http://www.datalounge.com/cgi-bin/iowa/ajax.html?t=10705672#page:showT hread,10705672
Many, many actresses turned down this role because they knew Joan Crawford, though dead since 1977, still had friends in high in places in 1981 Hollywood.
Faye Dunaway took the part, and is said to have regretted it ever since. She says that it ruined her career, and others seem to agree that she was, in fact, blacklisted.
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I don't know if it ruined her career so much as it changed it forever. In my opinion, Faye Dunaway - never my favorite actress - gave one one of the boldest, bravest performances I have ever seen as crazy bitch el supremo, Joan Crawford. Dunaway completely exposed herself and I think her performance elicits a degree of discomfort in a lot of viewers. She allowed herself to be completely vulnerable and unfortunately many viewers couldn't resist engaging the flip side of that particular coin. That's too bad because I find her vice grip performance fascinating.
Not to say that I can't enjoy the camp side of her acting. But camp is in the eye of the beholder.
...Faye Dunaway - never my favorite actress - gave one one of the boldest, bravest performances I have ever seen...Dunaway completely exposed herself...She allowed herself to be completely vulnerable...I find her vice grip performance fascinating.
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I will have to view this film again Mr. H, as I always enjoy your endorsements. From past viewings, which were sometime ago, and after reading the book twice, I was quite mortified at how the film turned out. In my mind, I see Dunaway acting like Crawford has just walked of the set of 'Straight-Jacket'-64', however I could be exaggerating this because of my dislike of the film.
Have you seen NETWORK-76, in which Dunaway won her Oscar? She is an ambitious, cold queen b!tch in this one too and she is very very good. It is also a classy performance and she also shows a vulnerable side, even though she can hardly let go of her obsession for ratings for one moment. Her work just consumes her and is what makes her tick. The film has a heightend script and is a smart and clever satire. I also think I prefer Dunaway in THE WICKED LADY-83' over MD, and I always thoroughly enjoy upon repeated viewings. This one didn't intend to be anything other than what it was and has no pretense about it. It's raunchy in parts, blended with some interesting violence, and she is just very conniving and wicked. She does it well. Alan Bates is an asset also. A winner, from hack director Michael Winner.
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Have you seen NETWORK-76, in which Dunaway won her Oscar? She is an ambitious. cold queen b!tch in this one, too, and she is very good.
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I have seen it. And I liked her performance in it very much. She has been good at playing cold bitches, and in this movie, she gets the opportunity to relish the character's bitchiness. Diana Christensen is one greedy woman!!! There are a few scenes in particular that I find her especially enjoyable. I love the scene near the beginning of the movie where she's going over things with her staff (I think Cathryn Manheim is in the scene) and near the end of scene she says sonething to the effect of "oh, and by the way, if any of you ever do this again, I'll sack the *expletive* lot of you." She is so matter of fact about it, but it's clear she means business! It's a funny scene. Also, when she comes into work early in the morning and she snatches a newspaper on her way in and sees the ratings. And when realizes that Howard Beale is a huge success. I may be melding some of the scenes, but basically I find her very entertaining whenever she gets excited and all that nervous energy just spills out.
Sidney Lumet was in top form here in the mid 70's, what with Dog Day Afternoon the previous year and then Network the following. Much of the success of these films and the quality is also due to him. I wonder if he would have made a better film, if he had done Mommie Dearest.
Exorcist: Christ's power compels you. Cast out, unclean spirit.
Destinata:💩
I love Dog Day Afternoon, Rascal.
shareI do too. I have never seen SERPICO-73'. Thoughts please.
Exorcist: Christ's power compels you. Cast out, unclean spirit.
Destinata:💩
I like "Serpico", Rascal. It was pretty intense with an exciting plot and a real feeling for early 70s urban life. And it is my 2nd favorite Al Pacino performance. He is so freakin' cute at the beginning of the movie! (sans beard)
Of course, I just adore poor, sweet, misguided Sonny...
I attempted to watch Prince Of The City-81' once and lost interest in it, so then gave Serpico a miss, also being by Lumet and about corrupt cops. I should check it out.
Exorcist: Christ's power compels you. Cast out, unclean spirit.
Destinata:💩
Faye made an awful mistake. She should have bowed out of the project ahead of time, which is what Anne Bancroft did. This film has truly cursed Dunaway's career and to the extent that one might think karma was involved. Bancroft was at least perceptive enough to disengage from the whole project but Dunaway couldn't figure out the deeper nuances of her decision ahead of time, and she ultimately paid the price for her shallowness.
to the extent that one might think karma was involved.
https://www.datalounge.com/thread/17992196-faye-dunaway-s-life-career
Mommie Dearest actually got a lot of good reviews for her and she came in second at the NY Film Crititcs Awards. Pauline Kael loved her in it. She was around 40 at the time and that is a difficult time for most actresses. She moved to London and did things like the Wicked Lady and Supergirl. Her career would have slowed at that point without Mommie Dearest. Look at Jane Fonda who was her main competition for roles. Fonda's early career lasted a few more years into the 80s but then she too had trouble finding good roles and left to marry Ted Turner.share
—Anonymous
reply 3 a day ago
https://www.datalounge.com/thread/21535362
I know it is a commonly held opinion that Mommie Dearest "destroyed" Dunaway's career to the point that it is probably held up as the most glaring example of this phenomenon...but I honestly don't think that was the case.share
Dunaway had starred in enough highly acclaimed, award-winning work (Bonnie and Clyde, Network, Chinatown) that she could have survived that movie. In reality, from everything I've read about her, Dunaway destroyed her own career by being an absolute cunt to work with.
Mommie Dearest has just been her excuse.
—Anonymous
reply 285 an hour ago
Who suffered more career wise Diana Scarwid or Faye Dunaway due to Mommie Dearest?
https://www.datalounge.com/thread/28734168-who-suffered-more-career-wise-diana-scarwid-or-faye-dunaway-due-to-mommie-dearest-
I guess it is hard to compare. Faye's fall has been well documented but Scarwid was a really interesting actress.share
I watched that Guyanna Tragedy a while ago and she is really quite good in that. And Inside Moves is a lovely performance.
I guess she bounced back a bit with Extremeties and Silkwood (but I think Silkwood shows how far she had fallen. She was an Oscar nominee and had done a major role in Mommie Dearest but in Silkwood it is almost like a cameo.)
—Anonymous
34 replies 13 7 hours ago
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