Barbara Stanwyck and Joan Crawford
In the early years of Barbara Stanwyck's career, she found herself living across the fence from Joan Crawford. The already well-established Crawford became a fast friend with Stanwyck. The two shared a similar rough childhood and both had fought their way to the top with sheer grit and hard work. However, Crawford was desperate to become a star, while Stanwyck was more interested in earning money.
When Stanwyck's marriage to Frank Fay took a violent turn, she would often climb the fence and spend the night at Crawford's. It was another bond between the women because Crawford had suffered similar miseries with her husband Franchot Tone. Both women were far more successful in their careers than their husbands and that brutal reality had made angry alcoholics of the men.
The friendship did endure some professional competition. Both campaigned strenuously for the lead role in Mildred Pierce (1945). Crawford nabbed the part, and then won an Academy Award for her performance, an honor Stanwyck never won for a single performance (though she did receive an career tribute award). Still, the friendship lasted until Crawford's death and Stanwyck never failed to send her old friend flowers for her birthday each year.
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