Jamie Posted March 24, 2005 Share Posted March 24, 2005 Anyne seen Humoresque or the other movies of Joan Crawford? I saw a little bit towards the end (where she drowns herself?? Don't tell me; I haven't seen the end) and this is my first time seeing her. Stepping away from Mommie Dearest of course, I loved her acting. Just curious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhryun Posted March 24, 2005 Share Posted March 24, 2005 I'm ashamed to say I've never seen Humoresque. I missed it the other night. But I think Crawford really was at her best in Mildred Pierce. I also liked her in Johnny Guitar. In The Best of Everything she showed what I like to think was a vulnerable side of her personal self. She was older and it showed in her ability to bring that into her character. And of course, you have to love her as the sympathetic sister in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane-a must see movie!!! That movie also starred, oh, what was her name..oh,yes,Bette Davis!!!!! You simply must see this one! Both performances are classic by any standard. You'll have to check these films out and let us know what you think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feaito Posted March 24, 2005 Share Posted March 24, 2005 "Humoresque" is regarded as one of Joan's finest moments on screen. Sadly, when I watched I was not much "in the mood" and I could not appreciate as I should had. "Humoresque" is vintage glorious Hollywood at its peak, with a great "star" performance by Joan Crawford as the voracious, man-eating, socialit?-benefactress/patroness of the arts, who befriends violinist John Garfield. It has many noteworthy performances by J.Carrol Naish, Robert Blake (impersonating Garfield as a child), Oscar Levant, Paul Cavanagh (good as Crawford's husband), and the ladies who played Garfield's girlfriend and mother, whose names I do not recall now. Among my favorite Joan films are "A Woman's Face", "The Women", "Sadie McKee", "Johnny Guitar", "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane", "Flamingo Road", "Queen Bee", "Mildred Pierce", "Strange Cargo", "Rain", "Grand Hotel" and "Strait-Jacket". Not one of her best-known, top-films but definitely interesting and worthile is "The Shining Hour". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brackenhe Posted March 24, 2005 Share Posted March 24, 2005 I'd have to say that Humoresque is my favorite post-Pierce performance of Crawford. However, I still like her 30's movies more than anything else she did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deeanddaisy666 Posted March 24, 2005 Share Posted March 24, 2005 I think I ran out of space on my tapes, and didn't get it this go-around. Hopefully, it'll be back. I am interested in seeing Oscar Levant. I grew up watching him on late night talk shows. What an eccentric! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie Posted March 24, 2005 Author Share Posted March 24, 2005 will do! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobywing Posted March 25, 2005 Share Posted March 25, 2005 I love Crawford's 30's movies the most. I especially liked Dance, Fools Dance & Dancing Lady. Fools is 30's Crawford, rich girl goes broke & pulls herself up by her boot straps. She swims in her underwear & even uses a blowdryer..I didn't know they had blowdryers back then. Dancing Lady, well I never have figured out why she was considered any kind of a dancer, but it's very entertaining. The chemistry between her & Gable in this 1 is electric & fun. She shares the screen with Fred Astaire, I hate to say she danced with him..he danced & she lumbered..lol. I think Joan Crawford was a fascinating woman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie Posted March 25, 2005 Author Share Posted March 25, 2005 great, thanks for info! ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayresorchids Posted March 25, 2005 Share Posted March 25, 2005 I agree about the dancing, Toby--Joan Crawford makes Ruby Keeler look like a gazelle! But there's a kind of gameness about her when she dances. She's tryin' and she's troupin', I guess. Astaire said she was very kind to him in that first movie appearance of his (in Dancing Lady), and helped him learn the ropes. I've always liked her movies. Maybe not a flawless actress, but the very definition of "Movie Star." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lux0786 Posted March 25, 2005 Share Posted March 25, 2005 Joan was stupendous in Grand Hotel. Maybe not her best role but her best performance, IMO. She made a wonderful transition to talkies, unlike so many others. Excellent, of course, in Mildred Pierce. I don't think she was really sick the night she was awarded for that, rather she couldn't bear the thought of losing in which case she wouldn't want to be there (at the Academy Awards). Her peformance is curious in Susan and God, where she affects a Carole Lombard-like volubility that I don't think works for her. I've always been a little surprised that she accepted the Baby Jane part, playing second fiddle (if you will) to Bette Davis. Bette had a meatier part and lorded over Joan so much in the story itself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moviejoe79 Posted March 25, 2005 Share Posted March 25, 2005 Very good point, lux0786. I think the reason why Joan took the role in "Baby Jane" is because she needed work at that point in her career. And even though Bette stole every seen and really had the better role, I think Joan knew that the audience would feel "sympathetic" towards her character, and therefore she wouldn't be a total wash out next to Bette. As for Joan's movies, I have to say "Mildred Pierce" is definitely her best. It's one of those movies where you can't even imagine another actress doing it, Joan's just perfect. I also loved her in "Grand Hotel," "Humoresque," and an often forgotten movie of hers called "Harriet Craig." She was great as the cold-hearted "queen" of her castle, who loves her home more than her husband or anyone else. I didn't like her too much in "Queen Bee" - I just couldn't really get into it. And I also loved "A Woman's Face," and I'm actually surprised that it's not considered a bigger, more popular classic than it is. She was also great in "Possessed" - the 1931 version with Clark Gable. It's classic Crawford, as she plays the girl from "the wrong side of the tracks" who eventually gets herself to Park Avenue. Another great movie of hers that's actually a film noir is "Daisy Kenyon" with Henry Fonda and Dana Andrews. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teepad17 Posted March 29, 2005 Share Posted March 29, 2005 I think Joan Crawford has a vulnerability in "Flamingo Road" that she wasn't called on to show very much. It is one of my favorites, though "Mildred Pierce" is a great one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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