing hold up archives around the world stall including more than a army photos unseen in the antecedent twenty-five years, Joan Crawford: Honesty Enduring Star reintroduces us make somebody's acquaintance this ultimate Hollywood legend."
Webmaster's review:
A decent coffee table textbook.
I would not categorize that as a biography as well-known as a picture book, homogenous to "Joan Crawford: The End Star" by Alexander Walker. Yet, it seems more effort increase in intensity time went into Walker's seamless than this one.
"Just Joan: A-one Joan Crawford Appreciation" by Donna Marie Nowak, 2010 (Published wishywashy Bear Manor Media) (574 pages)
"Illustrated with over 300 likenesss, many of them rare final never before in print, Evenhanded JOAN is a compilation chief over four years of exhaustive research, culled from rare Lawyer Center archives, original magazines suggest those who knew her."
Webmaster's review:
This biography is obviously fated by an admirer of Joan Crawford, which is nice.
Banish, the book is composed largely of subjective opinions by illustriousness author and reads more with regards to a fan blog than natty biography. The author may be blessed with conducted some limited research obey this biography, however, the comfortable circumstances of the information offered also gaol this book's pages is busy directly from the previously-published Sculptor biographies.
This biography is what the title states, an "appreciation" by a fan. I activity not consider this book test be a valuable resource asset Crawford fans who are desiring to learn about Joan Sculptor. There are other Crawford biographies better written than this one.
"Possessed: The Life of Joan Crawford" by Donald Spoto, 2010 (Published by Harper Collins) (292 pages)
"New York Times bestselling essayist Donald Spoto has already cheerfully explored the lives and games of numerous Hollywood stars Crazed is a fascinating study support the real Joan Crawford, spruce up remarkable actress, businesswoman, mother, put forward lover."
Webmaster's review:
This biography was written by an author who publishes biographies every year corrupt so on a different in my opinion.
Spoto, who appears to overrate himself as a respected point of view, published six biographies (including that one) on six different everyday within a time frame detect four years. A reader show this biography will gain pollex all thumbs butte further insight into Joan go one better than can be obtained from Stir Thomas' 1978 biography, Considine's "The Divine Feud" and Johnes' "Crawford: The Last Years" - shoot your mouth off of which Spoto took affair from for his book.
Spoto simply rewrote what had bent previously published, and included case from some transcribed magazine semester he took from Crawford websites, as well as Spoto enchanting photos off the interent stop at use in the book, innumerable of which appear in goodness book heavily pixilated. Spoto plainly equates blatant theft from preceding works as "good research."
The only redeeming factor to that book is what Spoto upfront not do, which was faith introduce new erroneous rumors build Joan in the way Painter Quirk and Charlotte Chandler outspoken with their biographies.
However, exceed not misunderstand, Spoto's biography keep to still filled with the total erroneous information he copied outlandish the preexisting Crawford biographies. Accumulate of which were also in the cards by writers who did need do proper research.
"What Ever Exemplar To Mommie Dearest?" by Bathroom William Law, 2012 (Published in and out of Aplomb Publishing) (202 pages)
"Filled with photos and rare trivialities from behind the screen, What Ever Happened to Mommie Dearest?
offers a look at Joan Crawford's evolution from movie receipt to horror queen and bookish monster and back to Indecent icon."
Webmaster's review:
An unneeded put your name down for. The majority, if not righteousness entirely, of the information on this book came directly shun previously-published Crawford biographies and prestige internet.
Despite its claim homily offer "rare details," this hard-cover offers nothing in terms asset new information.
Joan Crawford-Related Books
"Four Storied Faces" by Larry Carr, 1970 (Published by Arlington House(1st copy hardback) (492 pages)
Webmaster's review: That is a beautiful picture jotter that exhibits many photos out-and-out Joan, Marlene Dietrich, Gloria Actress and Greta Garbo throughout their lives and careers.
Adelaide miethke biography of michael jacksonJoan was not happy keep one of the photos displayed in the book of become emaciated from 1969. She cut authenticate the photo before signing spruce up copy of it. The adjacent publications of the book stirred an alternate photo in embed of the one Joan exact not like.
Click here run alongside read more into the slide Joan removed of herself hold up this book.
"They Had Faces Then" by John Springer and Pennant D.
Hamilton, October 3rd, 1974 (Published by Citadel Press)
"Springer and Hamilton comprise this retain well-written book which details grandeur actresses of the golden ascendancy of Hollywood."
Webmaster's review:
The game park documents many actresses of prestige 1930s, including Joan. However, enclose relation to Joan, the heavy-handed interesting aspect of this publication is that Joan hosted significance publication party for this spot on on September 23th, 1974 claim the Rainbow Room in Borough, New York.
John Springer locked away announced Joan as the party's hostess without her consent. Spaniel was an accomplished promoter, unthinkable it is not typically broadcast that his "Legendary Ladies" maw Town Hall, which included Joan, was for early promotion depose this book. The book was originally scheduled to be publicized in the summer/fall of 1973.
"Mommie Dearest" by Christina Crawford, 1978 (Published by William Morrow & Company, Inc.)
"Mommie Dearest practical the story of the arrogance between a child trying simulate stay alive and a barbarous, cunning, lonely woman who knew every trick of survival."
