It's nice to see Joan playing a very sympathetic character. This story-line is so compact, so clean, and so seamless. It's a full-length movie told in under 25 minutes with an outstanding supporting cast.
I just rewatched this amazing piece. I can't breathe. Her performance was remarkable. Silent throughout most of the film but she still conveyed every single emotion. What a pro Joan was. What a pro 💥❣️♥️💕💓💞💘💕
Joan didn't even need words in order to convey what her characters were thinking and feeling, but when she did speak, you always heard her distinctly - something she prided herself on - rather than mumbling and slurring everything as so many contemporary artistes do. And as for her using the tools at hand in order to look her best at 55, does anyone think that any actress working today who's anywhere close to that age (and who isn't deliberately trying to look awful in order to score an award) doesn't employ every conceivable trick of makeup and lighting in the book to do the same, even if they've already Botoxed themselves into mannequin-like oblivion? Please. She always gave 110 percent to every project, no matter the budget or prestige, and is fascinating to behold even in melodramatic fare like this.
MovieJon Well said!!! I couldn’t agree more. I see her silent training shining through here as it always did. And she looks radiant, just a beautiful middle aged woman!!!🌟 I love her. She’s glorious.
Unlike so many actresses, especially today, Joan didn't try to look decades younger than she was. Her hair and clothes and makeup were age appropriate and she still looked stunning.
I was riveted anything with Joan Crawford in or Betty Davis is the best no one can ever try to get better it won't happen there's some that are close thank you for the video
Bravo!!!! Another stellar performance by the 👑"Queen of Hollywood"! 🎉 I loved this program! Joan Crawford is one of my favorite actresses of all time. Someone who could truly always be known as a genuine Movie Star. I am so glad I discovered these little short stories that I never knew existed starring Joan Crawford. She aged beautifully and so elegantly. Even up to her death, she was glamorous and so graceful.
To all the glorious comments - I agree - and I'd like to add kudos to the beautiful music by Elmer Bernstein - especially the magnificent piece over the closing credits. We just don't have talent like that anymore. One question - why the annoying opaque grey box at the bottom???
I had to pause it at the five min mark. NO ONE DELIVERS THE WAY JOAN CAN DELIVER. Seeing her grim demeanor shift to hope upon hearing the visitors interest in her gave me chills. Such a professional.
At the 10:44 mark, the man lights a cigarette for Joan... The look on longing for safety and security she exudes is exceptional. Everytime I rewatch this piece I always find something in her performance to be amazed by ❤️
It was a weekly show, a different story each week, little more than basic 50's back & white television. Ronald Reagan was the host. It was the peak of his Hollywood career.
Joan was offered a chance to host and appear in her own anthology series as Jane Wyman, Barbara Stanwyck and Loretta Young had done; she declined. A pity because she acquitted herself very well in these short tv dramas. I’d rather watch any of them than “Queen Bee” or...” Torch Song”.
Queen Bee has good cast and a bit over the top melodramatic but a decent story. Torch Song I agree with you! 👎. Flamingo Road also is not a favorite. I’m devouring these Crawford anthology pieces. 👍
I'm surprised you think so I've always loved her brows. Just curious, do you think the same of today's eyebrows? Or is it just because of the way she arches hers and her hair being so light?
@@divalicious4888 Some brows of today are pretty, but I've seen some that look ridiculously over done & bushy. Joan was a red head, so those dark, extra bushy brows were too harsh for her face. Way too harsh. They did make her look clownish.
With her smile and face Joan stole every scene. She was magnificent 😍 Breathtaking beauty and performance! I wish I had met her 😭.That would have been impossible anyway because of my age but I wish I had. Whenever is May 10th I feel like I'm going to die. When I see her movies in that day I always cry. She gave so much joy to her fans❣️ she will never be forgotten! A STAR never fades 🤩! We love you 💗 Joan!!!!!
Boy, there's plenty of those in my family, most unfortunately. I am lucky that the "family curse" never claimed me. I hate liquor or any alcoholic beverage.
I was right ! I thought that's got a music theme that sounds like Elmer Bernstein did it . Had a touch of his theme he did for the TV series "Hollywood and the Stars".
Never realized. Thanks to RU-vid Crawford worked so oft in these smaler tv productions .Must have been hard on her big one time MGM pride and upbringing .
She ALWAYS gives as much as she can to every part. The ending was badly in need of SOME kind of surprise or twist but that's not her fault. Tom Helmore played the murdering husband in Vertigo for Hitchcock.
I love. Joan. Crawford!! She's my gurl!! I love her early ❤️❤️😍😍🥰 works! Sadee. Mc kee Daisy kenyon. Mildred. Pierce and more .Joan. Crawford. Strange. Cargo with. Clark. Gable and more !! She's classy bad to the bone whatever roles she was assigned to do!! Joan. Crawford the lady the legend !! Rhonda.Prater speaking in honor of. Turner Classics movie!!!
