Mommie Dearest Hollywood RoyaltySpecial Collectors Edition

Product Description Outrageous and controversial, this is the story of legendary movie star Joan Crawford (Faye Dunaway) as she struggles for her career and battles the inner demons of her private life. This torment was manifested in her relationships with her adopted children, Christina (Diana Scarwid) and Christopher (Xander Berkeley). The public Crawford was a strong-willed, glamorous object of admiration, but Mommie Dearest reveals the private Crawford, the woman desperate to be a mother, adopting her children when she was single and trying to survive in a devastating industry that swallows careers thoughtlessly. The rage, the debilitating strain, and the terrifying descent into alcoholism and child abuse are graphically - and unforgettably ? depicted in this film, based upon Christina Crawford's best-selling book. Additional Features In this special-edition of Mommie Dearest, John Waters does this cult-classic justice by providing a memorable audio commentary mixing industry insight with hilarity. "I don't think this is a campy movie. I don?t think it's so bad it's good. I think it's so good it's perfect," he states. The film, poorly received (dare we say mis-received?) by the critics upon its 1981 release, and considered by many to be the end of Faye Dunaway's career, lives on for a reason; along with Christina Crawford?s reveal-all celebrity memoir it created an all new genre. Who can say they weren't riveted by this glamor-horror movie? The three featurettes feature insightful interviews with Frank Yablan, the producer who wisely purchased the film rights and cast Faye Dunaway, Diana Scarwid, who portrayed the grown up Christina, and Rutanya Alda, who played the devoted maid. These people and more provide insight into their personal connection to their roles and Faye Dunaway's undeniably centrifugal performance. Unfortunately, director Frank Perry, who died in 1995, and Faye Dunaway (who probably rues the day she agreed to do this film) do not contribute to the bonus features. As John Waters states in his audio commentary during the notorious wire-hanger scene: "If you don?t like this scene you should never watch movies." Indeed. --Wendy Harris