Best 6 1/2 minutes of Mommie Dearest

This deserves an honorable mention.

You rarely see this achievement in film, period!

Thousands and thousands of films have come and gone in the last forty plus years, but "Barbara, PLEASE! PLEASE, Barbara!" is still here!

I love the intro, too.

I can smell the coffee percolating!

I always find the booze but never the boys. Turns out in these parts, you need lots of booze to see the boys.

R3, that sequence is actually an excellent piece of filmmaking. So much information communicated about the character without a line uttered. If only the remainder of the film had been that good...

I like when Barbara Bennett From Redbook and Carol Ann rush in to pull Joan off that little cunt Christina, and Joan flings Carol Ann off her, looking like a demented drag queen.

That guy has big dick written all over him, R1.

Christina should've risked a slap by refuting Joan's gaslighting and retorted by saying something like "I only know where the liquor stores and the boys are because you showed me where to go" or something like that.

Or she could've trolled Joan by bringing up her worst performances every chance she got. By alas Christina was not a DLer.

My brother and I always quote the "I'll get the [italic]cards[/italic]...out on time, okay?" line. Diana Scarwid delivers it so deliciously.

Barbara PLEASE! PLEASE Barbara!

I will never get how in post production or even during filming the producers and director didn’t realize this performance was so over the top. Why wouldn’t anybody reel her in. This is supposed to be a serious story and it’s so overly dramatic it’s comedy.

Maybe they would have. If someone had been nice enough to help her through the film, like a gentleman.

R11 She probably pissed off to many people that they rushed through shooting and editing so they could get it over with ASAP and wouldn't have to deal with her for long.

Diana Scarwid played a crooked lab tech years later on Law and Order, and she channeled these scenes during a confrontation with S Epatha Merkerson. I was expecting her to say, “DON’T. YOU. ACT. FOR. ME!”

R11 It’s been said that Dunaway’s sway over the film was so strong, Frank Perry was essentially powerless to direct her too much, because she could have him fired at an instant. Naturally, Faye can’t accept responsibility for anything so continues to point the finger of blame at everyone but herself.

However, if the film had turned out more nuanced, people probably wouldn’t still be talking about it.

R14 ahah That’s where I know her from. Thanks.

There used to be an authenticated DLer with the screen name “Barbara Bennett From Redbook.”

I love Diana Scarwid’s line delivery style. Her performances in Extremities and Psycho III are quotable too.

Diana is also over the top in the Brittany Murphy TV movie Tribute.

I love that sound effect while Joan is strangling Christina, of her head hitting the ground. THUMP...THUMP.... LMAO

Christina is such a cunt you have to applaud Joan for smacking the dogshit out of her.

Mara Hobel, to me, is the best actress in the movie-she plays Christina like the demon spawn Christina Crawford is in real life.

A. Ashley Hoff interviewed the stuntwomen who performed part of the strangulation scene for his book. Apparently it was rumoured for years the stunts were done by men.

Diana’s double requested bubble wrap beneath the carpet to soften her landing. Unfortunately, it all popped after the first take, so she hit solid floor afterwards.

[quote] Diana’s double requested bubble wrap beneath the carpet to soften her landing. Unfortunately, it all popped after the first take, so she hit solid floor afterwards.

She should have requested some nicer undergarments, than those old fashioned granny panties she was wearing!

Barbara Bennett is here from New York!

Who can forget the board meeting?

Don't know how many are aware of this, but DL's background is fashioned on the iconic blazer in OP's clip.

I've created a bizarre triple feature of Faye Dunaway films that I like to watch: Mommie Dearest, The Eyes of Laura Mars and The Disappearance of Aimee.

Underrated scene but one of my favorites.

That scene is certainly not underrated. It’s so frequently quoted and referenced by gays.

Is The Diana Scarwids taken as a punk band name? 😁🤘

Agreed, r21. I've always the child actor was more believable and had better chemistry with Fay than Diana Scarwind. Although I can see the entertainment value of a hammy 25 year old actor playing a 16 year old while wearing a bad wig and the clothing of a young child.

