Joan Crawford Wows as Considered one of ‘The Girls’

Joan Crawford selected the supporting, unsympathetic a part of Crystal Allen in “The Girls” to show she was a critical actress and that she additionally wasn’t washed up.

By
1939, Joan Crawford was already thought-about a movie veteran. The movie legend had
swiftly risen to stardom after her begin at MGM in January, 1925. Our Dancing Daughters made Joan a
breakout star in ‘28. Crawford got here in on the tail finish of the silent period and
soared into the talkies with flying colours. Film goers beloved Crawford in
films that mirrored her personal rags to riches story. They adored Joan in movies
that teamed her with fellow working class film hero, Clark Gable. Followers loved
this final film star carrying extravagant movie fashions by Adrian.

See info beneath!

This
weblog essay is a tribute to each Joan Crawford’s 45^th anniversary of
her Might tenth passing and to the late blogger Patricia Nolan-Corridor. Often called Paddy, she
wrote the favored Caftan Lady film weblog. Right here’s a hyperlink to the Friday, Might 6 Blogathon
in her honor: http://www.ladyevesreellife.com/ or https://anotheroldmovieblog.blogspot.com/

Joan Crawford with MGM’s L.B. “Papa” Mayer.

There
had been only a few missteps in MGM’s plan for Crawford’s film stardom. As a Brit in
At present We Reside and non-directed as
overstated Sadie Thompson in Rain,
Joan was exterior her consolation zone. However what received Crawford moderately unfairly
labeled “field workplace poison” in ’39 was Metro’s casting Joan in roles that
grew to become too comparable and overemphasized her Adrian costumes.

…as Crystal Allen in “The Girls.”

Joan
Crawford deserves props for realizing that she was typecast as Metro’s favourite
model and actively sought out the juicy dangerous woman position of Crystal Allen in
1939’s The Girls. Curiously,
playwright Clare Boothe Luce didn’t take into account her creation of Crystal as
unsympathetic. Really, Crystal is a hardball model of Crawford’s working
class ladies.

Director George Cukor and the all-female forged of “The Girls.”

The Girls
was an enormous hit and boosted the profession of all its stars: Norma Shearer performed an
accessible fashionable position after a number of heavy dramas; Rosalind Russell received a sport
changer position right here as a raucous comedic bitch; Paulette Goddard was glam and right down to earth humorous; Joan Fontaine
received her first substantial position; and Marjorie Principal reprised her stage position which
led to an MGM contract. And Mary Boland was maybe the largest scene stealer,
because the much-married Countess. The Girls
additionally proved that Joan Crawford might be taken significantly as an actress. But, whereas
Joan received some higher roles at MGM, it was an uphill battle and Crawford left
MGM after 18 years in 1943.

Joan Crawford’s feline physique language as predatory Crystal Allen in “The Girls.”

As
Crystal, Crawford reveals a aptitude for bitchy quips and her physique language because the predatory
store woman is alluring. I additionally take pleasure in how Joan’s mantrap goes from her ordinary
cultivated “MGM English,” when on her greatest conduct, to Crawford’s pure Texas
working-class tones when Crystal bares her fangs and snarls.

Crawford
will get to comically spar with each Rosalind Russell’s nosy Sylvia Fowler and
fellow store woman Virginia Gray, and each verbal jousts are a hoot. Of their large
confrontation scene, Joan zings reducing feedback at noble Norma Shearer, whom
Crawford envied for her unofficial title as MGM’s queen. Norma’s Mary Haines is
so insufferably pious that you simply really root for Joan’s Crystal. These two
opposing characters had been definitely an inspiration to these latter day Dynasty wives, good Krystal and dangerous Alexis, I’m positive.

Two of MGM’s nice profiles, Crawford & Shearer, sq. off in “The Girls.”

What’s
shocking is that Joan has solely has 4 scenes in The Girls. Crawford makes her entrance simply previous the 30 minute
mark. However they’re prolonged set items and he or she makes essentially the most of them. The
first is when Crawford’s Crystal affords acerbic customer support to Mary Haines’
“mates,” who’re testing the competitors. All of the whereas, Crystal spars
with fellow store woman Virginia Gray, whereas taking a name from married beau Stephen
Haines.

Joan Crawford & Roz Russell make nice frenemies in “The Girls.” Off-screen, they had been mates.

It
is 20 minutes later with the salon dressing room stand-off, between scheming
store woman Crystal and naïve society spouse Mary Haines. The second half of the
movie begins two years later, with Crystal as now unhappily married to Stephen
Haines. Right here, Roz Russell’s gossip and Crawford’s Crystal strike a fair-weather
alliance. Then there’s the finale, when Crystal’s shenanigans are uncovered and
Crawford will get the traditional kiss-off line. It’s a testomony to Crawford’s vivid
efficiency that Crystal Allen stays in audiences’ minds even when she’s not
on-screen.

Almost all of Joan’s scenes had been with fellow MGM stars Norma Shearer & Roz Russell.

Crawford
performs the robust aspect straight with no winks to the viewers as she did in some
of her later bitch roles. Director George Cukor was on sport right here and each
Crawford and Russell credit score him with some sharp insights and bits of enterprise
for his or her characters. The one criticism I’ve is that trend plate Crawford
received a little bit of a makeover for The Girls
and it’s not solely flattering. Whereas Joan sports activities a nice determine in Adrian’s
flashy fashions as crass Crystal, Crawford sports activities a good perm and penciled
eyebrows. This alteration makes Crawford look exhausting and whereas it really works for the
character, I don’t suppose the end result was intentional.

“My expensive pal Elsa Lanchester really helpful this perm!”

The Girls
was an all-star, all-women movie and it’s a feast for witty dialogue, nice
performances, glamour, and star-watching. And Joan Crawford deserves applause
for going out on a limb and taking part in Crystal Allen fantastically no-holds barred. 

MGM rivals Norma Shearer and Joan Crawford make good… many years later.

Right here’s my
private tackle Joan Crawford’s latter days: https://ricksrealreel.blogspot.com/2021/10/joan-crawford-wrote-it-her-way.html

FYI: I put all of the film
overflow on my public FB  film web page. 

Test it out & be a part of!  https://www.fb.com/teams/178488909366865/

Joan Crawford made her final public look in 1974, w/ MGM pal Rosalind Russell.