JOAN CRAWFORD: THE ULTIMATE MOVIE STAR (2002) B/W & C 90m dir: Peter Fitzgerald

narrated by Anjelica Huston

From Now Playing: A Viewer's Guide to Turner Classic Movies: "'She was the perfect image of the movie star, and as such was largely the creation of her own indomitable will.' That's director George Cukor on Joan Crawford, as quoted in Joan Crawford: The Ultimate Movie Star (2002), a TCM world premiere and the first comprehensive documentary on Crawford's life and career. Written, produced and directed by Peter Fitzgerald and narrated by Anjelica Huston, the documentary utilizes excerpts from Crawford's films along with rare footage and photographs and interviews with family and colleagues. Among those commenting are Christina Crawford, the daughter who revealed her mother's abusive nature in her book Mommie Dearest; Vincent Sherman, who became Crawford's lover while directing her in three movies of the 1950s; and Crawford costars Diane Baker, Betsy Palmer and Cliff Robertson. The documentary reveals how Crawford's own background as an abused child haunted her later life, and shows the relentless ambition that drove her to endlessly reinvent herself with the changing times. Fitzgerald offers a fresh re-evaluation of the illustrious Crawford career, which is often eclipsed by her notorious private life. 'Some of her screen performances are among the best of any woman who worked in Hollywood,' notes author Bob Thomas. 'Much of that is forgotten, and it shouldn't be.'"