A Dominadora

"Harriet Craig" started out as a stage success – obviously, it struck familiar chords – and saw at least one previous film version (Craig's Wife, starring Rosalind Russell). Remade in 1950 with Joan Crawford commandeering the part of the domestic despot, the movie takes on a dimension that helped define camp. It also offers an unadulterated middle-period glimpse of the controlling monsters she had begun (Mildred Pierce, Humoresque) and continued (Torch Song, Johnny Guitar, Queen Bee) to play on film. (And, if there is a sliver of verity in her adopted daughter Cristina's report from the front lines, such roles paralleled her off-screen personality).

It's a parable about the dangers of social ascendancy, an illustration of Thorstein Veblen's view of the affluent wife as agent of conspicuous consumption. Joan Crawford's Harriet Craig has it all: a husband in a grey flannel suit on his way up the corporate ladder (Wendell Corey), and so can buy her what she most desires: property and position. She's obsessed with who does and does not fit in with what she refers to as `our set' as she strikes poses in her perfect (and perfectly dull) upper-middle-class abode.

That her only interest in her husband is as a meal ticket is revealed by her avoiding her wifely obligations under the pretext that bearing children would be dangerous. But she's not content to leave him be, maybe to enjoy a little action on the side; what might the other members of their `set' think? She craves total control. When he's about to go out of town on a business trip, thus slithering out at least temporarily from under her oppressive thumb, she intervenes, lying to his boss that he's a compulsive gambler. Finally, of course, the worm turns.... But, in the closing shot, when Crawford regally ascends her curved staircase alone among the splendor of her possessions, you wonder who's really won after all.

This soapish melodrama remains surprisingly riveting. Perhaps it's the extra touch of authenticity Crawford brings to her portrayal (Mary Tyler Moore played a later version of this upscale shrew in Ordinary People; then of course there's always Martha Stewart). The movie preserves an uncanny sense of upward mobility in America, circa midcentury, a lugubrious self-importance that has not, alas, vanished from the land.

Watching this movie, I couldn't help but wonder if Christina Crawford had watched it several times with a notepad and pencil in hand- or Faye Dunaway, as fiction can lead you to believe it's the truth.

Joan Crawford's character in this film is immensely dislikeable, evil and obsessive-compulsive. She cares nothing about anyone around her, and focuses her attentions on her house. As well, in a rare Crawford move, she doesn't even attempt to tie on a shred of sympathy (Roz Russell played Harriet with a much more sympathetic edge). Her hair is terrible, her shoulder pads are big, and her makeup is at its most masky. The movie mentions Harriet being made the way she was because of her father leaving her mother- but is torturing your cousin, keeping tabs on your husband, faking infertility and barreling into everyone else and what they do a good way to deal with that... unless she knows no other way?

Wendell Corey was a much less effective Walter Craig than John Boles. There was just something about him that didn't tick for me. If this movie had been Joan Crawford with John Boles, I would have given it a higher rating. This film was not as strong as some of Joan's earlier Warner Brothers films (think Mildred Pierce, Humoresque, and the 1947 Possessed), but it was far from her weakest.

I recommend this one, but I recommend watching both the Roz Russell one and this one. It doesn't really matter if you watch them in order or not.

From what we all know of Crawford's life story, HARRIET CRAIG seems to be a character who has a lot in common with JOAN CRAWFORD, so it's no surprise when Crawford plays her in a manner that should certainly please her fanbase, if not film critics. And this remake of "Craig's Wife" gives her plenty of meaty material to work with while she steps over everyone else in the cast in her best domineering mode.

She rules over her household with meticulous attention to detail, no matter how much she makes everyone else tremble under her withering gaze and her harsh rebukes, even alienating the loyal house servants and a young female cousin (K.T. STEVENS) whose romance she breaks up by telling lies.

Hubby WENDELL COREY remains completely unaware of her machinations until two-thirds of the story when he starts to realize that Harriet has not been telling him the truth. Her biggest mistake is giving his employer the false notion that he's careless with money and heavy responsibilities. Corey gets wind of her little talk and then bit by bit he begins to strip away all the deceit and deception she's been practicing on him and his friends.

It's a well crafted study of a woman driven to possess someone but unable to trust any man because of her discovery (as a child) that her father was a two-timer cheating at the office with another woman. The character is very much like the one that Ben Ames Williams created in "Leave Her to Heaven"--Ellen--consumed by the need to possess someone and willing to lie at all costs to keep him at her side.

Crawford is effective in the role, only occasionally rising to moments of theatrical hysteria--cold-faced with eyes glaring in dramatic close-ups--but director Vincent Sherman keeps the performance well controlled throughout most of the film.

WENDELL COREY is excellent as the bamboozled husband, effectively underplaying in his usual style, but with such a direct gaze that his sincerity counteracts Crawford's well played deceptions. Their final confrontation, after a series of lies have been uncovered, gives the film a strong ending. LUCILE WATSON is effective as the sophisticated, aristocratic wife of his employer.

Summing up: Better than average Crawford vehicle with a well-written script.

One of Joan Crawford's best roles. She plays a possessive domineering perfectionist housewife who tries to control everyone in her life, particularly her exceptionally nice husband (Wendell Corey). A lot has been said about the similarities between the character of Harriet Craig and Joan herself. Perhaps that's why Joan's performance is so superb. She plays the character of Harriet so effortlessly. Wendell Corey is terrific as her husband. Through most of the movie he's a pushover but when he finally realizes who his wife really is and what she's capable of, look out! It's a very good drama but also some funny parts. Moves along at a crisp pace. Unlike most dramas from the period (and today, really) it doesn't overstay its welcome and pad the length for another twenty minutes. Definitely recommended.

Harriet Craig (1950) : Brief Review -

Craig's Wife (1936) boosted for good. A superb remake that actually adds some originality of its own with a better set of actors. I saw Rosalind Russell's Craig's Wife a couple of months ago and called it an underrated gem. Now I come across the remake before that film fades away from my memory, with the legend Joan Crawford playing the lead role. It's not even a choice between Rosalind and Joan. The latter wins the race by a margin. I mean, come on yaar, she is THE JOAN CRAWFORD! Here's one more chapter in her legacy. Harriet Craig is a superb remake for many reasons, starting with the writing and screenwriting. So, the basic script is about the same, but the screenplay adds a few more conflicts that are far more modern and effective than the 1936 adaptation of the play. For instance, Harriet isn't obsessive only about herself; she is obsessed about having her husband stick to her. That "nobody in my family ever ended up as poor" worked just the same again. The big surprise was "No man's born ready for marriage. He has to be trained." Walter, the husband, is smarter and more active here, and there is one more solid reason in the end for him to leave the house as well as his wife. The pregnancy angle was new and too good. "You Married the House" was missing, but like I said, this film is more about Harriet Craig's obsession with having her home neat and her husband tied to her, while Craig's wife was more about her and herself only. This film uses some advanced theories with a better set of actors. Joan Crawford is flawless, and Wendell Corey has done a nice job. No complaints about Sherman's direction except why he didn't add "Those who live for themselves, are left to themselves." ??? Have you already seen Craig's Wife? Doesn't matter. This is equally great.

RATING - 7.5/10*

By - #samthebestest.