With Love, Mommie Dearest

The Making of an Unintentional Camp Classic

By: A. Ashley Hoff, Bruce Vilanch - foreword

Narrated by: Kim Niemi

Length: 10 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

When she died in 1977, Joan Crawford was remembered as an icon of Hollywood's Golden Age—until publication the following year of her daughter's memoir, Mommie Dearest.

Christina Crawford's book was an immediate bestseller, addressing the infrequently discussed topic of child abuse.

When Paramount Pictures released the film, starring Faye Dunaway as Crawford, it was critically panned, and remains one of the most legendary critical bombs in film history. The lavish, big-screen adaptation drew unexpected laughter in the scenes depicting life in the Crawford household. Rarely have such good intentions been met with such ridicule.

Despite this, the movie was a commercial success and remains, four decades later, immensely popular. With Love, Mommie Dearest details the writing and selling of Christina's book and the aftermath of its publication, as well as the filming of the motion picture, whose backstage drama almost surpassed what was viewed onscreen in the film.

Based on new interviews with people connected to the book and the film, Hollywood historian A. Ashley Hoff explores the phenomenon, the camp, and the very real social issues addressed by the book and film.

©2024 A. Ashley Hoff; Foreword copyright 2024 by Bruce Vilanch (P)2024 Tantor

I am "wired' to this book!

This book is just plain fun. I grew up watching Mommie Dearest...and it is still one of my favorite movies. A true cult classic...camp at its best. This book is the perfect companion to the movie. Great inside stories, behind the scenes details and cutting room action. Each chapter is fun and fantastic. I loved hearing more about Mara Hobel and Diana Scarwid too.

If you love the movie...you will love this book. But...be warned...the book will give you the itch to watch the movie again.

Narration is awful

I’m about halfway into this book and find I cringe more and more often at the narration style. We don’t need her to tell us Bette Davis is quoted as saying something…and then launch into a really poor and almost condescending imitation of Ms Davis. And using voice styling when mentioning what people have said in a manner other than own voice is distracting. Just speak the words. You’re not going to get an Oscar for this. I may not get through this book.

AMAZING narrator for a wonderful book!

I have such a problem finding good stuff to listen to on my long commute. It's it's too "thinky", I can't follow it, but if it's too "lite" I get bored. This gem is everything you want on your commute, or when walking the dog, or when just relaxing at home with a tasty story. First, the narration. For me, it matters. With some books and podcasts, if the narrator is not skilled, I literally can't continue listening. Kim Niemi knocks it out the park with this delicious material, I mean, imagine having to say "No wire hangers.....EVER!" and "Tina, bring me the axe!" but not exactly try to imitate Faye imitating Joan. Ms. Niemi has figured it all out, and delivers the iconic lines with just a touch of Faye/Joan like the perfect amount of salt on your chips. Not too much, not too little, just right. Kim's voice is expressive without being over the top, and she uses inflection and a touch of an accent here and there so you're always sure who is being quoted. No easy feat, and something that I really need in the car so that I can follow what's going on. I'm in awe of the talent here.
But to the book. I'm at the perfect age to hear ALLLLL about the backstory of Mommy Dearest. One of the wackiest movies ever made, compelling, disturbing, hilarious, a guilty pleasure, a mixed bag of emotions and reactions, you won't be surprised that the backstory is juicy and jaw dropping. It also exposes all of us; what it means when we react to (what they hoped would be) serious material with gales of shocked laughter. This movie that had hoped to be some kind of serious exposé of the dark side of Hollywood, addiction, and child abuse became a camp classic with a Rocky Horror Picture Show vibe. If you want to know how that happened, what the intentions were, how Paramount changed their messaging to just roll with it, you've got to purchase this book immediately. If divas, backstage drama, Hollywood history and gossip, greed, ego, good intentions, and misguided direction are your thing, then you will never want this book to end.
A big BRAVA to Ms. Niemi and A. Ashley Hoff, Bruce Vilanch. Loved it!!

amazing storytelling

the book is so well written that I listened to the entire book all at one time. I've always loved behind closed doors Hollywood stories and this delivers. highly recommend to all

Starts out slow

Started out slow, increasing got better. Had some interesting thoughts and stories
Could definitely go much more in-depth.