Joan Crawford Hollywood Martyr

In the first biography of Joan Crawford to give the full, uncensored story, best-selling author David Bret tells of Crawford's rags-to-riches climb, from working in a Kansas City laundry to collecting an Oscar for her defining role in Mildred Pierce, and on to her devotion to Christian Science and reliance on vodka. He discusses the star's legendary relationship with Clark Gable, her countless love affairs, her marriages--three of them to gay men--and her obsession with rough sex. Bret divulges what really happened that led her to disinherit two of her four children, earning her the nickname "Mommie Dearest," as well as how her loathed mother forced Crawford to work as a prostitute, appear in pornographic films, and sleep with those who could help her career. Bret analyzes Crawford's films, many of which were constructed purely as Joan Crawford vehicles in which actress and character were often indistinguishable. Overtly generous toward her coterie of gay friends, she was unspeakably heartless toward her enemies, particularly Bette Davis, her costar in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane, with whom she shared a lifelong feud. Drawing on a wealth of unpublished material and interviews, including Marlene Dietrich and Douglas Fairbanks, David Bret presents a unique, fascinating portrait of a single-minded, uncompromising woman.Bret, David is the author of 'Joan Crawford Hollywood Martyr', published 2006 under ISBN 9780786718689 and ISBN 0786718684.