In Hollywood, monsters come in all shapes and sizes. Some are recognizable, easily distinguished by their pointy fangs, sharp claws and green, glowing radioactive scales. But the most terrifying ones look just like us, or worse, like someone we care about very much. A sister. An aunt. Or even your mother.
So goes the story of Joan Crawford, the silver screen legend who delighted audiences in the ’20s through the ’70s in such film classics as “”What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?”” and “”Possessed.”” But at home, off camera, Crawford suffered from bipolar disease before theillness was being diagnosed, and it was her children who felt the brunt of her angry, violent mood swings.The film “”Mommie Dearest”” was based on the book Crawford’s adopted daughter Christina wrote years after her mother had passed away in 1977. It chronicles the trials and tribulations she and her brother, Christopher, suffered at the hands of their mother. And thanks to the movie, such episodes as the late night trimming of Crawford’s rosebushes to her opinion of wire hangers have become the stuff of cult movie legend. How sad, though, that these incidents really happened, and to such young, vulnerable children.But “”Mommie Dearest”” strives to achieve only one goal, and that’s to show both sides of Crawford (played to a tee by Faye Dunaway): the one her public adored, and the one her inner circle put up with. Early scenes show Crawford pampering Christina as photographers bathe them in lights. But the knowledge that Crawford can snap at the dropof a hat, and for the most insignificant reasons, always looms over the happiest scenes, and “”Mommie”” slowly becomes more a terrifying horror film than a gripping drama. A camp classic, “”Dearest”” is remembered more for Crawford’s legendary manic outbursts than for its performances, and there are two powerful ones. First, Dunaway masters the difficult role of Joan Crawford, zeroing in on the twilight of the star’s career. During thecourse of the film, Crawford rides a roller coaster of highs and lows, fighting for roles, losing her deal at MGM, winning an Oscar for “”Mildred Pierce,”” and descending into the depths of alcoholism when she loses yet another contract at Warner Bros. But the standout is Mara Hobel, a golden-haired beauty who gives an emotionally devastating performance beyond her years as young Christina. Playing Joan’s whipping post, Christina grows up fast for her brothers sake, and her eyes bear the burden of a survivor who knows that trouble can lurk around each and every corner. It’s an emotion achild should never know, but Hobel miraculously achieves it.GRADE: BTHE EXTRAS:Released by Paramount on DVD, “”Mommie Dearest”” lacks an audio commentary (which is odd, for Paramount), but does feature the film’s original trailer and a photo gallery. The pictures in the gallery are washed out and faded. They are 20 years old, after all. Becauseof their poor quality, they really just serve to show you how good the actual film’s transfer looks. In general, the DVD extras are a bit slim, though.GRADE: DOVERALL EXPERIENCE:Thanks to HBO, which ran the film practically once a day for a decade, film buffs who grew up in the ’70s and ’80s may only know Crawford through “”Mommie Dearest,”” instead of through her filmography. That’s a shame. The natural beauty truly ruled Hollywood until her film’s stopped making money, and the system got the better of her. Whether you’re familiar with Crawford’s work or not, “”Dearest”” entertains without spotlighting too much of the industry wars waged by the star. Instead, the film precedes such popular behind-the-scenes shows like “”True Hollywood Story”” or “”Behind the Music,”” portraying the grotesque side of a legendary celebrity that few could have imagined.FINAL GRADE: B-