Joan Crawford
JOAN CRAWFORD AND BETTE DAVIS WOULD HAVE LOVED RYAN MURPHY
Ryan Murphy has already successfully filmed six out of eight episodes of FX’s “Feud” and he’s made SURE that not a single photo of Jessica Lange or Susan Sarandon in character has leaked out. We hear that Jessica in makeup is a dead ringer for her character Joan Crawford, and Susan already has those Bette Davis eyes! The story celebrates the two stars’ rivalry, and takes place at a dinner at gossip columnist Hedda Hopper’s (played by Judy Davis) house right before the two stars were set to film “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?” Two women over 50 starring in a movie would never happen today and the plot examines the desperation that mature women in Hollywood suffered then and now. We hear that Jessica Lange and Judy Davis have become fast friends on and off the set. Thanks heavens for TV, or these women wouldn’t be working!
(Above, the real Bette and Joan pretending to be civil.)
NICOLE SCHERZINGER HAS A JOAN CRAWFORD MOMENT
Maybe it’s the liberal application of makeup, but Nicole Scherzinger DOES remind us of Joan Crawford here. Nicole has come a long way since she put The Pussycat Dolls on the map as lead singer. Surprisingly, she can dance as well as she sings – she was the winner on Dancing with the Stars in 2010. Despite her obvious assets, her solo recording success has mostly been in the UK. She does The X Factor there and got good reviews onstage in a Cats revival. In this photo she’s wearing more clothing than we’ve ever seen her wear.
Photo Credit: AKM-GSI
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BETTE DAVIS AND JOAN CRAWFORD?
Is Ryan Murphy actually thinking of reinventing the essentially PERFECT 1962 movie “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?” It featured two of the greatest all time movie legends and gay icons, Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, in their decline. In perhaps the best B movie ever made, screen queens Bette and Joan appeared in shockingly unflattering roles – each one desperate to out-act the other. (Coincidentally, it was also filmed at recognizable places in our own Hollywood neighborhood.) Fortunately, Ryan is NOT remaking the film. He’s documenting the bitter rivalry behind the scenes between the two actresses leading up to Baby Jane in an anthology series for FX called Feud. Sounds like fun, but it’s hard to picture Susan Sarandon as Bette – Jessica Lange as Joan seems more plausible. Surprise – Brad Pitt is co-producing with Ryan.
CASTING CALL FOR “WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE?” REMAKE
The 1962 gruesome cult movie “What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?” is in the works for a remake directed, for some reason, by Walter Hill. Hill is best known for his macho action movies and westerns. Evidently he wants a change of pace. As you may recall “Baby Jane” is about two sisters fallen on hard times. Jane, played by Bette Davis, was a former child star, and Blanche, played by Joan Crawford, was a former movie queen. Jane had degenerated into a slatternly alcoholic who dressed like a ten year old, and Blanche was helpless in a wheelchair from an auto accident. They were forced to live together in a decaying Hollywood mansion in Hancock Park. So let’s throw out some casting ideas!! Of course, Faye Dunaway is everybody’s first choice for Blanche, but if she says no – how about Jessica Lange or Charlotte Rampling? (Actually Faye could play either role.) As for Jane, we could imagine Kathy Bates or Kirstie Alley in the part. Any suggestions out there?
WHAT IS KATY PERRY’S LINK TO JOAN CRAWFORD?
It really IS a small world. Katy Perry has a close “nine degrees of separation” connection to Joan Crawford. Katy’s evangelist mother’s aunt and uncle were successful Hollywood director Frank Perry and his screenwriter wife Eleanor Perry. Frank Perry directed the classic movie “Mommie Dearest” – the Joan Crawford story starring Faye Dunaway. Frank Perry died years before Katy’s career started to rise so he never was able to pull any strings for her.
DEBBIE REYNOLDS WAVES GOODBYE TO A LIFETIME COLLECTION, BUT SHE’S IN THE MONEY NOW!
Debbie Reynolds’ Hollywood costume auction this weekend was a roller coaster of emotional ups and downs. It was nice to see Debbie solving her financial problems after being robbed blind by not one, but two good-for-nothing husbands. But it was undeniably sad to see her dream of opening a Hollywood museum go up in smoke. She acquired most of her massive collection at the big MGM sale around 40 years ago and has been storing and caring for them ever since. Sadder still is the fact that most of the collectibles were purchased by foreigners and will be taken out of the country. A Saudi Arabian voice on the phone paid 4.6 million for Marilyn Monroe’s white “Seven Year Itch” subway dress. A man from a Japanese museum quietly purchased Judy Garland’s “Wizard of Oz” dress and ruby sequin slippers for $910,000 and $510,000. One of our personal favorites- Joan Crawford’s waitress uniform from “Mildred Pierce” only pulled in $22,500- maybe THAT will stay in the US.
Evan Rachel Wood Far From Heaven Guy Pierce HBO Joan Crawford Kate Winslet Mildred Pierce Todd Haynes
HBO MINISERIES “MILDRED PIERCE” WITH KATE WINSLET IS COMING IN MARCH
Todd Haynes can do no wrong in our book, because he’s responsible for one of our all time favorite movies – “Far From Heaven.” So we are eagerly anticipating Todd’s HBO version of “Mildred Pierce” airing in March. The miniseries stars Kate Winslet, Guy Pierce, and Evan Rachel Wood as Veda, the poisonous daughter. Joan Crawford’s pumps are hard to fill, but we hear Kate does an amazing job. Check out the trailer.
KATE WINSLET IS THE NEW “MILDRED PIERCE”
Two months ago we told you with some trepidation that Kate Winslet is starring in a 5 hour miniseries version of the 1945 movie classic “Mildred Pierce” and it’s already started filming. Kate is dressed in her depression era fashions shooting in New York. Todd Haynes, the genius behind “Far From Heaven” pays close attention to lush period decor and fashion so we have high expectations for the movie. Joan Crawford’s role is not easy to assume, but if anyone can do it, Kate can do it with Todd Haynes.
KATE WINSLET AS MILDRED PIERCE?
We love Kate Winslet, but Joan Crawford’s shoes are not easy to fill. The classic 1945 movie ”Mildred Pierce” is being remade into a five hour miniseries for HBO and Kate’s playing the lead. Naturally, we have reservations about remaking a close-to perfect movie. Fortunately, it will be directed by one of our favorites, Todd Haynes, who’s responsible the exquisite “Far From Heaven” with Julianne Moore. The touching moments, photography, and set decoration, in that period film are unforgettable. Haynes is really the only director we can imagine doing justice to this classic story.