Possessed: The Life of Joan Crawford
Spoto, author of several best-selling biographies of film and theater stars, sets his sights on Joan Crawford for this, his latest effort. Based on exclusive interviews and archival information, he pieces together Crawford’s (then Lucille LeSeuer) early life with her poverty-stricken family, her days as trophy-winning Charleston dancer and fast life as a flapper during World War I, her discovery by MGM, and her life as a movie star. He also details her four marriages, her troubled family life, her several love affairs, achievements as a movie star, and time as a business executive on the board of directors of Pepsi-Cola. Obviously a great fan of the notorious Crawford, the author tries to dispute the stories of child abuse and mental instability that besmirched the reputation of the actress; however, his arguments in the end are not all that persuasive. An illuminating look at a bygone era, and a fairly entertaining read, that movie fans will enjoy. --Kathleen Hughes--This text refers to thePaperbackedition.