In 1978, Christina Crawford, the daughter of famous movie star Joan Crawford, wrote and shocked the world with the first tell-all celebrity memoir. In the book, 'Mommie Dearest", she shine light into the hidden life of her mother, claiming Joan Crawford was a cruel, abusive alcoholic. The book was Number 1 New York Times bestseller list for 42 weeks. So, there was no surprise that a movie would be made from that source material. Directed by Frank Perry, the movie had a number of over the top moments. Due to that reason, a lot of people couldn't take this film as a serious bio. Some people think that Faye Dunaway who played Joan Crawford, in the film, act too hammy like an evil cartoony character. I believe Faye Dunaway acting in this movie is amazing. She really show the larger than life sadistic tones well. You cannot feel bit scare or disturb during the infamous wire-hanger or the pruning the garden scenes. Honestly, I don't know how some people can feel that those scenes are funny. It's clearly child abuse. While, the movie isn't as brutal or dark as a lot of newer movies with similar plots. Those scenes are not at all, meant to be funny to watch. You kinda feel bad for any child, going through that. Many assume Dunaway's performance is campy, but I will defend it, because the drunk abusive people, I know, have acted that way in reality. Not to mention how over the top the real life Joan Crawford was in on screen and off screen. After all, she did had a very public feud with another actress, Bette Davis. I kinda wish the movie mention that. However, what they did feature, made Joan a rather pathetic, sad figure who get into fights with people, way too much. It is sadder still however, that she chose to force her anger of that upon a helpless child who couldn't defend herself. Young Christina (Mara Hobel) might not be truly innocent. She does get a bit annoying, and whining at times. Indeed, it's hard to feel too bad for her, when she's living in a pretty spoil rich life during her childhood, but in no way deserve such abuse from any parent. When, she grow up, (played as an adult by Diana Scarwid), she does become a bit of a moocher and smartass due to the years of abuse. Some people question if Christina was actually abused. Defenders of Joan Crawford had argued that Joan's strictness toward her children was grossly overblown by Christina as Joan was only following the stern disciplinarian that was the standards of the era. After all, most of the movie has Joan only spanking her child. While, hitting your child isn't a good idea, people still view spanking as an alright parental discipline. Supposedly, her brother Christopher and the twins that Joan later adopted in which the film forgot to mention, had a much better relationship with their mother. It's hard to believe that, considering that Joan indeed strap Christopher down to his bed to prevent him from masturbating, but it came with the times. Christopher does defend Christina's claims, but the later twins do not. Indeed, being a strict parent and wanting the best for your children does not make you an abusive parent. Was young Christina just a demanding, spoil brat? Was Adult Christina just a bitter young woman trying to make money off her dead mother? Some people have forward to say they did witness some abuse by Joan, but for the most part, it's up to the viewer. Still, you felt sympathy for Joan Crawford whom all she wants is a perfect life. It's just that Joan tend to get caught up in her will power, that she feel disappointed in people who wouldn't live up to her demand perfection. Joan suffered greatly from the sudden rise from rags to riches, causing her to project all of her issues with being poor into her obsessive cleaning and going postal on Christina when she used poor people clothing hangers or using her ultra-expensive make-up. Some people misinterpreted Joan's freak-out over the wire hangers for her having had a wire hanger abortion in the past and not wanting to be reminded of it. She tend to alienation a lot of people, ranging from companies like Pepsi & MGM Grand, to her series of fail relationships like Greg Savitt (Steve Forrest). In the movie, Greg is a combination of the various husbands and lovers Joan Crawford had, while the housekeeper is meant to represent several employees in Joan's house. In the film, Joan Crawford does have some very affectionate, supportive, doting motherhood trying scenes. After all, the movie doesn't make her look all bad. Still, years after Mommie Dearest came out. Joan Crawford's reputation took a battering so ferocious that it has never fully recovered. Go see the movie, it's up to you, if the events being shown are fact or fiction.