This always makes me laugh.

I was just banned from another forum for using a gif of “Why must [italic]EVERYTHING [/italic] be a CONTEST?” when there was drama going on because someone thought using a gif from a movie about child abuse was not funny.

The “mad at the dirt” scene is a DL standard. Surprised no one has brought it up.

And yeah, the bring down that bitch of a bearing wall and put a window where it OUGHT to be! That’s a classic and gets its due.

[quote] I will never get how in post production or even during filming the producers and director didn’t realize this performance was so over the top. Why wouldn’t anybody reel her in. This is supposed to be a serious story and it’s so overly dramatic it’s comedy.—HolierThanThou

Hey junkie, since you like to bandy around the word "faggot" when responding to people on other threads, perhaps this isn't the thread for you. In fact, maybe this isn't the site for you. In any case, no one cares what you have to say about anything.

Someone really needs to give Faye a dose of tough love and tell her to get over her dislike of regularly talking about Mommie Dearest (although she needed numerous doses of tough for other issues). If she did regular panels and screenings of the movie throughout the year she would have to worry significantly less about income.

R33 LOL, what a snowflake.

I remember there were similar complaints when the doll was released.

“OMG THIS IS OFFENSIVE, U DONT MAKE FUN OF CHILD ABUSE!”

R32 minus the sort of singing she does in that scene, I can imagine the scene of Joan screaming at her kids and maid over the noise in the morning definitely happened numerous times in real life.

[quote] Someone really needs to give Faye a dose of tough love and tell her to get over her dislike of regularly talking about Mommie Dearest (although she needed numerous doses of tough for other issues). If she did regular panels and screenings of the movie throughout the year she would have to worry significantly less about income.

You bring up a good point, and highlight an important distinction between actors of today and yesterday.

Today's actors LOVE doing conventions and appearances, because they have learned that they can make a ton of money doing them.

Events like ComicCon and other conventions for specific television shows like Supernatural or the Walking Dead, can allow the actors to make as much money or more than they did from the shows that they were in.

And then there are old-time actors like Faye, who wouldn't deign or dare to do a convention, because it's beneath them. They are ACTORS, and not circus performers.

Things have really changed for this profession, in how actors see themselves.

But yeah, if Faye ever attended a Mommie Dearest Convention, she would make a TON of money by just embracing the madness.

I don’t see how she doesn’t acquiesce to the legend and do conventions either. Imagine the throngs of fans waiting in lines to see her, in Joan drag, crying just by being near her, reciting lines from the film to her verbatim while willingly shelling out the sky-high prices just for her to scribble her name on a tag hanging from the wire hangers that they’ve brought. She would make a mint, and it would probably do wonders for her ego.

[quote] I don’t see how she doesn’t acquiesce to the legend and do conventions either. Imagine the throngs of fans waiting in lines to see her, in Joan drag, crying just by being near her, reciting lines from the film to her verbatim while willingly shelling out the sky-high prices just for her to scribble her name on a tag hanging from the wire hangers that they’ve brought. She would make a mint, and it would probably do wonders for her ego.

I think because in her mind, she is ACADEMY AWARD WINNER Faye Dunaway, and not some cheap performer who signs autographs at a lowly fan convention.

Old time actors really took pride in the "craft" of acting, and in the integrity of the performance.

It's a marked difference between how older actors saw themselves, versus how young actors see themselves.

We're in the social media era, where actors are on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and even OnlyFans. Not to mention the conventions.

Today's actors are all about the money, whereas older actors were about the performance.

I think that's why she won't do a Mommie Dearest convention. Which sucks, but I respect her for that.

Today's actors are sellouts.

How the hell could the directors/producers have seen the dailies on this and not realized what they were making?

R39 Faye is likely permanently embarrassed by the performance when she just needs to own it.

Like you should own your meth use, junkie.

