When Sunday came, we just had to do something, darlings, so even though the heat was ratcheting up my Bitch Meter, a visit to the Film Forum we felt would cool us off. Which it did.
I had never seen "Sudden Fear," the 1952 film which netted Joan Crawford an Oscar nomination--losing out to Shirley Booth, in "Come Back, Little Sheba"--but there were so many surprises.
For starters, I learned that if one is going to gun down someone, the deed should be done like Joan, dressed in an elegant scarf, and long fur coat.
I also learned that Gloria Grahame is the one actress who could steal scenes from Joan. Hell, she could steal them from everyone.
Who knew "Junior" was played by someone named "Touch Conners," who would late become Mike Connors, who became "Mannix" in the Sixties??????? Unfortunately, Gail Fisher was not on hand here, as Peggy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bruce Bennett, who played husband Bert in "Mildred Pierce," appeared with Joan as her lawyer, and did a wonderful job. Nice to see them back again.
But the plot--oh, my God!--Joan plays a successful playwright, Myra Hudson, who just happens to be an heiress. She fires her leading man, played by Jack Palance, which leads to trouble--I mean, it's Jack Palance, for God's sake, of course there will be trouble--and Joan foolishly marries him, while he and Gloria, who is also stringing along Mike Connors, plot to kill Joan.
The climax is a hoot! Jack and Gloria get theirs, Joan gets away with the whole thing by tossing her scarf in the sewer, and then walking up a San Francisco hill!!!!!!!! And this was before Rice-A-Roni, the San Francisco treat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My only disappointment was there was no nasty daughter, to act as a foil for Joan.
It was Joan's show, all the way! And she made the most of it!
Now, I simply have to find a coat like hers, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And those facial close-ups! The like has not been seen since the days of Norma Desmond!!!!!!!!!!
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