TCM Greatest Classic Legends Film Collection: Joan Crawford (Humoresque / Mildred Pierce / The Damned Don't Cry / Possessed)

This collection is not only some of Joan Crawford's best work, these are some of the best women's films from the period where women were really appreciated in film. It was not just the strong stars, it was the stories and casting. Yes, the style was style heavy-handed by today's standards, but Joan Crawford took acting risks all the way. These movies were so revolutionary they seem trite today, but any film buff recognizes techniques that are still underused, and appreciate them. But you don't have to be a technician to appreciate these fims.THE WOMEN was a classic stage script lifted almost verbatim on to the screen, and it works in every respect. It is the comedy of this set. The flawless casting - Joan as the gorgeous and man-eating shop girl who can take in on the chin - was still an early exercise in trying "star-studded" casting. It is a tongue-in-cheek take on a woman's world... and the stereotypes of a woman's world. The ebb and flow between these two is what is timelessly witty. When Mary (Norma Shearer)'s mother compares a woman alone in bed to a swastica, it tells us exactly where we are politically and socially. This was/is a star turn by Joan, and her brass and humor are in full swing.MILDRED PIERCE is Joan's classic rags-to-riches gone noir-ish. Susie Homemaker becomes Betty Crocker. It has the timeless story line, and Ann Blythe (ironically later a spokeswoman for Hostess cupcakes in her later life) as the daughter you really want to smack silly. It also has some really early addressing of the issues of working women and divorce that were so timely in the post-war years. The business friendship portrayed with Eve Arden, and the ambivalent attraction to Jack Carson give this script some really interesting levels.My favorite of the set has become THE DAMNED DON'T CRY. It has some basic similarities to Mildred Pierce, rags to riches, but that's about it. Very dark, somewhat referential to the real life Bugsy Seigel story, it is a woman's gang-land tale. It may also have been influenced by Hitchcock, or vice versa, in the obsessive re-creation of a woman, not once, but twice. Once by herself, once in the hands of someone awful. The blonde mobster was very unusual casting for his day, and he does a superb job. He is somehow attractive while being repulsive.HUMORESQUE is a lovely film about music in which Joan Crawford does what her character in the film does not want to do... she plays "second fiddle" to a fiddle. The musical score is breathtaking, and you will want to watch the commentary and additional information on the making of the film, and the primacy of music. Joan was the only really traditional casting choice, others being cast against type (and the always atrocious acting of brilliant pianist Oscar Levant). Older woman, younger man, and a very interesting study of a depressive personality. I think role this would have been intellectually challenging for a woman known to be so self directed, deft, and sure of herself.Which leads neatly into POSSESSED. Like Olivia DeHaviland's THE SNAKE PIT, this is a study of mental illness, but not nearly so clinical. The cinematography strongly influenced by German impressionist filmmakers, and all aspects used to delineate psychological state of mind, we see why she was willing to break all the diva rules, appear with no makeup, and completely break down the image she had. Of course, with what we know about her personal life, she had her own demons, and that could have added to her interest in this kind of role. This film is art.In spite of the glamour, the beauty, she was not only an actress, she was an artist, and this box set shows that off. It is worth noting that ALL of her roles contained a tremendous amount of vulnerability. We forget that, because in most of her films she triumphs... but we only care because we could identify with that softness that she allowed us into early on. I got this set with the Bette Davis set of Warner Bros. films from the same era. If these are any indication, the Bros. were much better to Joan. The really interesting comparison is in the commentaries. Many directors and technicians worked with both of these greats, and there are wonderful comparison/contrasting stories of them as professionals and women. There are also shared musical scoring between some films, and even one director has the same dialogue and direction copied between these stars in different films.This is a great set worthy of a great star.... oh, and a Joan recommendation. RAIN. One of her early films, a great Somerset Maugham script. It set the archetype for her as an actress.