Talking about mannerisms....Yes maybe Joan’s acting was affected at times by mannerism, but it seems to me that most of the impersonators get a kick out of making fun of Miss Davis eclatant use of acting jimmicks...”PETAH” in a close up blurred by her perennial smoke Ing cigarette reminds you anything? Yes, Miss Crawford took advantage of good lighting and filters to look her regal best, is that a sin? She had perfect face bones to catch lighting and glorious expressive eyes to deliver a great display of emotions, and certainly, by Davis own admission, much more handsome. Joan was a pro with great respect for her public , she lived up to that till the end of her life.
I'm either losing my mind or a do do head as everyone else below seems to understand movie. Can anyone tell me why Crawford is chatting away with her dear old friend then in a scene or two later she suddenly can't talk?? Thanks either way if you can enlighten me.
The best part of GE Theater is that hosting this weekly drama was the peak of Ronald Reagan's career. It looks like he ended up on the cutting room floor, yet again. And we thought electing Reagan president was as low as America could go. Oh we of so little faith.
I have adored Joan Crawford since I was six, when I first saw Rain. Having said that, this was melodramatic garbage. I know why she might have done this. Television paid pretty well for a day or two work. She had a lot of debt she had to pay off assuming this was post Alfred Steele. On a side note, this is the one and only negative comment I will ever write about Joan. Because even in some bad films, she was always worth watching...just not in this.
I read your comment before watching it, and braced myself for the worse: actually, I didn't think it was that bad. It's dated, of course, but it's not unenjoyable. As always, our Joan (literally - she is terribly overlit) lights up the screen. Do remember it was made for TV so production values were never going to be as high as a A-grade movie. But even then, it is not terrible. Ref Joan doing TV: if an A-Grade movie star was going to to TV in this era, the General Electric Theatre was the thing to do. Look at this long list of A-Grade movie stars who did it: Fred Astaire, Anne Baxter, Judy Garland, Greer Garson.... Joan was in good company!
@@pullformore My criticism of the piece of work has nothing to with Joan doing a 30 min melodrama for T.V. She did a television melodrama called "Strange Witness" for the General Electric Theater in 1958. The production value I'm sure was about the same. She was excellent to say the least and it was also well written. My problems with this work are firstly, it's not well written. Yes, it has a beginning, middle, and a end but I personally couldn't wait for it to end. Secondly, its some really bad scenery chewing going on here. While I didn't think her acting was horrible, I felt like she overcompensated for the script and it came off as slightly overacted in my opinion.
Oh, that Joan! Lighted and filtered out so that no wrinkles show, with flowers on each inside side of a big, floppy hat, to distract from the ageing face, and the honeyed tones and MGM fake mid-Atlantic speech of her films of the thirties, this is a cornucopia of the type of mannerisms and affectations that Bette Davis would make fun of in a Joan Crawford movie or tv program.
James Guy If Bette were only HALF as beautiful.... ;-) Joan looks more gorgeous on her worst day (which wasn’t here) than Bette ever did on her best day. What’s really funny is her fake accent in pictures like “Mr Skeffington” and our being told she’s so beautiful she has dozens of beaux like Vivien Leigh or somebody!!! 😆😂🤪🙈🙈🙈 Truly laughable. She overacts and chews scenery in every film but I have to give it to you Bette ‘bots. You’re loyal. She kills almost every role with a freaking sledgehammer but let’s be insecure and make fun of Joan. Who is not mannered and much more spirited and naturally so, going back to her silents, Untamed, and beyond. She is much better in closeups. Less self conscious. Singing, dancing , lighting up rooms with her gorgeous smile... I’ll take Joan over Bette any day and twice on Sundays and I usually do. And BTW, I never start this. I merely answer such little ugly digs. I don’t go onto Bette Davis videos! Why would I ? I’d only be negative probably and I don’t seek that out. You’re over here on a Joan video and have to trash her with your little erudite digs. To that, I WILL reply. :)
I agree. I think Bette is overrated. In my opinion I think Joan is a much better actress. I cant get enough of her. Bette Davis was a bully, and not a very nice person. Ask her daughter, and people who worked with Bette. But this isn't about Bette, its Joan's time to shine.
sableblonde Thank you 💕♥️💕 Joan is the punching bag for far too many and I’ve decided to fight for her, since she can’t fight for herself. To be fair, I do enjoy Bette at times like in “The Letter” (a favorite), “Now Voyager”, “Dark Victory” and “Old Acquaintance” has its iconic moments. I also like “Dead Ringer”. But most of what she does is so overly theatrical and mannered I just can’t stomach it. She got better scripts, often, but Joan fought for hers and I enjoy her ‘30s work so much better than Bette’s. She IS a bully and it comes off that way in pictures. Joan was charming and beautiful and so high spirited without being overbearing. Plus she had so many phases!!! And was drop dead gorgeous in the ‘30s and 40s. Also looked great even into the ‘60s. She always had style and classic glamour which I miss to this day.!
