With Love, Mommie Dearest: The Making of an Unintentional Camp Classic

by A. Ashley Hoff, Bruce Vilanch (Contributor)

When she died in 1977, Joan Crawford was remembered as an icon of Hollywood's Golden Age—until publication the following year of her daughter’s memoir, Mommie Dearest .

Christina Crawford’s book was an immediate bestseller, addressing the infrequently discussed topic of child abuse.

When Paramount Pictures released the film, starring Faye Dunaway as Crawford, it was critically panned, and remains one of the most legendary critical bombs in film history. The lavish, big-screen adaptation drew unexpected laughter in the scenes depicting life in the Crawford household. Rarely have such good intentions been met with such ridicule.

Despite this, the movie was a commercial success and remains, four decades later, immensely popular. With Love, Mommie Dearest details the writing and selling of Christina's book and the aftermath of its publication, as well as the filming of the motion picture, whose backstage drama almost surpassed what was viewed onscreen in the film.

Based on new interviews with people connected to the book and the film, Hollywood historian A. Ashley Hoff explores the phenomenon, the camp, and the very real social issues addressed by the book and film.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Film, Audiobook, Media Tie In, Pop Culture, Biography

314 pages, Paperback

Published May 7, 2024

About the author

A. Ashley Hoff is the author of Match Game 101: A Backstage History of Match Game. He previously worked for talent agencies in Chicago and Los Angeles and has written articles on Hollywood for the Advocate and Films in Review. He has been interviewed on numerous pop culture subjects in magazines such as Closer Weekly and on various local talk shows and podcasts such as The Nick Digilio Show on WGN Radio, The Frank DeCaro Show on Sirius XM, and the podcast Feast of Fun.

Reviews

[jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though I was born well after Joan Crawford passed away, I grew up with her films and the camp classic Mommie Dearest, thanks to my own mother. Due to this, I was excited to listen to this audiobook and I thoroughly enjoyed this deep dive into the making of this film and ate up all the behind-the-scenes gossip about both Faye Dunaway and Joan Crawford. It was interesting to hear what went into making this movie and all the ways in which it almost never made it to the big screen. I also think that this did a good job interrogating the movie's mixed legacy as it's embraced as an enduring over-the-top comedy when its source material is anything but.

I thought that the audiobook narrator did a good job and I think that this story worked well in this format. There was a bit of repetition in some of the stories throughout the book, and sometimes I got a little confused about who was being quoted and who they were. Overall, I really enjoyed this and highly recommend it to all fans of Joan Crawford, Faye Dunaway, Mommie Dearest, and old Hollywood in general. Honestly, I can't wait to annoy everyone with random anecdotes and juicy facts from this book.

Many thanks to Tantor Audio and NetGalley for providing me with the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

[Lois · Rating 4 out of 5]

This audiobook was made available for me to listen to and review by A. Ashley Hoff, Tantor Audio, and NetGalley.

Kim Niemi was the narrator of this nonfiction history of the making of this movie and writing of this biography. Her voice is the perfect balance of serious and light. This tale has elements of surprise as well as farcical, this narrator manages to pull off both equally well.

Much of this narrative revolves around old Hollywood, both the original biography and the making of the film. I grew up in the 80's and this movie was a part of the cult media from that time period. I wasn't old enough to see this in theaters but I remember watching it on HBO. I've seen scenes from the movie, like the infamous wire hanger scene, spoofed on everything from Mad TV to RuPaul's Drag Race. The movie is a cultural phenomenon all on its own. I've never read Christina Crawford's biography but I've wondered about it. This nonfiction narrative offers the history of the biography, the movie and all of the stars involved in the making of both. The text is fascinating, light, fun and enlightening. I'm too young to really have grown up watching the height of Faye Dunaway's movie career and the most I knew about Joan Crawford before this book was unfortunately from the movie Mommie Dearest. So this offered a much appreciated education on the true story behind the movie and how the biography was received. This narrative primarily supports Christina's version of her childhood which fits our current understanding of the impact of childhood trauma and abuse and I've always personally believed. Not all of the scenes in the famous movie are taken from the book and this goes over who added the scene and what it was supposed to convey. I had heard that Faye Dunaway regretted her role in this movie and was disappointed it was received as camp despite its cult classic status. This goes over both Dunaway & Crawford's Hollywood legacies, including their history and reputation in the business. Christina's voice, so to speak, is threaded throughout this entire narrative and adds a note of authenticity to an otherwise odd piece of history.
This is a worthy biography of events that offers a multi-view approach to the telling of this fascinating tale of old Hollywood and how it functioned. I greatly enjoyed this and finished it in an afternoon. Then promptly watched the movie!

