This is not normal! All of it is so regimented and off kilter! It confirms Christina's account of her childhood! I love Joan Crawford and her films but it's ok to say that she wasn't mother of the year. Her quest for perfection did not lend itself to being a good mother. On the other hand, it did lend itself well to being a respected and talented movie star!
Over Many Years Ago The God Of Aztecs Command Them To Build A Big City When The Eagle Destroy The Serpent But You Find This Eagle Is Upon The Cactus On Top The Rock Way Up In Middle Of The Lake Holy Cow To Build The City Here Is Almost Inpossible But They Built And Built And Some More Untill Today Believe Or Not The Lake Full Of Mexico City.
Why didn't any of their siblings ever corroborate Christina and Christopher's claims? She adopted like seven kids, and they actually said Christina was full of it. Because she was lol.
First, Joan adopted five children, though one of them was quickly reclaimed by it's birth mother. Second, it's not at all uncommon in households with child abuse that only certain children are the targets of the abuse while the others are spared and even treated very well by the abuser. It actually has a name: "The Cinderella Phenomenon".
A lot of ppl discount Christina & Christopher’s stories of abuse. However, we must remember that every child has a different version of their childhood. Abusive households have the Golden child/children, the scapegoat and the target/targets. Just because the twins have nothing bad to say doesn’t mean that the others weren’t abused and mistreated. Plus the twins were a bit younger than the oldest 2. By the time they were school age the oldest 2 were off in boarding school.
There were actually some genuinely dramatic scenes in this movie, this being among them. There was also the scene where Francine was in a terrible alcoholic stupor and state of depression.
The kids responses were all rehearsed....it's all in Mommy Dearest...poor Christopher and Christina....Joan was abusive....you can hear it in their voices.....
"...And then before we retire to our beds for the evening, I will strap, er-- I mean -- SECURE, lovingly secure, Christopher to his bed for his protection."
So much for the Fabulous Forties. A Hollywood actress who slept her way to the top, had lovers of both sexes coming in and out of the house with her children there, no father figure to be found anywhere, beatings of the two older kids on a regular basis, and this is the ideal American home at Christmas time. Gotta love the star struck public.
Better than today where we’re force fed every lousy, stinking detail of celebrity’s lives. That’s why the star aura faded and there are no real stars anymore. They’re now just very wealthy people who make pretty terrible movies.
"...Now Miss Crawford, here's a question for you, at what time will the children awaken?" - "I'm afraid they'll be awakened at six-thirty at the latest. Christina needs to scrub the bathroom floor until it shines, fold all the clothes, and get started on those thank you notes right away. She also needs to separate her dresses hanging in her closet, I want them each to hang one inch apart from every other dress. Now, that is in addition to her other usual morning chores. Then if there's still time before the fake photo ops and evening chores, she may get to open one gift, and one gift only. The rest I will keep for repackaging and send them to the birthday parties of the children of my big celebrity friends." - "Will they awaken you?" - "Well George, I should hope not...but uf they do I have my hair brush handy just in case..."
What Christina did was vicious and evil. Very unfair for Joan or any parent who simply want to raise their kids the best way they know how. I think Joan was a loving mom but also a disciplinarian. But I don't think she was abusive.
Blair was the queen of early animation design. I love going back to this sequence every now and then. The aesthetic, the colors, the music, the humor, it is all optimal here.
Christina’s wish for a Collie dog broke my heart. Sure, kids want dogs…. but you know damn well it was more than that, she just wanted to love something without restrictions that would love her back (not counting her poor POW brother)
I wonder if there's anything for Lucille Ball's and Desi Arnaz's kids, Lucie and Desi Jr., Once I Love Lucy became popular! Ball's and Arnaz's marriage was pretty stormy! In case you were wondering, Helen Hayes said that Christina's claims were true! I heard Crawford mention Ms. Hayes's name! They were supposedly on friendly terms! Hmm!