[quote] I like when Barbara Bennett From Redbook and Carol Ann rush in to pull Joan off that little cunt Christina, and Joan flings Carol Ann off her, looking like a demented drag queen.

Carol Ann looked like a ragdoll, which I think was unintended, but added to the comical and campy effect of the movie.

CHILD ABUSE IS NOT CAMPY OR FUN!

At this point Faye should be a lot less high strung at her age and shouldn't give a fuck about most things. She has a max of about 10-15 years left on Earth. She should embrace the nostalgia and do private signings at cons.

Sure it'll mostly be gay men with mostly Mommie Dearest merch for her to sign. I wouldn't be surprised if some of them even brought the book for her to sign even though she was only involved with the film. But she'd make a good chunk of money nonetheless.

Conventions and tv (Netflix, Lifetime, Hallmark, etc.) are quick easy money for aging legends (Faye) or washed up hasbeens who are either old or not getting quality roles anymore. It's a huge dip compared to what they were getting in their prime but fame is like that for most and beggars can't be choosers.

[quote] She has a max of about 10-15 years left on Earth.

That's optimistic.

[quote] Sure it'll mostly be gay men with mostly Mommie Dearest merch for her to sign

I thought I fired that homosexual boy.

Joan should have retuned Christina to the orphanage, and exchanged her for some faglette; who would worship her, keep her out of harsh lighting/makeup, and (most importantly)NOT WRITE A NASTY TELL ALL ABOUT MOMMIE.

R32, I am dying laughing at work now, thank you.

The way Faye stomps Crawfords legendary fuck-me ankle strap shoes on that polished floor when she takes Christina to "the other room" is impressive,scary and funny.

Faye would make a killing if she agreed to appear at something like the Razzies and jokingly announced the wrong winner in character as Joan Crawford. She could then do a press tour poking fun of the character.

My mom and sister used to watch this film all the time growing up. I would leave the room. Then I when I discovered DL it was referenced so much. Anyways, the film wasn’t a huge box office success but made money because people were going to see it as an unintended comedy. Paramount even reworked its promotional trailer referencing as much.

R47 at this point, it’s not even about additional money for her. I certainly would try to cash in on the films legendary camp riot status, but I’m certainly more practical than Faye. She regrets doing the movie. At the time she thought it would bring her another Oscar, or at least a nomination, but it turned into something she loathes, and has no sense of humor about. I think she feels shes being laughed at, and not understood what she was trying to accomplish with the role, and she will go to her grave feeling that way. She’s brought entertainment to many gay men and people for over forty years. It should be enough for her, but it never will be.

Love Faye screaming like Tarzan and practically beating her chest. The whole scene is very Naked Gun-Ish. In fact it reminds me of the Girl Scout bar room brawl in Airplane! released a year prior. Why is Diana styled like she's five years old when her character is supposed to be in High School?

The movie is a mess. It's entertaining, but it's poorly directed and poorly written.

Faye had a good sense of humor about it in the Actors Studio episode she did in the late 90's. She talked about it for a few minutes. She was supposed to be writing a book about the making of the movie, but it either was never finished or she decided not to release the finished product. Other than that, I'm not sure what people want her to do.

I agree with R41.

[quote] it turned into something she loathes, and has no sense of humor about. I think she feels shes being laughed at

But we kind of are laughing at her.

Well, not at her personally. Just at her performance.

Love how in the R23 screenshot, Faye almost resembles a young Queen Elizabeth gone berserk on a teenaged rebellious Prince Charles. I mean, she doesn’t even look, move, talk or act like Joan Crawford in this cinematic mess, anyway. More like maybe an even more demonic Mercedes McCambridge.

Faye caked in kabuki makeup squatting like a sumo wrestler with that can of soap in her hand is by far the most memorable scene of the movie.

I like when Joan locks Christina in the changing room, next to the pool.

The little cunt deserved that, AND the whack on her ass!!

QUITTER!