Thank you to A. Ashley Hoff, Tantor Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this for review from the publisher. I simply loved every second of this book. The narrator was great, you could tell she was familiar with the movie when she would reference lines and parts of the movie. I think one of my favorite things about the book is that you not only get tidbits about the movie but also tidbits about Joan’s real life. Whether you are a fan of the movie, book, or Joan there’s something for everyone in this book. One of the funny things about Mommie Dearest was that for good or bad all these years after her death, people are STILL talking about Joan Crawford. And as they say in Hollywood these days, any press’s is good press. Joan managed to not get cancelled and people are still talking about her today, and I love that!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was filled with trivia surrounding the book and the making of the film. Did you know about the necklace worth a fortune that mysteriously disappeared on set? Can you imagine the story as a rock opera? Would you have gone to see it? It almost happened. It discussed the views of the children regarding Joan Crawford and the book itself. We learned about the boundaries that Faye Dunaway had and how far she was willing to go to make sure the performance was as true to the spirit of the story as possible. Overall, I found this book to be fascinating and the narrator’s performance was exquisite.

I thank NetGalley, TanTor Audio, and A. Ashley Hoff for the ALC of this book and the opportunity to share my honest thoughts and opinions with others.

[Andrew Smith-Mebust · Rating 5 out of 5]

BARBARA PLEASE! PLEASE BARBARA!

My husband and I love the camp classic film MOMMIE DEAREST. If you’re a fan of the movie MOMMIE DEAREST, then this a perfect companion piece. It’s very detailed, going from start to finish of the film, and has lots of different points of view and information about the filming of the movie. I purchased the audiobook and really enjoyed the narrator. One of my top books this year, highly recommended!

[Douglas Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for fans of Mommie Dearest, Faye Dunaway, Joan Crawford, Hollywood, camp, and Mara Hobel completists!

[Riley G.]

DNF at 3% after a use of the F-word, as well as a use of the S-word and a sex reference. Not the kind of language I want to be listening to. Sad, because the premise seems interesting—the making of the movie Mommie Dearest. (I’ve never seen it, but I’ve heard of it.) Oh well.

***I received an ARC (audiobook) from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. These are my honest opinions.

[Bert · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book that seems hell-bent on tearing down both Joan Crawford and Faye Dunaway. It makes me wonder…why write about two people you clearly don’t like? So much of it feels unnecessarily snarky and catty.

That said, I did enjoy it! The research is thorough, the writing is solid, and there’s plenty of fascinating, entertaining information. Plus, I love that a book exists about Mommie Dearest, an all-time absolute camp classic.

3.75 stars.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re “A FAAAAANNN!!!” of Mommie Dearest, Joan Crawford or behind-the-scenes tell all books…this one has all those elements! A fun and quick read about what went on behind the scenes of this camp classic that was released back in 1981.

While it’s not perfect, some of the stories tend to get repeated thus giving the impression the author might have been getting paid by the word, it still made for a very entertaining read.

[Miranda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, a bit repetitive. The book was written in the order of the movie, but some of the things mentioned started to seem redundant. Interesting overall, still glad I read it.

[Tim Pinckney · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was actually a lot of fun. There are lots of interviews with people that were on set during the filming (primarily the actress who played Carol Ann - who self published her diaries from the shoot - and Mara Hobel, who played young Christina.) It's fascinating to hear the story of what was intended to be a big budget and an important film and watch it become a cult classic.

[Nicola Wardle · Rating 4 out of 5]

If all true she was not very nice and should not of looked after children

[Alexa · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were gems in here, but there was also an excess of padding.

I would have been happier with more highlights from the original Mommy Dearest book and quicker mentions of how the movie went along. The social commentary and tabloid gossip is why I picked up the book in the first place.

