Mommie Dearest

Mommie Dearest is a biographical drama about the relationship between Hollywood star Joan Crawford and her adopted daughter Christina. Crawford, unable to have children of her own, adopts Christina and her brother Christopher while her career is at its height. As her professional standing and romantic life decline, her treatment of Christina becomes increasingly severe, and the household is shaped by her volatility and drinking. The account follows Christina from childhood into her time at boarding schools.

The film was directed by Frank Perry, working from a screenplay he wrote with Robert Getchell and Frank Yablans; it was produced by Irwin Yablans. It came after Perry's Skag and before Compromising Positions in his filmography. Faye Dunaway plays Crawford, with Diana Scarwid as the adult Christina, Mara Hobel as the young Christina, Steve Forrest, Howard Da Silva and Rutanya Alda in supporting roles.

Released in September 1981, the film had a budget of about 5 million dollars and took roughly 19 million dollars worldwide. On IMDb it holds 6.7 out of 10 from around 20,000 votes, while on TMDB it stands at 6.4 from a much smaller number of votes. A critics' rating of 5.4 out of 10 from 50 reviews places it below the audience scores.