"No…wire…hangers…EVER!" Oscar Wilde once remarked that one would have to have a heart of stone not to laugh at the (protracted) death of Little Nell in Charles Dickens' The Old Curiosity Shop, and--while child abuse is (thankfully) rarely a subject for humor--the same holds true for the trials and tribulations of poor little Christina Crawford, the adopted daughter of screen legend Joan Crawford. Although still held in high esteem as a serious dramatic work by some, others (myself included) consider this 1981 adaptation of Crawford's 1978 tell-all memoir to be a camp classic, powered by Faye Dunaway's brilliantly over-the-top portrayal of the obsessive actress/homemaker ("I'm not mad at you! I'm mad at the dirt!") and perfect turns by Mara Hobel and Diana Scarwid as the child and adult Christina, respectively. Disappointingly extra-less, the digital transfer is nevertheless very nice (showcasing the gorgeous art direction) and the Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack beautifully reproduces Henry Mancini's original score. Definitely recommended. (R. Pitman)
Mommie Dearest
Paramount, 128 min., PG, DVD: $29.99 Volume 16, Issue 6
Mommie Dearest
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