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Mommie Dearest (1981)

6.3
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Ratings: 6.3/10 from 7,138 users  
Reviews: 143 user | 58 critic

Mommie Dearest, best selling memoir, turned motion picture, depicts the abusive and traumatic adoptive upbringing of Christina Crawford at the hands of her mother...screen queen Joan Crawford.

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Title: Mommie Dearest (1981)

Mommie Dearest (1981) on IMDb 6.3/10

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8 wins & 7 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
...
...
Howard Da Silva ...
Mara Hobel ...
...
Carol Ann
Harry Goz ...
Alfred Steele
Michael Edwards ...
Ted Gelber
...
Barbara Bennett
...
Mrs. Chadwick
Joe Abdullah ...
Captain
Gary Allen ...
Jimmy
Selma Archerd ...
Connie
Adrian Aron ...
Wedding Guest
...
Christopher Crawford (adult)
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Storyline

Based on the book about Joan Crawford, one of the great Hollywood actresses of our time, written by her adopted daughter Christina Crawford. Joan decides to adopt children of her own to fill a void in her life. Yet, her problems with alcohol, men, and the pressures of show business get in the way of her personal life, turning her into a mentally abusive wreck seen through the eyes of Christina and her brother Christopher, who unwillingly bore the burden of life that was unseen behind the closed doors of "The Most Beautiful House in Brentwood." Written by Geoffrey A. Middleton <gamidd01@morehead-st.edu>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

One thing is certain: You'll never look at a wire hanger the same way again! See more »

Genres:

Biography | Drama

Certificate:

R | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

18 September 1981 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Maman très chère  »

Box Office

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)
 »

Company Credits

Production Co:

 »
Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

(Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The film was made and released about three years after Christina Crawford's auto-biography of the same name was first published in 1978 and about four years after Joan Crawford's passing in 1977. See more »

Goofs

During the bathroom tantrum scene, where Joan scatters scouring powder all over the room, the level of powder on the ledge behind Christina changes between shots. See more »

Quotes

Christina: There's a liquor store to the right.
Joan Crawford: I should've know you'd know where to find the boys and the booze.
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Supernatural: Bedtime Stories (2007) See more »

Soundtracks

"Tangerine"
Written by Johnny Mercer (as Mercer) & Victor Schertzinger (as Schertzinger)
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

 
"Why can't you treat me like I would be treated by any stranger on the street?"
23 February 2001 | by (las vegas, nv) – See all my reviews

"Because I am NOT one of your FANS!"

Simply said, this is superb trash. Enjoyable b.s. Faye Dunaway lobbied hard for the role of Joan Crawford (Christina Crawford wanted Anne Bancroft) and she admirably sinks into the part with relish. I loved the opening montage of "Joan" preparing for her day early in the morning: scrubbing her hands and nails, numbing her face in ice cubes, leafing through a script in her car, getting made-up, and then whirling around in her chair and letting loose with a breathy, "Let's go!"... Sadly, Frank Perry's direction is awkward and unsure, cutting off some sequences before they're allowed to build and letting other scenes ramble on. The movie doesn't do justice to the riveting book by Joan's adopted daughter Christina, committing to film the book's highlights, the talked-about bits where Crawford freaked out, but skimping on the details. We learn absolutely nothing about Christina's many tormented years in an L.A. Catholic Boarding School (we see her check in and we see her check out). Joan's marriage to Pepsi czar Alfred Steele and her three other adopted kids are also given the short shrift. What we do get with "Mommie Dearest" is pure, unadulterated Faye. She acts up a storm and revels in these primal opportunities. It's one of the highlights of her spotty career. **1/2 from ****


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Message Boards

Recent Posts
Forget Faye, the little girl deserved an Oscar Paktoonmama
What was the part Joan wanted to badly? MrRAdams4616
Why Did everyone dislike the movie so much? Kylkoog
One of My Mother's Favourite Films -Saw Nothing Wrong With the Behaviour cgrady-2
What's wrong with wire hangers? Normal-Bates
I think Christina's story checks out. And there is proof. j-s-inbrewer
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