At the end of the "Don't fuck with me, fellas!" monologue, she says: "The sword ... cuts both ways." I like how she said that.

In the original script, Joan’s favourite restaurant was Chasen’s, but they couldn’t secure the location. Perino’s was chosen because they were accomodating to film crews and easier to shoot in.

I loved Fay Dunaway as Joan.

[quote] In the original script, Joan’s favourite restaurant was Chasen’s, but they couldn’t secure the location. Perino’s was chosen because they were accomodating to film crews and easier to shoot in.

Dammit, Chasen's is MY PLACE!

Why was LB Mayer such a cold, almost threatening character in the movie? By all accounts Joan and him had a warm relationship. Even after she left they would attend movie premieres and eat out at restaurants together.

R65 anyone who bases their opinion on the saga of the Crawfords and the life of Joan is working with fool’s gold.

65 Artistic/Dramatic license. Accuracy is often overlooked or ignored in favor of something that would be more asthetically pleasing or dramatic to add to the plot.

That must be true of the scripted but un-filmed Ice Follies of 1939 scene. I recall watching the original film to see the ice skating scene but Joan does not do so. So the version in Mommie Dearest would have been inaccurate. Also before Christina's time.

My mom and sister used to watch this film all the time growing up. I would leave the room. Then I when I discovered DL it was referenced so much. Anyways, the film wasn’t a huge box office success but made money because people were going to see it as an unintended comedy. Paramount even reworked its promotional trailer referencing as much.—HolierThanThou

Wow, thanks for this amazing information. None of us on here ever heard about this movie's history. In fact, none of us were even around. Actually, I don't think there's a person on DL who is at all familiar with this film. What would we do without you, junkie?

Oh yeah, enjoy threads about 100% more. Now fuck off.

R68 Yes, had that scene been filmed, it wouldn’t have been reflective of the actual movie at all. It was designed to show what a trooper Joan was, but budget cuts prevented it from being shot.

I kind of wish they’d done at least one “Baby Jane” scene. Imagine Dunaway brawling with a Bette Davis look-a-like.

[quote] I kind of wish they’d done at least one “Baby Jane” scene. Imagine Dunaway brawling with a Bette Davis look-a-like.

OMG, the movie was campy enough!

Adding in a fight scene from the Baby Jane set, would have shot it into HIGH CAMP territory, or even made it the campiest movie of all time!

R70 I can imagine they didn’t want to risk getting grief from Bette Davis.

Right, r65. I could never understand why he refused to walk her to her car. He was very obsequious when she walked into the office but then he stared at her like a dead-eyed psycho when she asked him for a tiny courtesy. I know the entire exchange was fictional but he was a very hard to pin down as a character.

Those Pepsi executives should have told her they had bought her porn tapes and would release them to the public if she opened her mouth.

I figured LB would not walk Joan to her car because he considered that too much of a loss of his power. He could have asked someone else to. But he didn't even answer her to say no.

R36 Faye needing numerous doses of tough love is quite the UNDERSTATEMENT.

Someone wrote this in the comments section of this video clip:

[quote] @berjaboy 1 year ago

[quote] I remember being a young kid in the 70s, everyone thought Crawford actually owned and ran Pepsi. In casual conversions it wasn't uncommon to hear people saying; Oh yeah, Joan Crawford runs and owns the whole thing.

Is that true?

[quote] Joan Crawford 1968 Interview | Talks "Baby Jane," Clark Gable

This is a pretty cool interview.

I love the PEPSI product placement that Joan did.

So subtle!

While I don’t doubt Dunaway became absolutely more unhinged as she got older, I absolutely believe Dunaway dialed up her diva behavior at times just to ensure that people have anecdotes about her “craziness” when she’s no longer with us.

I have to laugh when Joan says she had no voice lessons. Her coached voice was famous.

An abusive alcoholic actress with a history of mental illness portraying an abusive alcoholic actress with a history of mental illness! GENIUS!

Mommie!!!!!

