I don't think the wire hanger industry ever recovered
Renowned film star Joan Crawford's abuse towards Christina, her adopted daughter, intensifies as her professional and romantic relationships turn sour.
Where to watch
1Mommie Dearest is showing in 1 cinema in Los Angeles — next screening Tuesday 14 July at 14:00 at Vista Theatre.
Tuesday, 14 July
/ TodayCast & crew
6What people say
all i want when i die is for someone to play me in a biopic of my life with exactly this quality of acting
Dunaway showcases a new kind of acting altogether, a hybrid mixture of camp impersonation and full on demonic possession. Without it, the film ceases to exist. Slimy nostalgia tabloid told with outrageous bombast in an epic tale of what is essentially vignettes, a series of scenes so confusingly put together that any given cut could be anywhere between a split-second reaction shot to a "several years later" interval. Few films depend so much on their central performance, and it's one of the greatest I've ever seen.
What is Mommie Dearest about?+
The film depicts the turbulent life of Hollywood icon Joan Crawford, focusing on her intense and abusive relationship with her adopted daughter, Christina, as told through the daughter's memoir.
Who directed Mommie Dearest?+
Frank Perry directed this 1981 film, a period piece known for its polarizing portrayal of mid-century Hollywood stardom.
Is Mommie Dearest based on a true story?+
Yes, the film is an adaptation of the 1978 memoir written by Christina Crawford, which documents her childhood experiences with her adoptive mother.