[Jessie · Rating 3 out of 5]

As it turns out the making of Mommie Dearest is just as unhinged as Joan Crawford herself. If you haven't watched the movie, you can still enjoy this book. The book details the making of the movie, from pre production to opening night and beyond. It also deals with Joan Crawford's legacy. At the time Christina Crawford's book was controversial, and many people did not want to see their favorite movie star in a negative light. Now I think Mommie Dearest (both book and moving) are many peoples main reference for Joan Crawford. The book also details about how such a serious movie ended up as a camp classic.

[Marco · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Christina, bring me the axe!"

"No more wire hangers!"

"Mommie Dearest", which I don't think anyone who writes or does commentary on it wants to admit, is a horror movie. It's Pennywise ("It") raising children. But it wasn't meant to be this campy horror film, it was supposed to be a serious look at parental abuse and in this case at the hands of a beloved superstar, Joan Crawford. "With Love, Mommie Dearest" by A. Ashley Hoff goes into detailed research on the film to show how at once it's a piece of cinematic history and a failure at many turns.

One, it makes stuff up. The haircut scene? Made up. Joan being let go from MGM? She wanted out of her contract. Two, everyone overreacts in it. EVERYONE. Who's fault is it? Many blame actress Faye Dunaway for her Crawford performance (always late to set, changing hair and costume choices right before filming, removing anyone who upstaged her) while the director and producer blame themselves- they told Dunaway to act this way and should have reigned her in. And three, they never really stuck to Christina Crawford's memoir, the original title and base for the movie "Mommie Dearest". Instead, Dunaway wanted to focus on Crawford's career and, unfortunately, make excuses for the abuse Christina claimed happened ("stress", "alcoholism"). Behind this story are people who either believe or not the abuse happened and wanted the film to erase or heighten what was said to have happened. Instead you get a film that can't decide if Crawford is a heroine who fought against a misogynist system or an abuser, not able to fully realize she was both.

The book is very detailed and also gets a lot of interviews with those directly involved in filming - from the very scandalous beginning of getting the rights to the book, to the multiple screenplays, to Anne Bancroft originally its star. It also goes scene by scene to discover how the film was made- with so many intense scenes (you'll be relieved to know filming the wire hanger scene irl wasn't as traumatic), and how the studio had a hit on their hands when it premiered in the '80s - for all the wrong reasons and went along with it. It's also a testament to Crawford and Dunaway.

[David Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are plenty of delightful bad movies, (Valley of the Dolls leading the pact as the greatest God awful movie of all time), and Mommie Dearest almost makes it onto the list. The one thing holding it back is the subject matter, child abuse, which is a topic that it is hard to laugh at, let alone attend a screening dressed as a 1940s movie star brandishing a wire hanger. Still, anyone who has seen the film knows that although lush and it's star looking eerily close to the movie star turned deranged monster, can't help but find the entire production not only misses the mark of treating the subject seriously, but does it in a manner that can't help but evoke not only giggles but a guilty pleasure at seeing the famous in an glaring bad light. The problem, like that of Valley, was the over the top zeal in which the lead actress performs and the assurance of the producers, leading actress and director's certainty that they are creating a meaningful masterpiece. The result of such earnestness, was that rather than capturing the horrors of child abuse, the film ended up being a camp classic-- unintentionally, just as the title of the book suggests. The leading actress's career was forever tarnished, not only for her overly intense performance but by her actions during the filming and reading about the trials and frustrations of her fellow actors and crew evoke the sympathy and concern that should have been applied to the author of the memoir the film is based on. But the fact that the movie missed the mark and now is watched, repeatedly, as high camp entertainment, is what makes this "the making of" book an equally guilty pleasure. Great fun but also sad, not only for Christina Crawford seeing her horrors made into a comedy but everyone involved, including Faye Dunaway and the producers, who had created what they had hoped was an Oscar contender before they slowly realized their own delusions of grandeur.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

With Love, Mommie Dearest dives into the tumultuous world behind making the 1981 film Mommie Dearest, transforming what began as a memoir into a camp comedy classic. The audiobook offers an in-depth look at how wealth and beauty do not necessarily equate to happiness and how being the child of a star can bring its own set of unique challenges. The narrative weaves through numerous quotes and interviews, shedding light on the intricate dynamics of Hollywood life and the volatile nature of stardom. This approach provides a rich tapestry of perspectives, though the audiobook might have benefited from a full cast to truly bring these diverse voices to life and create a more immersive experience.

