IMDb > Mommie Dearest (1981)
Mommie Dearest
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Mommie Dearest (1981) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
6.3/10   4,535 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 1% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Frank Perry
Writers:
Christina Crawford (book)
Robert Getchell (writer)
more
Contact:
View company contact information for Mommie Dearest on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
18 September 1981 (USA) more
Genre:
Biography | Drama more
Tagline:
To my darling Christina, with love...Mommie Dearest more
Plot:
Mommie Dearest, best selling memoir, turned motion picture, depicts the abusive and traumatic adoptive upbringing of Christina Crawford at the hands of her mother...screen queen Joan Crawford. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
6 wins & 7 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(24 articles)
Review: ‘Precious’
 (From The Flickcast. 20 November 2009, 8:00 AM, PST)
Movies I Saw as a Kid (That I Shouldn't Have)
 (From Momlogic. 17 November 2009, 2:00 AM, PST)
User Comments:
Always nice to see rich famous people are as crazy as we common folk :P more (129 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Faye Dunaway ... Joan Crawford

Diana Scarwid ... Christina Crawford (adult)
Steve Forrest ... Greg Savitt
Howard Da Silva ... Louis B. Mayer
Mara Hobel ... Christina Crawford (child)

Rutanya Alda ... Carol Ann
Harry Goz ... Alfred Steele
Michael Edwards ... Ted Gelber
Jocelyn Brando ... Barbara Bennett
Priscilla Pointer ... Mrs. Chadwick
Joe Abdullah ... Captain
Gary Allen ... Jimmy
Selma Archerd ... Connie
Adrian Aron ... Wedding Guest

Xander Berkeley ... Christopher Crawford (adult)
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
129 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Metrocolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono
Certification:
Canada:AA (Ontario) | Iceland:16 | UK:15 (video rating) (1987) | UK:AA (original rating) | Sweden:15 | USA:R (original rating) | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Finland:K-16 | USA:PG (re-rating after appeal) | West Germany:12 | Australia:M | Singapore:PG
Filming Locations:
Chadwick School - 26800 Academy Drive, Palos Verdes Peninsula, California, USA more
Company:
Paramount Pictures more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Contrary to urban legend, the scene in which Joan Crawford substitutes for her daughter Christina Crawford on the soap opera was NOT filmed on the Cunningham living room and kitchen set from "Happy Days" (1974). more
Goofs:
Continuity: At the beginning of the birthday party scene, Joan can obviously be seen riding the Carousel behind Christina. However, in a subsequent shot, she is no longer on the Carousel. In another shot soon thereafter, she suddenly appears on the Carousel behind Christina again. more
Quotes:
Joan Crawford: [after an ugly fight] I didn't mean that, Greg. I didn't mean it.
Greg Savitt: Get up. There's no camera in here.
Joan Crawford: Greg, where ya goin'?
Greg Savitt: Where I belong. Out of here.
Joan Crawford: You belong here. I'm waitin' for ya.
Greg Savitt: Good night, Joan.
Joan Crawford: Please don't leave, because if you do, you'll never come back in again, no matter what you say, or ask, or do.
Greg Savitt: I'll always wish you well, Joan. And I'll only speak well of you.
Joan Crawford: Please don't go! Don't leave me here alone. Please.
Greg Savitt: If you're acting, you're wasting your time. If you're not, you're wasting mine.
[...]
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movie Quotes: America's Greatest Quips, Comebacks and Catchphrases (2005) (TV) more
Soundtrack:
To Each His Own more

FAQ

How faithful is this movie to the book, and is it an accurate portrayal of real events?
more

User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
2 out of 2 people found the following comment useful.
Always nice to see rich famous people are as crazy as we common folk :P, 15 October 2006
6/10
Author: Arlis (mellow@tricomcorp.net) from KY- United States

Well so I had always wanted to see this, but didn't know much about it. I could care less about Joan Crawford or her freaky deaky family, but I watched WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE and was reminded again that I should see Mommie Dearest.

I watched it and was AMAZED by how much Faye looked like Joan. Crazy people on the message board said they looked nothing alike - They look just alike to me. That was an automatic hook.

I've heard the chronological aspect of the film was off, but I can't judge it for that because I don't know much about that, I can only comment on what I know.

First let me say that I loved Faye Dunaway and many of the other actors. The little girl, although might've been OK as an actress, she was a bratty person who I didn't like. The direction wasn't impressive but the use of color was absolutely wonderful, some of the shots were great simply because of the color matches, especially the scene where Joan first gets the baby and walks to the top of the stairs.

The story was just the right amount of pity, love, hate, insanity, respect and madness. You could'nt help but feel sorry yet relate to both the mother and the daughter.

It was a nice movie and I think it blended Drama, horror and a touch of comedy all together. Comedy wasn't intended, but hey who didn't laugh at the "NO MORE WIRE HANGERS" part.

Watch it and you'll like it, it's a tad long but you won't be bored for long, its entertaining.

6 out of 10 stars.

Was the above comment useful to you?
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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Mommie Dearest (1981)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Are there any moms who aren't like this? author_book
What's wrong with wire hangers? kotrofos
What a hoot! davidfyfe99
Vanity Fair article about Joan and her thoughts on Christina's book.... parks8321
If Faye wanted to make alot of $$$ cubkisser66
Mommie Dearest Review Belialtwin
more

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