Author(s): David Bret

Biography

Astonishingly, this is the first biography of Joan Crawford to give the full, completely uncensored story. Bestselling author David Bret tells - in his inimitable way - Crawford's rags to riches story, from working in a Kansas City laundry to collecting an Oscar for her defining role in 'Mildred Pierce' and on to her devotion to Christian Science and reliance on vodka. He discusses the star's legendary relationship with Clark Gable, her countless love affairs, her marriages - three of them to gay men - and her obsessions with rough sex. Bret divulges what really happened that lead her to practically disinherit her children, earn her the nickname 'mummy dearest', as well as how her loathed mother forced Crawford to work as a prostitute, make blue movies and sleep her way to the top. Bret analyses her films, many of which were constructed purely as Joan Crawford vehicles where actress and character were often indistinguishable. Overtly generous towards her coterie of gay friends, she was unspeakably heartless towards her enemies, particularly Betty Davis, her co-star in 'Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?' with whom she shared a lifelong feud.
Drawing on a wealth of unpublished material and interviews, including Marlene Dietrich and Douglas Fairbanks, Bret presents a riveting portrait of a single-minded, uncompromising woman.