Mommie Dearest (1981)
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A Hollywood icon's glamorous exterior masks a terrifying and abusive reality behind closed doors.
The story
The film follows the upbringing of siblings Christina and Christopher, who are adopted by the famous Hollywood actress Joan Crawford. While Crawford is a success in the film industry, she is portrayed as a deeply controlling and manipulative woman who prioritizes her career over her family's well-being. The narrative explores the tense and often volatile dynamic between the mother and her children as they navigate her demands and the high-pressure environment of her life. The story establishes the initial conflict of a household where the line between public glamour and private domesticity is blurred by Crawford's increasingly erratic and severe behavior toward her children.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Joan Crawford, a successful but childless actress at MGM, adopts two children, Christina and Christopher, with the help of her lover, Greg Savitt. While she provides them with luxury, she subjects them to a strict, often abusive regime, including physical punishment and isolation. Her career fluctuates, eventually leading to an Academy Award for the film Mildred Pierce. The narrative follows the children as they grow into adulthood; Christina eventually pursues acting and faces a complicated relationship with her mother. The story culminates in a series of escalating confrontations, including a physical altercation where Joan strangles Christina. Following various life changes, including Joan's marriage to Alfred Steele and her subsequent death in 1977, the children attend her will reading. They discover she has disinherited them both, leaving the final scene on a note of ambiguity regarding her final words.
- First release year
- 1981
- Runtime (minutes)
- 129
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Frank Perry
- Writers
- Frank Yablans · screenplay; Frank Perry · screenplay; Tracy Hotchner · screenplay; Robert Getchell · screenplay
- Genres
- psychological; biographical; drama
- Themes
- abuse; motherhood; fame; identity
- Tone and mood
- melodramatic; dark; tense
- Premise and plot tags
- biographical; psychological; drama; cult film
- Source material / true-story basis
- Christina Crawford's 1978 autobiography of the same name
- Content notes
- violence
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for Faye Dunaway's performance but criticism for its editing and screenplay. It has since gained a cult following for its perceived bizarre script and intense performances.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 50% · scale: percentage · review count: 50
- Awards and nominations
- Golden Raspberry Award · Worst Picture · win; Golden Raspberry Award · Worst Actress · win
- Production trivia
- The film was marketed as an unintentional comedy by Paramount.; Faye Dunaway prepared by studying photos of Crawford and exercising her jaw muscles.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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