Cast-On With Crawford

Joan Crawford remains — without a doubt — a controversial  personality. My negative opinion of Joan has changed in the thirty years since I first saw Faye Dunaway in clown face shriek,  "NO WIRE HANGERS!"  — and later when at nine-years old I read Christina Crawford's revenge-for-being-disinherited Mommy Dearest memoir. In the past couple of years — thanks to Turner Classic Movies — I've become a  fan of this fiercely beautiful and talented screen legend's work.

It was while peeking around looking for a photo of another Hollywood Golden Age knitter that I discovered Joan's lifelong love for knitting. She was always stitchin' away on something while on set. In fact, she was known for clicking her needles loud off-camera to piss off a director or co-star. I LOVE this about her!

She did, however, adore Ann Blyth — her daughter in Mildred Pierce  — and taught her between takes how to stitch. In the movie Ann portrays Veda — a mean bitch!

Joan continued to be an avid knitter late into her life. Check out the 1972 Lady's Circle Magazine interview in which she chats about knitting and the Joan Crawford afghan pattern.

When she decided the time wasted on movie sets was idiotic she took knitting lessons. "With my hands busy," she explains, "I found I could concentrate harder on what everyone else and I had to do."

Comments

[Miscellanea]

Okay, the Stitch n' Bitch caption for Mildred Pierce just CRACKS ME UP.

I'm oddly fascinated by Ms Crawford--I suppose I watched Mommy Dearest way too much as a child. Like you, I segued from the Faye Dunaway portrayal to some of her own work and remain blow away by her fierceness as an actress.

BTW--the link to the Lady's Circle interview isn't working.

[BellaKarma]

Misc ~ Honestly, I cracked myself up with that one too, lol!

I remember having my mom explain to me over and over the concept of "biopics" when I first saw Mommy Dearest in '82. I could not get enough of that movie.

Thanks for letting me know about the link! I fixed it. =)