Ever heard of Lucille Fay LeSueur? Probably not. But
Joan Crawford ought to ring a bell, even if that name only dredges up memories of Faye Dunaway in the 1981 movie "
Mommie Dearest."
Lucille Fay LeSueur and Joan Crawford are one in the same, although Crawford left her old name and old life far behind during her ascent in Hollywood. It wasn't a difficult decision, since Crawford's early life was a hard 180 degrees away from the glamour, fame and big paychecks that came with stardom.
"
What Ever Happened to Baby Jane" was on AMC recently, and it's still chillingly good. So we tracked down Donald Spoto, author of "
Possessed: The Life of Joan Crawford," for a quick Q&A about one of Hollywood's most famous names.
OTF: It's been more than 30 years since Joan Crawford's death. Is it fair to say that when her name is mentioned, most people immediately think of "Mommie Dearest"?
DS: When Joan Crawford’s name is mentioned, people usually think of a
movie star from the so-called Golden Age of Hollywood—and/or they think
of the terrible woman who was a “mommie dearest.
Finish this sentence: "Mommie Dearest" is ...
... an elaborate, hysterical tale, mostly the ramblings of a disturbed memory.
While you're at it, here's another one to finish: What most people don't know about JC is ...
... her lifetime of enormous
generosity—to friends, to charities, to hospitals—and all of it done
anonymously.
JC's story (as presented in your biography) doesn't have the fairytale aura of being discovered for stardom at Schwab's — it' s a much grittier rags-to-riches tale of heartbreak, pluck and an iron will to overcome obstacles and setbacks to succeed. Would she mind having her story told in such a frank manner? Or did she prefer the illusion, the Hollywood veneer?
Joan Crawford was a remarkably honest woman, especially in the latter
years of her life—she spoke frankly about her background and
upbringing. And why shouldn’t she: she had nothing to hide!
Fans of vintage Hollywood -- especially those who relish when the facade is peeled back -- will naturally be attracted to your book. But what's the selling point for readers who aren't necessarily so well-versed in that era?
Many people do not take into account Crawford’s 50-year career, in
which she performed a wide variety of roles and rarely made a false
step. One of the goals of my book was to demonstrate that she was, and
remains one of, the greatest movie actresses of the 20th century.
In researching and writing "Possessed," what was the most surprising thing you discovered about JC?
The most astonishing thing I learned about Crawford was the fact
that she was not an abusive, cruel mother—she was strict, to be sure
(she had to be, surrounded with all the dangers to children in
Hollywood), but she was a devoted and attentive woman. She was not Saint
Joan—she made mistakes and learned from them; but neither was she a
Hollywood monster.
Ultimately, what's JC's legacy?
This is the story of a self-made woman who dealt with moguls and
corporate executives, who overcame adversity in her early life and
disappointment in her widowhood, when she learned that her husband left
her with a million-dollar tax burden—and she triumphed.