I recieved my set early and was able to review the DVD's and I was very happy with the choice of films and the set overall. Honestly, I would much rather have had Flamingo Road in this set instead of the repeat release of The Women DVD!!! That would have made this the Ultimate Joan Crawford Box Set from her WB years. Dont get me wrong- The Women is a great flick!As for the DVDs- The Women and Mildred Pierce are the same- the boxes are different- gone are those horrible cardboard snap cases. They are now housed in the plastic sturdy cases.Humoresque looks great on DVD!!! Fans of this movie will be very very pleased...It looks really great. Possessed on the other hand ... I was not overly happy with. Yes its on DVD!! Yes it looks good!! But the source material they used was not that great. This film looks grainy at times and then it is SUPER SHARP! The scene with Joan and Van in her home.. for the die- hard fans of this movie.. will note that those horrible annoying water spots that ran through parts of the scene ARE STILL IN THIS DVD!!!- and its a key meeting between the two stars- and it is very distracting when it looks like it is snowing in her house! Overall I am just happy this is on DVD- preserved forever and looking better then the prior VHS and Laserdisc. It is still a nice transfer- that could to me, look as phenomenal as the Mildred Pierce DVD- since it was made 2 years later- but it doesnt. The Damned Dont Cry on the other hand looks amazing to me- the transfer is solid, great great great- I always liked this movie (it is very Joan and very campy)- and I am SOOOO glad this is finally on DVD- (it was never even released on VHS). I didnt rate the extra features since they are all little 10min or so reviews of the films- but they are an added plus. Since WB has the rights to all the prior MGM library- and there are only 3 other Joan Crawford WB titles- Goodbye My Fancy and This Woman is Dangerous and of course FLAMINGO ROAD- I am hoping a follow up set is in the works!! I would love to see Joans MGM heyday films- A Womans Face, Sadie McGee, Chained, When Ladies Meet, The Bride Wore Red, Love on The Run, Susan and God, Mannequin- some of these are better then others- but they are good classic Joan !

Two collections are actually advertised on this page, 'The Joan Crawford Signature Collection', (black and white cover with a blue tinge) which I am reviewing here and the 'Joan Crawford Collection' (various colours) which shows itself when you click on the lower price options. At the time of writing there seems to be only one copy of the Signature Collection left. Most of the reviews seem to be for the former, which apparently includes 'Whatever Happened To Baby Jane', which the Signature Collection does not. However, it does have five wonderful films, with beautiful black and white prints and subtitles which will be useful to the hard of hearing. The transfer quality is superb, and really showcases the movies as they were meant to be seen, like seeing them for the first time. The films on the Signature Collection are;Humoresque - Crawford's selfish and greedy socialite finds she cannot manipulate John Garfield's brilliant violinist. Includes some great music.Possessed - Crawford's obsessive love for Van Heflin may prove to be her downfall.The Damned Don't Cry - Crawford's hard boiled woman on the make moves from the wrong side of the tracks to a mobster's mansion.Grand Hotel - a famous oldie from 1931, but the print is very good considering its age. Greta Garbo is the star, but Crawford shines in a relatively small but well written part - she was clearly 'new breed' star material even at that time.Mildred Pierce - one of Crawford's most loved films in which she plays a mother who works day and night to forge a successful career for herself, but will her wayward daughter ruin it all.

I was trying to find a collection of Joan's films that would satisfy my "fussy" taste. Shame they are so many boxsets! As far as I am concerned this is the best for me."Mildred Pierce" I have watched before and is one of her great films. Love it."What Ever Happened to Baby Jane" - I genuinely thought that a infamous kitchen scene was in but wasn't. I must have been confusing this with another film, Despite that, it felt like I was watching tennis between the main characters - WOW - such strong, mesmerising, Oscar winning performances from both Joan and Bette. I have never watched this one before. I enjoyed every second."Possessed" a film noir - she gives another strong performance. So much so, she was nominated for an Oscar - shame she didn't get it. This is dark, psychological film, in which her character is so mentally unstable, her love for "David Sutton" is literally suffocating him; she just wants to "love him to death". Does she succeed? That is for you to find out............"Grand Hotel" she has a minor early role. It is evident that you can see her talent as an actress of what she would become: extremely talented by being choosy as to which films she would take on. .The most important things Joan did best was to choose her films wisely, become a perfectionist and not to take "any crap" from anyone. If becoming a control freak is a crime in the world of acting, she is guilty. Despite that, she will always be One Helluva Great Actress. No one comes near her acting ability; especially in tisi day and age This is her legacy.

Bliss, 4 of Joan Crawfords best films. They span her career from Grand Hotel to Whatever Happened to Baby Jane (Which has the added bonus of another great acting legend, Bette Davis) Joan Crawford may have gained noteriety since Mommy Dearest but cannot excape the fact that she is right there at the top of the Greatest Screen Legends. Her eyes and expressions convey so much emotion you don't see in any other actor. I could go on for pages on her acting ability but just to finish with, you will not be disappointed with this collection of DVDs

Bought after watching BBCs "Feud: Bette and Joan" and delighted to have such iconic films in my DVD collection. I also bought a collection of Bette Davis films for the same reason. This set includes the incredible "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane" which is the main subject of BBcs "Feud: Bette and Joan".

Excellent collection of Joan Crawford films. Fantastic value for money. I highly recommend this set