With the first two parts of Mildred Pierce airing last Sunday, it got me thinking about both Kate Winslet and Joan Crawford (well duh, that makes sense!). Obviously, any comparison of the two is totally unfair, as many generations between them and a different Hollywood system would make it almost impossible. That being said, and with Kate taking on a role that won Crawford her first and only Oscar, I still can't help but wonder what Crawford's legacy will be.
I didn't know that much about Joan Crawford until I first saw Mommie Dearest when I was about 12 years old or so. Crawford will forever be known more for her distaste for wire hangers and axing down trees in her garden than for her acting, which is quite unfortunate. I wasn't old enough to truly understand most of the films I watched as a youngster, but I knew it was something special. When I finally got around to watching the original Mildred Pierce about a year or so ago, Crawford's performance was nothing short of extraordinary. My first thought was that it's hard to imagine that someone as glamorous as Crawford would be this stay-at-home frumpy housewife. However, she plays it off pretty well given the circumstances. [It's interesting to note that Angelina Jolie was claimed to have been miscast by many critics, commenting that no one would believe Angie has a neglected housewife. I don't necessarily agree with that, however]. Crawford was one of few actresses who made the successful transition from silent films, and even continued to prove her worth after being labeled "box office poison" in the late 1930s.
The best part about Crawford, however, was the fact that you couldn't take your eyes off her. I re-watch Mildred Pierce to this day, and I'm still mesmerized in the same way that I will always bow down to Bette Davis after watching All About Eve. There are only a few actresses throughout the modern era, in my opinion, that this can be said about. Crawford, Davis, Katherine Hepburns, Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly, Judy Garland, Audrey Hepburn, and Marilyn Monroe. (Though Monroe's acting accomplishments are much less than the rest of that list). They were all great actresses who were able to mix their beauty with their talent. It's hard to think that the same can be said of actresses right now.
Meryl? Not particularly. Cate Blanchett? Meh. The only ones that come close, in my opinion, are Angie and Kate Winslet. Angie more for her looks, Winslet more for her ability to just light up the screen whenever she's on it. I watched the trailer to Winslet's last three big films- Little Children, Revolutionary Road, and The Reader, and I begin to remember why Winslet is one of the greatest actresses of our time. But it's not her beauty that catches us (though she is quite stunning). Its the way she is able to become the character. She was Hanna Schmitz- you felt for her, you believed her, and sympathized with her. Any actress who can make you sympathize with a character that is not written with that intention is doing something right.
Actresses unfortunately have to work harder now than ever before to win over critics and audiences a like. Looking at what Winslet is doing now on HBO, it's hard to imagine that the critics won't absolutely fawn over her performance. Reviews have proven most already are, and an almost certain Emmy win will solidify that. But she is no Joan Crawford. Then again, no one is. No one ever will be. Just like people are saying that there will never be another Elizabeth Taylor, I think, even more so, there will never be another Joan Crawford.
*just as a side note and rant, Faye Dunaway has been totally crucified for her role in Mommie Dearest, and her career would never recover. In my opinion, she has been so unjustly criticized for that role. THe performance may have been camp at its best, but that was Joan Crawford. Her life was camp, and she was a true force of nature. Why critics would punish Dunaway is beyond me, especially after her unmatched filmography at the time. But at least we can still revel in the fact that we have Bonnie and Clyde, Chinatown, and Network to keep us satisfied.
And for some fun, re-watch this amazing trailer for the 1981 film.
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