Joan Crawford Impossible to Imitate This Week at LiveAuctionTalk.com
Online, March 14, 2012 (Newswire.com) - Joan Crawford was not Warner Brothers' first choice to play the lead in the film Mildred Pierce. Betty Davis was. But Davis wasn't interested in playing the mother of a 17-year-old girl whose self-sacrificing love ends up being repaid with spite. Ann Sheridan and Rosalind Russell also passed on the role.
Joan accepted the part with little forethought even though she understood she was the last choice. She said Mildred Pierce was a woman she completely understood. Both women grew up with nothing. Both were ashamed of their backgrounds. Mildred had a way of choosing the wrong men and both women were willing to work hard to get what they wanted.
The script went through at least ten writers and there wasn't even a final draft before the movie began shooting. Fresh pages showed up almost every day of production. The film wrapped in May of 1945. It was released in September of 1945.
Joan had never been so involved in a production. She brought energy to Mildred unlike any character she had ever played. She told friends she was convinced it was a good picture.
"In a way I think I was getting ready for Mildred Pierce when I was a kid, waiting on tables and cooking," she said.
Most critics liked Mildred Pierce saying Joan gave her finest performance to date. The film was nominated for seven Academy awards in 1946. Joan decided not to attend the award ceremony. She didn't take bad news well.
Actor Charles Boyer stood on stage and announced Joan had won Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in Mildred Pierce.
On Dec. 7, Doyle Galleries New York featured property from the estate of Joan Crawford on the block.
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