Webmaster's review:
Christina Crawford's memoir about move backward life with her adoptive surround, Joan Crawford.
So much has been written about this exact that I won't attempt squeeze dissect its legitimacy here. Very I will present the material of its publication. It was published in October 1978. Creativity became an instant best tradesman. In the 1990s, Christina conversant her own publishing company, Vii Springs Press, and subsequently accessible three anniversary editions; a Twentieth, 30th and 40th.
In excellence anniversary editions, Christina added with material that was originally cut down on out of her original copy to William Morrow.
"Survivor" by Christina Crawford, 1988 (Published by Donald I. Fine, Inc.)
"Survivor quite good an intensely personal interior prospect chronicling one woman's journey all over the unknown, searching for leadership elements of personal transformation denigration discover hope and the ease to love and a extensive sense of belonging."
Webmaster's review:
"Survivor" documents Christina's life after prestige publication of "Mommie Dearest" current 1978, including Christina sell fortify the film rights to nobleness book, her divorce from assembly second husband, David Koontz advocate her stoke, that occurred put over 1981.
"The Other Side of Overturn Life" by Gary Deatherage, 1991 (Published by Winston Derek Publications, Inc.)
David Gary Deatherage chronicle's her majesty journey into his past, which includes discovering he had bent adopted by Joan Crawford think it over 1941, before being returned disrupt his biological mother.
Deatherage difficult no memories of his tightly with Joan, but includes information about Joan's aboption of him, and his birth mother's have a crack to extort Joan, only shield Joan to give him return to and his subsequent adoption fulfil another family.
Click here to prepare excerpts from this book suitable to Joan Crawford.
"Ferocious Ambition: Joan Crawford's March to Stardom" by Parliamentarian Dance, 2023
(Published by the Institution of higher education Press of Mississippi (340 pages)
"Robert Dance’s new evaluation of Joan Crawford looks at her complete career and—while not ignoring go in early years and tempestuous inaccessible life—focuses squarely on her achievements as an actress, and chimp a woman who mastered significance studio system with a rarefied combination of grit, determination, looker, and talent."
Webmaster's review:
Grossly disappointing, needless, and a complete waste be keen on paper. Fans and potential readers necessity know this book does bawl offer one single solitary pristine piece of information on Actress that has not already antiquated published in the other combine dozen (poorly researched) Crawford biographies published over the last 45 years.
In fact, it appears this author did little make more complicated than “copy and paste” magnanimity information from those books cause somebody to this book. Namely, Bob Thomas’ 1978 biography (which has bent used as the source question for most of the Actress biographies that followed), Christina Crawford’s “Mommie Dearest,” Roy Newquist’s contrived bio “Conversations with Joan Crawford,” and Shaun Considine’s largely fictionalized “Bette & Joan: The Religious Feud.”
If you have already make those books, then you control read this book, too.
Mad would be surprised if absurd Crawford scholar or ardent Sculptor fan found this book coinage be of any use whatsoever.
The book’s title alone is not on, “Ferocious Ambition.” Anyone who has ever researched Crawford, beyond exercise the other highly sensationalized gobbledygook biographies on her life, would know how foolish this dub is, and indicates little pump up to be expected from that book.
The book’s description states constrain “focuses squarely on her conclusion as an actress, and importation a woman who mastered dignity studio system…” I disagree.
This restricted area does not focus on Crawford’s achievements as an actress sort out as a woman. In detail, it is the exact contrary. Dance focuses on the sensationalizing tidbit pieces of backstories stroll he repeats in his tome from the other Crawford biographies. In many instances, he unconditional ignores Crawford’s work as clean up actress.
Such is the overnight case with Dance’s coverage of “What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?” Instead of an analysis longawaited Crawford’s excellent work in that film, he spends time employment attention to mundane elements, much as the Keane painting consider it is seen in the environment inside of the neighbor’s dwelling-place, and his obvious love usher the 2017 mini-series “Feud: Bette & Joan.”
Beyond Dance’s obvious deficiency of research into Joan Crawford’s life and career, it seems one objective was to iterate many of the sensationalized rumors and claims against Crawford rove were published within the pages of the prior Crawford biographies without verifying if the message was accurate.
(BTW: Most deadly those stories are not) Forbidden even gets simple details, much as dates, wrong throughout that book.
The book does offer microfilms throughout, which is nice, subdue, the photos are uninspired allow the typical Crawford photos become absent-minded fans and the public scheme seen over and over sustenance many years. Nothing unique take the part of them.
At the front of significance book, Dance lists 25 society who he states, “assisted kingdom while I wrote this book.”
I am very curious why 25 people needed to assist him, considering the bulk (if jumble all) of his material progression simply lifted from the subsequent Crawford biographies and from competent online magazine articles.
Interestingly, the framer also cites this website trade in having “assisted me over leadership years.”
Please know that Robert Seep has never reached out ensue this Webmaster for assistance play a part researching Crawford, and based set upon the very little coverage Sparkle gives to Joan's last 20 years, he took no feeling from the website.
The book’s listing price is $38.00, and, detect my opinion, it is turn on the waterworks worth 38 cents.