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A Portrait of Joan: The Autobiography of Joan Crawford
One of Hollywood’s greatest stars recalls her fabulous life: at nine, scrubbing floors in a Kansas City school; at twenty, motion picture stardom and marriage to Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.; in 1945, the Academy Award for her sensational comeback-triumph in Mildred Pierce; and today, a glamorous “double life” as Hollywood star and corporation executive.
Richly illustrated with photographs throughout.
Richly illustrated with photographs throughout.
331 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1962
72 people are currently reading
207 people want to read
About the author
Joan Crawford
22 books66 followersJoan Crawford (born Lucille Fay LeSueur) was an Academy Award-winning American actress. Crawford is named as the tenth Greatest Female Star of All Time by the American Film Institute.
Starting as a dancer on Broadway, Crawford was signed to a motion picture contract by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios in 1925 and played small parts. By the end of the '20s she became a famous flapper. Beginning in the 1930s, Crawford's fame rivaled fellow MGM colleagues Norma Shearer and Greta Garbo. She often played hardworking young women who find romance and financial success. These "rags to riches" stories were well-received by Depression-era audiences and were popular with women. By the end of the decade, Crawford remained one of Hollywood's most prominent movie stars, and one of the highest paid women in the U.S.
For her performance in Mildred Pierce, Crawford won an Academy Award and in the following years, achieved some of her best reviews. In 1955, she became involved with PepsiCo, the company run by her last husband, Alfred Steele. After his death in 1959, Crawford was elected to fill his vacancy on the board of directors but was forcibly retired in 1973. She continued acting regularly into the 1960s, when her performances became fewer, and after the release of the horror film Trog in 1970, retired from the screen.
Starting as a dancer on Broadway, Crawford was signed to a motion picture contract by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios in 1925 and played small parts. By the end of the '20s she became a famous flapper. Beginning in the 1930s, Crawford's fame rivaled fellow MGM colleagues Norma Shearer and Greta Garbo. She often played hardworking young women who find romance and financial success. These "rags to riches" stories were well-received by Depression-era audiences and were popular with women. By the end of the decade, Crawford remained one of Hollywood's most prominent movie stars, and one of the highest paid women in the U.S.
For her performance in Mildred Pierce, Crawford won an Academy Award and in the following years, achieved some of her best reviews. In 1955, she became involved with PepsiCo, the company run by her last husband, Alfred Steele. After his death in 1959, Crawford was elected to fill his vacancy on the board of directors but was forcibly retired in 1973. She continued acting regularly into the 1960s, when her performances became fewer, and after the release of the horror film Trog in 1970, retired from the screen.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
October 8, 2021
I love joan crawford so much. she was so talented, beautiful and a strong person. I would do everything to back at time and meet her, she was so lovely with her fans and so grateful to them, i love that in her. she is everything to me.
August 30, 2014
Eh... you can't really rate someone's life story, I guess...
May 30, 2017
This is an interesting read, but it is pretty much just a straight autobiography. It is nowhere near as fun or amusing as My Way of Life...if you are short on time, read that one first!
November 7, 2018
The last few chapters were like a long advert for Pepsi! But still a good read!
February 3, 2024
It all started with a screening of Mildred Pierce…
I never really knew Joan Crawford except in references to wire hangers, but at the New Beverly on a May evening I saw her in Mildred Pierce and was hooked. My friend gave me her autobiography to keep the obsession going…and I’m unstoppably on Team Joan!
I noticed a lot of reviews for this book comment on the lack of details. The lack of Joan crying about her life. She is poised throughout, never really says anything negative about anybody, and even seems unbothered by when they called her box office poison. Isn’t that a reveal though? The highs and lows are described measured, factually. She’s a reliable narrator and as much as I would love to know how she FEELS, I think she felt it would be a waste of time to try and explain it. That’s between her and god.
A good book given to you by a good friend really does save your life every time.
I never really knew Joan Crawford except in references to wire hangers, but at the New Beverly on a May evening I saw her in Mildred Pierce and was hooked. My friend gave me her autobiography to keep the obsession going…and I’m unstoppably on Team Joan!
I noticed a lot of reviews for this book comment on the lack of details. The lack of Joan crying about her life. She is poised throughout, never really says anything negative about anybody, and even seems unbothered by when they called her box office poison. Isn’t that a reveal though? The highs and lows are described measured, factually. She’s a reliable narrator and as much as I would love to know how she FEELS, I think she felt it would be a waste of time to try and explain it. That’s between her and god.
A good book given to you by a good friend really does save your life every time.
January 28, 2020
3 1/2 stars
I went in knowing Crawford’s memoirs had been seriously worked over by her co-writer.
While I think Crawford is a complicated woman, she does a very good job here of presenting a professional and very doctored account of her life and career. She gives credit where credit is due and I have to admire her work ethic.
However Crawford only admits fault once (she didn’t like her performance in RAIN), and far too often people in her life seemingly give her little speeches that come across as unrealistic soap opera schtick. Her ego also comes through especially in the last fifth of the book. She’s extremely defensive about her falling out with her cast/crew on JOHNNY GUITAR, spending a few pages quoting other people’s defense of her. She’s nearly simply misunderstood you see! She always makes the right choices! She even lies, stating she’s the oldest working star in Hollywood—-Lillian Gish would have begged to differ.
