MovieChat Forums > The Spiral Staircase (1946) Discussion > Joan Crawford

Joan Crawford

posted 13 years ago by xmagic_dustx
2 replies | jump to latest

I love this film and I always enjoy watching it, but it wasn't until recently that I read Joan Crawford had campaigned to play the role of Helen, but Louis B. Mayer refused, as he didn't want her playing another "cripple" or "maimed woman", as he put it.

I'm just wondering how they managed to convince Crawford to give up her campaign, as she also owned the rights to the story, and badly wanted the part after receving acclaim for A Woman's Face.

That aside, I think Dorothy McGuire did a great job as Helen, but it's interesting to imagine what Crawford would have done with the part. I imagine her Helen might not have seemed as vulnerable as McGuire's did, although in Mildred Pierce, Crawford made Mildred very sympathetic and gave an excellent performance.

Maturity. The very staple of the IMDb message boards.

[–] Altho73 12 years ago

Where did you hear that Joan Crawford wanted to play the part of Helen and that Louis B Mayer refused to let her????

I dont see how Mayer would have had any influence on preventing Crawford playing the part as he was the head of MGM, and Crawford had actually had her contract with that studio terminated two years earlier in 1943. It would have been up to Jack Warner of Warner Bros to have decided whether to have released Crawford for 'The Spiral Staircase'.

[–] mls4182 8 years ago

Obviously John may have had the rights in 42-43, and Mayer would not produce it. She must have given up and sold the rights or allowed someone else to produce and cast. Join was,so good in Possessed she would have done a good job. I think McGuire was perfect.