R79 100%. I can absolutely believe Faye would be the type to do this even being genuinely bipolar.

R15 it also didn’t help matters that her boyfriend (eventual husband then ex-husband) Terry O’Neill was a producer, and he was responsible for dialing up Joan’s meanness in the movie.

R84 The final film actually softened Joan compared to the original Tracy Hochner script!

I wonder if Joan ever tapped Steve Forrest’s brother Dana Andrews when they made a movie together in the 40s

The final film actually softened Joan compared to the original Tracy Hochner script!

Maybe that's the one Anne Bancroft called a hatchet job.

R87 It was.

Bancroft also dropped out due to alleged tensions with Frank Perry (he wasn’t attached when she first showed interest) and because Mel Brooks talked her out of it.

[quote]Right, [R65]. I could never understand why he refused to walk her to her car. He was very obsequious when she walked into the office but then he stared at her like a dead-eyed psycho when she asked him for a tiny courtesy.

Yes, the entire exchange is fictional. Mayer was planning on re-signing Joan, but at a lower salary, instead she bought out her contract which still had one film owed to MGM at great expense and left on her own terms. She did indeed remain good friends with Mayer until his death in 1957.

In real life, Mayer, the highest paid man in America for a number of years was eased out by the front office of Loew's Inc. and by the hiring of Dore Schary. In the summer of1951 Mayer left the MGM lot for the last time with very modest fanfare. Apparently "On his final day, as he walked down a red carpet laid out in front of the Thalberg Building, executives, actors and staff lined the path and applauded him for his contributions." I read somewhere some of the MGM players found it too small a farewell for this once powerful man. We don't know if anyone walked him to his car, or not.

Who's Dore Schary?

a friend of mine was an F/A in the 90s and management specifically told them Faye Dunaway was never to be upgraded to coach.

She would also drunkenly pick fights with her seat mates.

R91 You’re nothin’ but a rotten, crooked flight attendant, supplying the grease that makes this shitty airline business run!

Sky Waitress, bring me a seat belt extender! I want to whip the man seated beside me.

R91 I take it you meant first class?

My partner and I always say that two great drag names would be Barbara Please and Christina Christopher Dammit.

R15 Honestly, if Faye reigned her acting in during the Wire Hangers meltdown and the strangling scene it still could’ve become something memorable, for different reasons of course.

Barbara, PLEASE!

[quote]I like when Joan locks Christina in the changing room, next to the pool.

[quote]The little cunt deserved that, AND the whack on her ass!!

[quote]QUITTER!

Mrs. Patsy Ramsey, formerly of Boulder, CO, ladies and gentlemen!

I actually think Faye gives an excellent performance and agree with Pauline Kael who described it as 'operatic.' The problem was it was placed in a mediocre biopic that had been edited to shreds. Add to that for whatever reason Diana Scarwid decided to underplay her performance where to the point where Christina seemed to be 'neurodivergent' in multiple ways. The narrative is just poorly paced jumping from one scene on 11 to the next with know space to breathe given. Faye's performance wasn't protected.

The opening scene is hypnotic and tells you the entire story.

JC is disciplined to the point of insanity.

She ruthlessly scrubs herself with scalding hot water and a scrubbing brush.

Why is she scrubbing herself so hard? Is she that dirty?

Joan never felt clean enough?

There were a lot of scenes that were filmed but then cut from the final edit. Why those deleted scenes have never been included on a DVD is a mystery, there's definitely a lot of interest.

The scrubbing thing is fairly easy to interpret, R100, but there were also some weird ideas about skincare floating around in the first half of the 20th century. Immersing one's face in ice water, which Faye as Joan is shown doing, was one of these and was an part of Crawford's actual beauty routine.

The beauty stuff Crawford did was pretty standard in those days, as r102 said. It wasn't just Joan who did all that shit.

Do y’all think if someone had the balls to tell Faye to rein in her performances, she would actually had listened? Faye insists that if that happened she would’ve done so.