Legendary Joan Crawford

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"Funny, but I think "A Woman's Face" was the reason I won an Oscar for "Mildred Pierce." ~ Joan Crawford

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"A Woman's Face" 1941


Cast: Joan Crawford~Melvyn Douglas~Conrad Veidt~Osa Massen~Reginald Owen~Albert Bassermann~Marjorie Main~Donald Meek~Connie Gilchrist~Richord Nichols~Charles Quigley~Gwili Andre~Clifford Brooke~George Zucco~Henry Kolker~Robert Warwick~Gilbert Emery~Henry Daniell~Sarah Padden~William Farnum.

Director: George Cukor

Costumes by Adrian

Box Office Figures for "A Woman's Face":

Cost: $N/A ~ Domestic Studio Gross: $ N/A. ~ Foreign Studio Gross: $ N/A
Total: $ N/A / Profit: $ N/A


If you have seen this movie, please write a review below. Once your review is submitted, I will post the review below. Thank you for your review on this film.

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How many stars would you give this film? Four being the best.
Your review/thoughts on "A Woman's Face":
  

Reviews

Reviewer: writerdonna7

Stars: Four stars out of four

Review: Out of Joan Crawford's multi-faceted, 50-year career in films, I'd rank "A Woman's Face" as containing one of her most fascinating and memorable performances. As Anna Holm, she is an embittered woman whose face had been horribly disfigured in a childhood accident, leaving her isolated and loveless, her anger channeled into a life of crime as a ruthless blackmailer. In the opening courtroom scene, with her face veiled, she is on trial for the murder of her lover Torsten Barring (Conrad Veidt), as a parade of witnesses tell their stories. Through flashback, we learn that Holm was humiliated by the blackmailers she employed. Ultimately she falls into the clutches of Torsten Barring, whose obstacle to inheriting his family fortune is his 4-year-old nephew Lars Erik (Richard Nichols), the heir-in-line. Barring manipulates Holm by pretending to desire her with a nefarious ulterior motive in mind. When plastic surgeon (Melvyn Douglas) corrects Holm's scar and gives her the opportunity to resume a normal life, Barring has Holm installed as nursemaid in his family home where she is to murder the child.

This exciting and immensely absorbing drama is full of duplicity, malevolent double dealings and delicious tension. Director George Cukor forced Crawford to abandon all affectations and succeeded in drawing a performance out of her that is multi-dimensional, touching and powerful. Half covered in the "scar" makeup throughout part of this film, Crawford's face still magnificently catches the light and remains an enigmatic study. It immensely increased my appreciation of her as an actress and as a pure cinema icon.

There is also some wonderful dialogue, such as when Holm tells Barring, "I've read every love letter ever published" and when he says to her as she sits in his living room, playing the piano, not realizing that she has had her scars corrected (a coupe she is waiting to spring on him), "Wonder girl -- you play the piano, too" and Holm replies, "I play the piano and the violin. The wonder girl has also tried painting, poetry and alcohol." While there are some flaws such as the improbable (but touching) romance between Holm and Douglas (necessary for a satisfying ending), the film remains intensely absorbing. Veidt is superbly sinister. In one scene, his diabolical fanaticism seems symbolic of the rising tide of fascism in Europe. A pet moment: Crawford viciously slapping the stuffing out of a cowering Osa Massen, a charged, almost S&M moment, a great counterpoint to Veidt's S&M-like control over Crawford. Highly recommended.

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Reviewer: collegegirl5151974

Stars: four!!

Review: I think I fell in love with Joan in this movie. I've been mesmerized ever since.

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Reviewer: jrc28110

Stars: Four

Review: One of Joan Crawford's best performances, due to the fact she shows a diverse series of emotions throughout the entire film. It was easy to see the uncanny vulnerability and yet sharp survival instincts of the character Anna Holm and the real Joan Crawford. I think that was her greatest acting skill throughout her career.

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