Revenge of the Kids
Why I pity Joan Crawford.
by Candy Spelling
April 10, 2008
The New York Times covered Joan's death (following a long battle with cancer) on page one of the newspaper: "Miss Crawford was a quintessential superstar — an epitome of timeless glamour who personified for decades the dreams and disappointments of American women." The studios observed a minute of silence to honor her contributions.
That was before the poison book.
Chandler asked Jack Valenti, who organized the studio tribute, if he could have had the tribute if the book came out before Joan's death.
"'I would have tried,' Valenti said, 'but I don't think I would have been successful. Words in print have an enormous effect. I don't think anyone will ever be able to undo that book her daughter wrote.
"'Joan Crawford deserved the honor as an icon. It was a professional honor, paying tribute to her career and what it had meant all those years to Hollywood. But there was no way that the portrait that was painted by her daughter and received as truth wouldn't have cast aspersions on her name,'" Valenti explained.
"'I knew this lady, and I know she had done many good deeds anonymously.
Poor Joan. With all she achieved, one child's version was "received as truth," and a legacy is forever stained.
She was always dependable for helping out with worthy charities and good deeds, and that's the way I remember her.'"
She left most of her estate to charities and her younger children when she died, and nothing to Christina. Her publicist later told Chandler that Joan had said:
"You know the troubles I've had . . . I can't understand why it turned out so badly. I tried to give them everything. I loved them and tried to keep them near me, even when they didn't return my love. Well, I couldn't make them love me, but they could have shown some respect. I couldn't insist on love, but I could insist on respect."
Poor Joan. With all she achieved and all the people she helped, one child's version was "received as truth," and a legacy is forever stained.
The postscript to Chandler's book tells a better story from Joan's two youngest children:
"Heartbroken after the attack on their mother in Mommie Dearest, neither Cathy nor Cindy Crawford has given interviews. Christina's book left her younger sisters embarrassed and humiliated.
'It makes me very sad,' Cathy told me. 'Every time Mommie's name is mentioned, that book is mentioned. Even when people say or write good things about my mother, that book gets linked to her name. It's so unfair.'"
Thanks, Cathy, for speaking up for your mother. It's good to hear your voice.
©2008 Candy Spelling and Nerve Media
About the Author
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Candy Spelling has been an entrepreneur, civil commissioner, charity board member, television hostess, wife (of the late TV legend Aaron Spelling) and mother (of the actors Tori and Randy Spelling). She has contributed to TMZ.com, Los Angeles Confidential and The Huffington Post. Visit her at candyspelling.com. |
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