INTRODUCING MISS CRAWFORD.......

She's been called by many as the ULTIMATE DIVA. She is one of the greatest movie stars in the history of cinema. She is Joan Crawford. This woman has left her mark on both movie making and in pop culture and I fucking love her!

Joan Crawford was the quintessential movie star. Known more as a star rather than as a serious actress, she began her career in a naughty adult movie called The Plumber. She then managed to wangle a contract at MGM and worked and fucked her way up the ranks to become the studio's top star. Outstripping in popularity the great Great Garbo and Norma Shearer, she racked up some phenomenal hits but it wasn't until she left MGM and went to the lowly Warner Bros that she won her Oscar and earned the respect from her peers that she craved. Joan Crawford knew what it meant to be a star and believed that she was a product of the films she made. She made many enemies on her way to superstardom - none more so than equally vicious and possibly more talented Bette Davis (my favourite actress of all time - but more on her later). Their feud was and still is legendary and culminated on the sets of "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane" and "Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte". Her film career dried up in the 60s but she became more prominent as the face of Pepsi (Pepsi Dearest anyone?!) Joanie died in 1977 leaving two of her adopted kids nothing in her will. Her daughter Christina got somewhat of her her revenge when she published her book "Mommie Dearest" - a scathing attack on Joan whom she claimed physically and mentally assaulted her as a child. Joan from beyond the grave perhaps cursed her daughter for the book as it turns out Christina now runs a bed and breakfast in Middle America.

There'll be more from Joan in later posts cos she's too fucking fabulous for words. But I will mention a story about her that is part of Hollywood legend......

Joan was being a tad promiscuous and arranged for Rock Hudson to visit her for dinner. Rock was starting out in his own career and was earning notoriety for being gay. Joan played it cool during dinner perhaps having heard the rumours about his sexuality. She suggested they go for a dip in her heated pool and that there were trunks for him in her poolhouse. She also noticed that Rock was interested in her old flame and movie hero Clark Gable. So Rock goes to the poolhouse to get changed, as he's doing this, the lights go up and a body comes from behind and embraces him with her nakedness. Joan gently whispered in his ear as he was startled "Shhh baby. Close your eyes and pretend I'm Clark Gable!!" What a trooper our Joan is!