Anyone else think Lucille LaSuer, aka Joan Crawford, could have played this role as well - if not better than - Barbara? Phoney Joanie (as Bette liked to call her) wasn't that great of an actress but I think she would have been PERFECT as Leona. Please let me know your thoughts =^)
shareI agree. She certainly has had her share of hysteria behind her by the time 1948 came around, and it didn't stop thereafter, either.
Just a sampling of Joan's hysteria (in no order):
Sudden Fear
Strait-Jacket
...Baby Jane
Mildred Pierce. The list goes on and on. But the piece de resistance:
Possessed (1947 version)
So, yes, I'm with you on that.
While I did love Stanwyck's performance, I think Joan would have been great, too (for the same movie reasons as another poster listed - 'Possessed' and 'Sudden Fear').
‘Six inches is perfectly adequate; more is vulgar!' (Prime of Miss Jean Brodie Re: An open window).
MILDRED PIERCE???
Joan was never hysterical in that film, even when facing her demonic daughter.
But I agree with your other choices.
BTW, I love the 1931 POSSESSED, a pre-Code film with Joan and Clark Gable.
Much better than that overrated 1947 turkey.
No. Joan couldn't hold a matchstick to Miss Stanwyck.
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