For those eager to uncover all the behind-the-scenes tea on the actors, production, and the book that inspired such a cult phenomenon, With Love, Mommie Dearest doesn’t disappoint. It delves into Faye Dunaway's notorious reputation for being difficult on set—a label she rebuffs, instead describing herself as a perfectionist striving for the best possible performance. However, the book doesn’t shy away from addressing her overacting, contributing to the film's unintended hilarity and eventual status as a camp classic. Upon its release, the reactions to the film were a mix of shock and amusement. Audiences in theaters were often left incredulous at the series of hysterical scenes that seemed more like exaggerated pantomime than serious drama. The reaction of Christina Crawford, whose memoir the film was based on, was one of distress. Seeing her painful experiences transformed into what many saw as a farce was understandably upsetting.

With Love, Mommie Dearest captures the essence of this transformation from memoir to movie to cultural artifact, illustrating how a story meant to expose the dark side of Hollywood glamour turned into a comedic spectacle. It’s a fascinating listen for anyone interested in film history, celebrity culture, or the ways in which personal stories can be reshaped and reinterpreted by the media.

Quick Summary: With Love, Mommie Dearest offers an entertaining and insightful exploration of a film that has endured in popular culture for its unintentional comedy and dramatic excess. While the audiobook is engaging, a full cast performance could have elevated the experience, making it even more dynamic and interactive. Nonetheless, it remains a must-listen for fans of the original movie and anyone curious about the complexities of life under the spotlight.

[Rusty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was delighted to find this book on the "New non-fiction" shelf of my local library. The only thing more exciting would have been if Faye Dunaway had actually written her account of filming the movie.

As a gay, adopted child who grew up with an abusive (and very likely manic depressive) mother, I was mesmerized by the book when it came out - Christina Crawford's book resonated with me. I'm not going to join in the "Is the book true or not?" argument - it is not for me to say.

What is true is that the movie version was so riotously over the top that the message of child abuse is lost. I'm of the camp that believes Dunaway actually gives a near-brilliant performance as Crawford; had director Frank Perry reined her in, it would have been a performance for the ages.

I do remember seeing Mommie Dearest in the theater and howling along with everyone else; later on the movie was shown at the Castro Theater in SF along with Mildred Pierce - an astoundingly inspired double feature.

As I know virtually every line of Mommie Dearest, and its backstory, I didn't expect to learn much from this book. I was pleasantly surprised to learn some things I never knew, such as the disaster that struck the set on the first day of filming, and other tidbits.

I recommend this book for "FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANS!" (or foes) of the book and movie, fans of Hollywood stories, and anyone, like me, who has ever watched a movie so jaw-droppingly awful in every respect that they have asked, "HOW did this movie EVER get made?"

[Raymond G. Neal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book covers all aspects of the movie, the production, the release, and the aftermath. The author does a great job of providing context to allow the reader to understand the movie's cultural impact, its public reception, and the resulting fallout. About 3 quarters in, the book got down into some minutae and production details that pushed me to my limit, but it got back on track pretty fast. The author is respectful of Joan's legacy as an actress and icon, but it's also respectful of the movie and drives home the point that Christina's book and the movie prolonged Crawford's relevance in the popular imagination and is a large part of the reason we still discuss her today and why audiences continue to discover and appreciate her work and her legacy. The book does lean into humor, but the movie was a train wreck, and watching it unfold is fascinating. If you're a fan of the movie, reading this book is a no-brainer. Even the Christina haters can enjoy the book to just vicariously witness the movie's failures as they happened, and the whiplash cast and crew experienced when they realized how audiences were responding to what they considered a prestige, Oscar worthy film. It also explores the forces at play that resulted in the film becoming an instant camp classic. Highly recommended if you're into this type of thing.

[AL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely insightful. I grew up watching this movie on HBO and found it deeply intriguing as a kid. I was heartbroken for Christina and her brother but almost taken by Dunaway’s Crawford who seemed so elegant, broken and sad onscreen.

It’s easy to be pulled into the time and the costumes and high expectations of Crawford while watching the film but this book pulls you out of their romanticized yet tragic lifestyle and directly behind the scenes which, unfortunately, both mirrored Crawford’s antics and truly impacted the careers of those involved.

