Recasting Joan Crawford *spoilers*

Yes, I am a Bette Davis fan. I'm not biased though. No, really. I'm not. Joan and Bette's arguments were between them and I don't care about all of that. I care about the films, not the squabbling.

Still, Joan Crawford really isn't a great actress. Anyone could have played Mildred Pierce. What made that movie was the ghastly Veda, not Joan herself. I just don't see any real acting in her. Ever. Again, it's not because I'm a Davis fan, I'm no disciple of Bette's or anything, it's just about Crawford's real talent, which is flat, and therefore lacking.

This film is no exception. She is boring and hard for me to like because she doesn't seem to have much feeling. There is nothing, I find, likable about her. She isn't cute, she isn't funny, she just isn't anything.

I can see any number of actresses that would have done a better job. In the Trivia here, it says that Myrna Loy was originally cast for the part. Naturally Myrna Loy is always a great go to person for William Powell, but I didn't really see her in that part either. Loy is too regal.

Jean Arthur would have been great, but she was already in its predecessor, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (which I brought up in another thread in this board).

I'm thinking Ginger Rogers. Ginger's early films are simply adorable! She is so beautiful (she almost has Jolie-like lips), funny, cute, bubbly, and very much like Jean.

So!

Who would you cast? I mean in that day of course.