Crawford: The last years : an intimate memoir

by Carl Johnes

Crawford's Memoir by a personal friend who worked for Columbia Pictures

Genres: Biography

172 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

Reviews

[Iris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was touched by this book. I didn't think I would be; in fact at first I thought it was a heartless way for a friend to make a quick buck off of the fame, the celebrity, the Icon that is Joan Crawford, but in reading what he wrote about her it comes across more as a loving tribute to the legend. Carl Johnes shows us what he saw in Crawford: her generosity, her affection, her trusting demeanor and her desire to please and make everyone feel special. He doesn't ignore the gossip and scandal that surrounded her personal life and characteristics, but he also shows you how embellished they may be to turn a human person into a caricature that can make the media mogul money.

His final farewell to Crawford is something personal and honest, and in a way, a coping method to help him get over the loss of such a great lady, but more importantly an intimate friend. I don't know if Crawford herself would have appreciated it, but she may have seen the necessity of it in regards to her friend. 4/5

[Lee Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carl Johnes was working for Columbia (the movie studio, not the university) in New York in 1972 when he was asked to help Joan Crawford rearrange and purge her book collection. What followed was a friendship that lasted through her “closing the door” (Dominick Dunne’s phrase for when a celebrity stops going out and/or being photographed) in 1974 to her death from cancer in 1977. They played backgammon, had dinner and drinks (always in her Manhattan apartment), and talked on the phone frequently.

This little book gives a more intimate look at the legend than many of the many biographies I’ve read over the years. What a lucky man Johnes was to see this great actress as a plain woman, hair pulled back with a rubber band, and then to also see her turn on the star power, plop on a wig and glamorous outfit, and dazzle some nobody or other who came to visit! She’d probably hate that he wrote this book, but she should be glad, because it manages to humanize her while still never forgetting she’s a star. I loved every page.

[Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick read, and probably best reserved for the advanced Joan reader. You have to know a lot of Joan to fully appreciate and savor some of the details here.

Like Caryle's "Under the Rainbow," this was the story of the gay who sat at the right hand of a diva, though of course Johnes was not out when this was published (nor do I know for sure if he is now). Though Johnes did not know Crawford long, I truly believe that he and Crawford had an intimate relationship which enabled him to paint a relatively accurate picture of this the last stage in her life.

Joan was a woman driven by her own ambition, and she achieved a great deal of success and love as a result. And though I firmly reject Christina Crawford's warped version of events, I have always sensed a lot of pain and regret on Joan's part that Johnes seems to confirm (somewhat in contrast with Newquist's Joan from "Conversations with Joan Crawford," who granted was a bit younger.)

All in all a fun, quick read. It peels off yet another layer of that delicious, if inscrutable, onion that is Joan Crawford. It's a book that I am sure I will go back to again and again even if just to soak up the feeling of being right there in her living room on 69th street.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful account of a friendship, written with love and admiration.

[Christopher Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A deeply personal and intimate look into the final years of a legendary actress and woman, Joan Crawford: The Last Years is a book I read in four hours and was so engrossed in that I didn't eat, drink, or even turn on a light. A very insightful look into her life and the woman behind the legends and myths. I learned a lot and enjoyed every word.

[Patrick Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice to read something positive about Joan Crawford. The book is a tribute to unique friendship in Joan's final years. I loved it.

[luiza · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel so sad because she was feeling so lonely in her last years oh my god!! reading this you can meet another side of her and I loved it!! she was so precious.

[Sasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Crawford: The last years" is a lovingly written, affectionate memoir written by Columbia Pictures editor Carl Johnes as a reaction to malicious "Mommie Dearest" (published a year earlier) in attempt to show a different side of Crawford that he himself witnessed trough the years of their personal friendship. These were Crawford's autumn years where she slowly but surely disappeared from public life and only occasionally invited guests in her apartment for the rounds of backgammon - for whatever reason, Crawford took a shine to young Johnes and enjoyed his attention, inviting him over and over again until they bonded in mutual affection. Sure, the point could be made that Crawford presented herself as she always wanted - immaculately poised, generous and stylish, not the face that her step children saw - and Johnes is well aware that she always took great efforts to play the star for him. Still, its refreshing to read something positive about Crawford, after all the public humiliation and somewhere between the lines there is a portrait of lonely and elderly beauty still craving affection and attention.

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really don’t know much about Joan Crawford but someone recommended me this memoir after my friend Shelley Duvall passed away and Carl’s intimate and close friendship with his idol, Joan, deeply reminded me of me and Shelley. Even though Carl’s unlikely friendship happened 50 years ago, we have so many similarities. This is inspiring me to write my own memoir because I know it would be healing…

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

lovely tribute from an accidental friend of one of Hollywood's greatest stars

[seconhandroses · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this all in one go. It is my favorite Crawford book out there. It’s sweet, intimate and gave you a look into Joan as a person rather than a movie star.