We’re able to see the effect on Dunaway, on Christina Crawford and on the actors and crew on the film. It certainly wasn’t the film that all set out to make but not lacking in effort and still a success all the same. Even if it ended up a campy success. Unfortunately for Dunaway, it’s as if she’s taken on the criticism of Crawford’s naysayers and perhaps has mirrored similar antics herself meanwhile, Christina seems to have found a way to use the film to her advantage, whether or not she cared for it

[Michelle "Champ" · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am going to admit, when I saw Mommie Dearest in the 80s, I00% loved the exaggerated actions of a movie star mom and her stubborn daughter (I was about 8 years old). Then when I got older, I read the book. I could not believe that I have misunderstood the movie and had to hunt it down and watch again. At that time, I had a whole new view on what happened in real life. This book interested me right from the start because I have since watched the movie and read the book, many times. I think Faye was brilliantly cast as Joan and this book helped me understand why she was so perfect for the role. What I also liked about this book was that we got to see what Maura and Diana (young and teenaged Christina) thought of the movie and the process of making the movie.

I do believe this book is for anyone that loves the film, but also a reader that wants to get the backstory behind such classic lines as “No wires hangers, EVER”.

thanks to NetGalley for letting me get my hands on this one.

[Reid Loveland · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Fascinating Look Behind the Scenes

The author does a great job of discussing the creation and filming of the movie Mommie Dearest, but goes deeper looking at Joan Crawford's life, was Christina telling the truth in her book, and why the movie turned out the way it did. With interviews of people who worked on the film or behind the camera (with the thoughts & memories of one actress unsurprisingly absent) the author has created one enjoyable read.

[Michael Mckinney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book on a bad movie that has become a camp and cult classic. I found some of the stories fascinating and sad. Faye Runaway is a brilliant actor but a troubled soul. So was the actor she was playing, Joan Crawford. The. Book is well researched and captures the scenes on set and behind the scenes. The book repeats itself too much, so much so, it became annoying. Overall fans of the campy side of the film will enjoy this book.

[Jonathan Papa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read

I thought I already knew a fair amount about the making of Mommy Dearest but I learned some new things . I was especially happy that there was mention of Henry Mancini my favourite film composer and his contribution to the film . This is a fabulous intelligent read for us fans . If you know Mommy Dearest in all its darkness and light than you know this book is for you .

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC
Loved!
I found this to be the perfect blend of past and present seamlessly telling the story of how the movie was made, its actors and its subject matter.
Lots of movie buff tidbits sprinkled throughout it kept my attention and I don’t even think you have to have seen the film to enjoy this book.
Also 10/10 for the narration in the audiobook

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A disjointed but frothy gossip fest about Mommie Dearest. Hoff bends over backwards to "both sides" Joan Crawford's treatment of her older kids throughout the text, which is uncomfortable. Approach this expecting an oral history, not a narrative, and you'll enjoy it more. The info is worth four stars, but the writing is a two and a half.

[Christopher Beatty · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must read for anyone who considers themselves "one of [Mommie Dearest's diehard] Faaaaaaaans!"
Lots of fascinating details and tidbits from all aspects of the film, from the publishing of the book to the screenplay, filming and aftermath / cult status.
Interesting to hear different perspectives through the authors' extensive research and interviews with first hand folks who knew the Crawfords or were involved in the many Mandy many aspects of making the film a reality.
Would be too detailed and not have enough action for a casual fan who isn't as obsessed as I am.

[Jess Conley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. I'm not the biggest fan of mommie dearest, but I'm fan enough to have my favorite parts. I found this book to be slow, it was nearly 3 stars until I got to about page 70(ish). The picture of Joan Crawford really became clear to me. At this point I felt like the book picked up and had a ton of fun/useless/interesting information.

[Malcolm Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw the film here in the UK when it was first released and I don't recall gales of laughter.However it deserves it's cult status,as Dunaway clearly deserved the razzie..
This is a very entertaining book about the making of the film.The hero's clearly Christina Crawford and the villain Dunaway.
.

[Courtney Thomson · Rating 5 out of 5]

very enjoyable and credible

I’ve read the book, Rutanya’s book, and Faye’s memoir, and have watched the movie many times. I honestly did not think this book would have new information, but it did! I loved every single page and finished the book over three evenings. Definitely worth it.