Joan Crawford: Shoulder Pads and No Wire Hangers

By the time the decade was over, however, Crawford wasn't getting calls for the young roles, and this upset her. She left MGM and signed on with Warner Brothers, hoping to get better roles. And in 1945 she struck gold -- she was cast as the lead in Mildred Pierce, a stunning piece depicting the tumultuous life of a housewife cum businesswoman. This role resulted in Crawford's only Oscar award for Best Actress. The strong character was perfect for Joan -- and the Academy knew it. She hit a second stride and was again nominated for an Oscar for Possessed.

She was married five times, including to Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Her last marriage was to Alfred Nu Steele, the Pepsi-Cola magnate. After his death in 1959, she wanted to take charge of the company (she didn't) but had a successful 13-year turn on the board of directors until they asked her to leave (she henceforth called the CEO "Fang" for his offense).

After losing out to a third Oscar for Sudden Fear, Crawford's career stalled and slowed down quite considerably. She made a small comeback in 1962's Whatever Happened to Baby Jane, opposite another strong-willed aging star, Bette Davis. Her final film, 1970's Trog is an abominable film about a discovered missing link creature.

Seven years later Crawford died in New York City of cancer, at the age of 69 years old. She had suffered from alcoholism for years, and had alienated any chance of work in her later years. After Crawford's death, adopted daughter Christina discovered that she had been cut out of the will. In a fit of revenge, Mommie Dearest was born. Christina sheds light on what it was like to live with the film icon who was not all that she seemed. Outwardly polite, strong, savvy, and determined, privately she was a child's worst nightmare -- demanding, abusive, neglectful, and cruel.

She easily took charge of her life and took no prisoners offscreen, but there's no denying that Joan Crawford was a commanding presence onscreen as well. Just watching her finest film, Mildred Pierce, brings to mind the young chorus girl who wanted the world -- and had no trouble chasing it until she succeeded.

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