Beaverhausen Book Nook: The Mommie Dearest Diary ~ Carol Ann Tells All

Now it can be told ~ from Rutanaya Alda's (Carol Ann from the movie Mommie Dearest) point of view! It's not a pretty picture, gossip fans rest assured. As Faye Dunaway has her own memoir coming out about the making of Mommie Dearest, this could turn into a she said/ she said gossip feud.

Rutanya describes a very chaotic set and shoot. She quotes sources and strongly implies Dunaway had a substance abuse problem at this time. She cites people in the film industry, like Bette Davis and Roman Polanski, discussing their own difficulties working with the tempestuous star. Dunaway has accused Mommie Dearest of ruining her career but, clearly, it was her own reputation to blame.

Ms Alda recalls emigrating from Latvia to the USA as a child and of her own physical and emotional childhood abuse by her mother. She also recalls meeting the real Joan Crawford on the set of Rosemary's Baby where she was Mia Farrow's stand-in.

Rutanya's book has many fascinating stories about the bevy of Hollywood stars and directors she's worked with, and her personal life, though the focus is on the chaotic set of 1981's now camp classic Mommie Dearest, based on Christina Crawford's best-selling autobiography at the time. Faye Dunaway is described as an unstable ego-monster, as over-the-top on the set as she is on-screen, assured she was going to be nominated for an Oscar for her portrayal of Crawford.

The book has a lot of off-topic padding as well as unnecessary diary entries, like "Friday, January 23 (No entry)," for instance. However, when it gets to the meat of the matter, Carol Ann indeed tells all in juicy, delicious detail: Faye's on- and off-the-set discord with Diana Scarwid (the teen & adult Christina); director Frank Perry's weaknesses as a director kowtowing to his star's whims; veteran technical people quitting the making of the movie; how Faye stole her role from under Anne Bancroft's nose; Faye carelessly cutting into child actress Mara Hobel's flesh during the haircut scene; Faye Dunaway insisting on eight takes of slapping Caol Ann (rehearsing for Mildred Pierce), once so hard as to leave an imprint on her co-star's face; and much more.

Everything considered, I can only recommend this book to die-hard fans of the film and avid readers of behind-the-scenes Hollywood memoirs.





Available at Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com.

Interactive Mommie Dearest

Tonight marked the 11th year of Clearview Chelsea Cinema's "Movie Classics," hosted by the always hilarious Hedda Lettuce. Well, more than simply hosted, as Hedda provided a riotous running commentary throughout the film.

The event took place, as it did last year for the first time, at the cavernous and historic Ziegfeld movie house on West 54th Street in Manhattan. There may have been fewer wire hangers and less dress-up (as Joan and Christina) than last year, but certainly not less enthusiasm during the show. The movie palace was packed, with only rear balcony rows empty. Eat your heart out, Rock of Ages.

With a famously outstanding sound system (most movie musicals get booked here) and a pristine print, Interactive Mommie Dearest (as in shout out the dialogue along with the film, Rocky Horror style) did not disappoint at $20 a ticket.

There were free giveaway/promos in the lobby, which I always love to snatch up, even if I'm only going to throw them out later. My Magic Mike dog tag is a keeper. Channing Tatum as a stripper? I'm there, honey!

Lisa Lampanelli, recently on tv's Celebrity Apprentice, received the second annual Pride Award for her outstanding work in raising funds for the Gay Men's Health Crisis, opening the pre-show with an uproarious, politically incorrect and very gay-themed comedy routine.

But that only warmed us up for the divine Hedda Lettuce who entered diva-style, from the back of the theater, only to make her long march to the stage.

Hedda's guest was Rutanya Alda, who stars as Carol Ann (Joan Crawford's fictitious life-long assistant) in the film.  During their interview, Ms Alda said that Faye Dunaway was an "even bigger cunt" than Hedda. Now, that's saying a mouthful, in a manner of speaking.

Rutanya, who was plugging an off-Broadway show she's about to do and an upcoming "Mommie Dearest Diaries" book,  spoke her mind, prompted by Hedda, of course, about Faye's uncertain emotional states during filming; a bit bipolar, it would seem. To wit, forty takes of the shot where Faye slapped Rutanya so hard, the co-star's face was red all day afterwards. Faye also insisted Rutanya look dowdier than originally planned; and that she be present for Faye's close-ups in their scenes together, while not reciprocating when it came time to shoot her co-star's close-ups. 

Rutanya allowed as to how acting in The Deer Hunter was a far more pleasant experience for her, intimating there may have been some off-screen chemistry with co-star John Savage. You go, girl!

Ms Alda received applause, once the film rolled, by the largely gay male audience, every time she entered a shot.

Hedda provided an amazingly vivid and sometimes side-splitting commentary as the film rolled. She even used a projection pen to point out physical details on-screen. (Faye a bigger cunt than Hedda? Hard to imagine.)

A keyboardist supplied additional, ironic and frequently hilarious "additional score" to the scenes as well. After Faye dies and leaves nothing to Christina or Christopher, we all spilled happily back onto the street. Thank you, Hedda, and thank you, Chelsea Cinemas.

I look forward to next week's Chelsea Classics movie, back downtown on 23rd Street: the fabulous '50s/ reality Mad Men & Women of the publishing world, The Best of Everything, featuring Joan Crawford as a bitch of a boss to work for. Surprised?