Sothern Hospitality

Ann, oh man.

No Nonsense Glamour

 

 

Serving Stanwyck realness.

Dear Joan

Anne Bancroft in The Turning Point (20th Century Fox, 1977)

"Producer Irwin Yablans is planning a film based on Mommie Dearest, the title of Christina Crawford's controversial recounting of life with her adoptive mother. Word is that the search is already on for the actress to play Joan Crawford, and that Anne Bancroft is the producer's first choice." -- Robin Sloan Adam's column, August 30, 1978

Joan Crawford by John Engstead, 1963

"As far as Mommie Dearest is concerned, Anne plans to start production this summer. She considers the Joan part a real challenge despite the feelings of some in show business that Christina Crawford's book about her mother was the height of poor taste." -- Robin Adams Sloan's column, January 25, 1979

"Anne Bancroft's perception of the Joan Crawford role in the film version of the best-seller Mommie Dearest would make it a better film. That's the word from insiders. Anne is convinced that the dynamics of Miss Crawford's personality are far more dramatic and compelling than a chronicling of assorted child abuses. Thus the film would present Miss Crawford in a more favorable light..." -- Robin Adams Sloan's column, February 25, 1980

Joan Crawford in Harriet Craig (Columbia, 1950)

"Anne Bancroft is not giving second thoughts to [Mommie Dearest] because she is out of it. Disagreement was reached with producer Frank Yablans and director Frank Perry, who weren't calling Anne 'dearest' when they finally had enough of her demands for script and production changes..." -- Robin Adams Sloan's column, December 16, 1980

Anne Bancroft in 7 Women (MGM, 1966)

"The big screen translation of Christina Crawford's tale of childhood horror gets under way January 19, after countless script revisions and with Faye Dunaway replacing Anne Bancroft in the lead...Director Frank Perry explains the way the story line has finally evolved, what we'll see is 'a very sympathetic view of Joan...it would hardly be respectful to be less than respectful of her memory.'" -- Noreen Marcus' column, January 14, 1981

"The movie industry is still buzzing about the replacement of Anne Bancroft by Faye Dunaway to play the Joan Crawford role in Mommie Dearest. While Miss Bancroft may have been difficult and demanding, many Hollywood insiders still feel she was by far the better choice...Dunaway is considered by some as too bland and non defined a personality..." -- Robin Adams Sloan's column, January 22, 1981

Faye Dunaway in Mommie Dearest (Paramount, 1981)

Birthday Wishes

As evidenced below, there is such a surplus of birthday fabulosity in the universe today, that on behalf of the celebrants, we wish for you, dear readers...

...the rare, admirable knack for being being unfailingly upbeat, without ever being "perky."

 

BETTY GARRETT

May 23, 1919 - February 12, 2011

...the talent for knocking back bottomless martinis without ever losing your composure. Or balance.

 

HELEN O'CONNELL

May 23, 1920 - September 9, 1993

...the resolve to insist upon the best possible lighting under all circumstances.

 

ROSEMARY CLOONEY

May 23, 1928 - June 29, 2002

...and, most important, the ability to stand on a pedestal with worshipful minions at your feet.

 

JOAN COLLINS

May 23, 1933

Gray Matter

Barbara Stanwyck, 1962

Bette Davis in The Nanny (1965, Hammer)

Joan Crawford, 1964

Better Red Than Dead

Arlene Dahl, 1965

Susan Hayward in Where Love Has Gone (1964, Paramount)

Rhonda Fleming, c. 1964

Back to the Bleach

Mae West in Myra Breckenridge (1970, 20th Century Fox)

Lana Turner at the "Legendary Ladies" series at New York's Town Hall, 1976

Ginger Rogers, 1976

Them There Eyes

Everything's Coming Up Rosie

ROSEMARY CLOONEY
May 23, 1928 - June 29, 2002

(We apologize for the sporadic updates... Mystery Guest reveal tomorrow, darlings!)

Queen Joan

Was there every any real doubt as to who would ultimately wear SSUWAT's coveted crown? Joan Crawford's entire life was an upward struggle to succeed, and she fiercely protected and defended the image she had worked so hard to create and maintain. It's easy to make fun of Crawford: the exaggerated eyebrows, shoulders and lips; the overly coordinated ensembles (with plastic-covered handbags and f*ck-me pumps to match); the intensity she would bring to scenes and dialogue that sometimes cried out for a lighter touch; the endless spate of tacky Mommie Dearest jokes.


But, in the end, Joan Crawford deserves our respect for her unyielding devotion to the business of being a Movie Star. Whatever her talent was as an actress -- and we do think Crawford's abilities are often given short shrift -- it paled in comparison to the frighteningly focused way she managed her fame and her public. No one played the game better than Joan Crawford, and she rarely let the facade drop. If Joan's biggest failing as a human being was her complete lack of empathy for those who were less driven than she, it must be noted that she demanded no more of her children, co-workers or employees than she demanded of herself -- it's just that very few others possessed her superhuman capacity for self-discipline.


In compiling our list of the dozen most-frequently-posted divas (who actually comprise the Top 10; there were two "ties" with equal numbers of posts), Joan Crawford far outpaced the competition; we have featured her no less than 135 times! Her closest competition was, ironically, her old nemesis Marilyn Monroe, who logged 66 posts -- tying her with rival bombshell Jayne Mansfield. The "runners up" who didn't make the Top 10, but still have been featured over 20 times a piece are:

Arlene Dahl

Doris Day

Ann-Margret

Sophia Loren

Barbara Stanwyck

Arlene Francis

Susan Hayward

What sayeth thou, fair readers? Who do you think deserving of a place in the Top 10? Who should be edged out of the current crop? Discuss!

The Sweetest Sounds

"...In came Marlene, with a great, big record -- great, BIG record! -- and she said, 'Oh, dahwings, would you like to hear my wehcord?' And she put the record on, and it was just applause! [And Marlene would lift needle and say] 'Und dot's Fwankfuht.' 'Dot's Berlin.' But not one note of music...just applause! And Noel [Coward] turned to me and said, 'I hope there's not another side!'" - Judy Garland

Make Your Own Kind of Music

Sing your own special song.

If You Want That Quelque Chose