Possessed: The Life of Joan Crawford, By Donald Spoto

The doyen of showbiz biographers tackles the archetypal Hollywood star.

Crawford's constant burnishing of her image – "she was always a movie star even if she went out shopping" – was wearing on partners and family, but Spoto insists she did not deserve the lacerating accusations made by her step-daughter in Mommie Dearest.

Many pages are devoted to the demolition of both book and author. Though Crawford emerges as an accomplished actress, adored by ace director George Cukor, her insecurity was ineradicable. "Joan did not like herself," Spoto writes.

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