Yet elements of the truth poke through her lies. Her Entourage of fans who take care of her belly the idea of this relatable modernity, and as good a mother as she pretends to be she randomly marries men or disappears from her children’s lives for what feels like long stretches. I don’t believe Christina Crawford’s book to be anything but trash, but Crawford wasn’t a super parent either.
I went in knowing Crawford’s memoirs had been seriously worked over by her co-writer.
While I think Crawford is a complicated woman, she does a very good job here of presenting a professional and very doctored account of her life and career. She gives credit where credit is due and I have to admire her work ethic.
However Crawford only admits fault once (she didn’t like her performance in RAIN), and far too often people in her life seemingly give her little speeches that come across as unrealistic soap opera schtick. Her ego also comes through especially in the last fifth of the book. She’s extremely defensive about her falling out with her cast/crew on JOHNNY GUITAR, spending a few pages quoting other people’s defense of her. She’s nearly simply misunderstood you see! She always makes the right choices! She even lies, stating she’s the oldest working star in Hollywood—-Lillian Gish would have begged to differ.
Yet elements of the truth poke through her lies. Her Entourage of fans who take care of her belly the idea of this relatable modernity, and as good a mother as she pretends to be she randomly marries men or disappears from her children’s lives for what feels like long stretches. I don’t believe Christina Crawford’s book to be anything but trash, but Crawford wasn’t a super parent either.
May 12, 2017
Love this book
Joan was talented and beautiful.
She is a legend and will always in my mind no matter what. She had to work her way up the ladder. from her horriblebchildhoid to become a big star.
Joan was talented and beautiful.
She is a legend and will always in my mind no matter what. She had to work her way up the ladder. from her horriblebchildhoid to become a big star.
June 12, 2022
I love Joan Crawford. Say what you will about the legacy she leaves behind but the woman was a professional. Came from nothing and worked her way to the top. Even if it is just the parts of her life that she wanted to share, I appreciate the storytelling.
January 18, 2018
I'm surprised by how much I enjoyed this, given that I knew next to nothing about Joan Crawford going in (other than the infamous Mommie Dearest stories). Her memoir is obviously tailored for maximum positivity, but I was completely absorbed by her experiences in early Hollywood. It's pretty remarkable to have a strong film career from the 1920s into the 1960s, with massive changes in all aspects of the industry. The development of Los Angeles around Hollywood is a weird niche interest of mine, and this book definitely satisfied that curiosity.
June 25, 2024
I am a huge Joan Crawford fan. I love her movies, especially the early ones. She came from nothing with little education and worked so hard to reach the top. This autobiography put many things into perspective, and I enjoyed her 'gossip' and discussion of other movie stars and directors of that time.
It's sort of difficult or unfair to review or criticize an autobiography. My only disappointment, though, was that I felt she intentionally left out details about relationships and other things that would have benefitted from more clarification. Overall, though, I enjoyed this book.
It's sort of difficult or unfair to review or criticize an autobiography. My only disappointment, though, was that I felt she intentionally left out details about relationships and other things that would have benefitted from more clarification. Overall, though, I enjoyed this book.
September 7, 2024
I really enjoy the work of Joan, so when I saw she had written this I decided to give it a read. Overall, I enjoyed reading about her life. I wish she had gone into more detail about her upbringing, there were spots where I feel it was a little glossed over. But it’s her life story. If you’re a fan of hers this is a good read.
February 16, 2025
I have read that a lot of readers were critical about the ' whitewashed ' memoirs of Joan Crawford. Written in 1962, before the ' tell all ' autobiographies of today , this is the way the lady wanted to be remembered.
Plus , the book is beautifully written ( with the assistance of co- author Jane Kesner Ardmore ) .
Plus , the book is beautifully written ( with the assistance of co- author Jane Kesner Ardmore ) .
July 9, 2024
Joan Crawford bio
I enjoyed the book until the last chapter or 2. I became bored with hearing about Alfred and Pepsi Cola. The book should have ended when Alfred passed away, in my opinion!
I enjoyed the book until the last chapter or 2. I became bored with hearing about Alfred and Pepsi Cola. The book should have ended when Alfred passed away, in my opinion!
March 26, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a very insightful, comprehensive, and intimate look from the pen of one of our most cherished actresses of the Golden Age. I have had it in my library for a very long time and I am so glad I finally read it. Quite an inspiration.
November 12, 2021
A lovely tale of an incredibly self-centered woman
June 10, 2022
Always love Joan. Even when she lies about her age and glosses over franchot cheating on her lol
September 17, 2022
Great memoir
April 3, 2023
Full of glamor and glossed over details. It was not believable, but it was entertaining.
Read
December 20, 2023shes such a bitch, I love her
November 27, 2025
This biography is the better book, in my opinion, of the two she wrote. It is well written and a decent read about her life and career and family.
May 21, 2013
Beyond Divalicious!
July 7, 2016
Interesting take from Joan's perspective.
Read
August 18, 2017This was a fascinating look in on the past of Joan Crawford. Whether it is mostly glossed over by publishers/managers or majorly factual, I found it interesting nonetheless.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews