Hollywood Hist-o-rama: Joan Crawford (1961)
** 1/2 (out of 4)
Lasting anywhere between three and four minutes, the Hollywood HIST-O-RAMA series shouldn't be looked at as some sort of documentary that's going to tell you everything about the subject. After all, with such a short running time it would be impossible to go into great details about anything but I'm sure people back when this was made would have at least enjoyed them.
Joan Crawford is the star of this episode and we quickly hear about how she got work in Hollywood and how her looks, her style and her toughness helped make her a star. We go through some of her early works including THE UNKNOWN with Lon Chaney and then hear about her working and emotional relationship with Franchot Tone. From here we see her working with the likes of Clark Gable and eventually winning her Oscar. At just three-minutes it's impossible for this to really give one a complete look at Crawford but for 1961 I think it's good enough to where it would have educated younger people then you might not have remembered Crawford and these films. It's also worth pointing out how positive the image of the star is here and the narrator even mentions that her strong acting is what she'll always be remembered for. Of course, now after the release of MOMMIE DEAREST we see that's not exactly true.
** 1/2 (out of 4)
Lasting anywhere between three and four minutes, the Hollywood HIST-O-RAMA series shouldn't be looked at as some sort of documentary that's going to tell you everything about the subject. After all, with such a short running time it would be impossible to go into great details about anything but I'm sure people back when this was made would have at least enjoyed them.
Joan Crawford is the star of this episode and we quickly hear about how she got work in Hollywood and how her looks, her style and her toughness helped make her a star. We go through some of her early works including THE UNKNOWN with Lon Chaney and then hear about her working and emotional relationship with Franchot Tone. From here we see her working with the likes of Clark Gable and eventually winning her Oscar. At just three-minutes it's impossible for this to really give one a complete look at Crawford but for 1961 I think it's good enough to where it would have educated younger people then you might not have remembered Crawford and these films. It's also worth pointing out how positive the image of the star is here and the narrator even mentions that her strong acting is what she'll always be remembered for. Of course, now after the release of MOMMIE DEAREST we see that's not exactly true.
