I guess her best role would be Sometset Maugham's Rain. Ofcourse, I've read everything this author ever wrote so I might be biased. Bette Davis did a great job portraying Sadie Thompson as well, as well as Gloria Swanson in the silent film. But, I REALLY loved Gloria Swanson in Sunset Boulevard when she portrayed Norma Desmond. "I'm ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille."

Joan definitely was underrated as an actress, but I think that has changed over the years. I think Mildred Pierce is one of Joan's most important movies, but as much as I like her in it this movie is not her greatest role. For me: Rain, Grand Hotel, A Woman's Face, Possessed-2, Humoresque, and Srange Cargo were greater roles. I fell in love with Joan after seeing Grand Hotel. Her's was not considered a major character in the movie, but for me, she steals the movie from the established stars. She proves she is their acting equal, at least.

I can agree Mildred is a great film and Crawford did a great job in the title role but, I can't help thinking how stiff and controlled she seemed in that role and how Pierce almost plays like a comedy today when you consider all the macho chauvinism and gratuitous drinking and smoking. Don't get me wrong. I love the film and can agree with anyone who feels the same but I just don't think it holds up as well as her depiction of street smart stenographer, Flaemmchen, in Grand Hotel. Unlike Pierce, every second Crawford is on screen, she is every bit as believable today as she was in 1932. Vivacious and beautiful, from the very first moments on screen, with both the Count and textile magnate, General Director Preysing, we clearly see, this girl is nobody's fool. The characters who people the film have troubles, concerns and worries that are still quite common in contemporary times like the lonely Dr. Otternschlag who waits endlessly for messages and calls that will never come or poor Kringelein, a dying man whose days are numbered. Crawford also steals the show from Garbo, despite her famous line, "I want to be alone." Is it any surprise the dying man wants to spend the last of his days in her company?
Watch Grand Hotel and think about it. Crawford's Flaemmchen could easily walk off the screen and into your living room. If she does, say hello for me.

I think Mildred Pierce was her best film role. She was on screen for almost the whole movie and she never got dull or lost character. It was a genial performance. She was a hardworking sympathetic character that you would normally root for but she made many bad decisions. People critisize that she doesn't have a hard role, but I disagree. She is a very dyamic character, going from a simple, virtuous housewife, waitress, and rich restaurant propritress. I especially love her facial expressions of hurt in this film. I felt like she deserved the oscar hands down. However, Joan Crawford is a fabulous actress who never gave a bad performance. There was one time she gave a mediocre performance (They All Kissed the Bride) but the film was a dismal. Anyway, Mildred Pierce is a wonderful film and one of my all time favorites. It lost many Oscars to a less deserving film, The Lost Weekend. It defanately should have won best Picture, Screenplay, and Supporting Actress; Ann Blyth. The Oscars have a problem of being too soft hearted. This is a perfect example. Anne Revere won the Oscar because her role was sympathetic and earnest. She deserved the nomination because she was very good, but Ann Blyth or even Eve Arden were more deserving, because their roles were special. Arden offers good comic relief in a dark picture and Blyth is really intense and sociopathic with having the appearance of a sweet debutante. She was particulairly creepy with the eyes and that scene where she pushed Crawford.

I think Crawford just won the Oscar for Mildred Pierce because her career was virtually over by 1944. Her come back was so unexpected. Plus there was that maturity thing. If Crawford had done Mildred at MGM, they just would have made it into a typical Crawford love drama of her later MGM years. One can already picture the love triangle between Crawford, Jack Carson and Zachary Scott!

Hopefully the new Crawford box set, soon to be released, will have most of her MGM films on it. I know Flamingo Road is going to be on there, which is kind of a disappointment. It would be nice to see Paid, Sadie McKee, Love on the Run, Strange Cargo, and A Woman�s Face. Reuinion in France is going to be on the next John Wayne set, one can only pray it wont be on the Crawford set...

It was one of her best roles at MGM, IMHO.

I also love "Humouresque", A Woman's Face", "Paid", "Our Dancing Daughters", "Daisy Kenyon", "Chained", and "Sudden Fear" and "The Story of Esther Costello" amonst others. These are certainly great examples of performances from different periods of her career. I totally agree that Crawford was a great actress and a great star!

I thought she was good in What Ever Happened To Baby Jane and Betty Davis was none to shabby either .Two great actresses in one movie