Joan, before coat hangers.

Iconista has a theory that all Hollywood stars are profoundly damaged. If they were well-adjusted and fulfilled, they'd stay home and knit.

Who would seek stardom unless driven by some screaming inner demon?

But, with all damaged people, there was a time when they were the victims, soon to be survivors; a time before they became the damagers of others.

With that in mind, enjoy these early pictures of Ms Crawford, freshly escaped from a nightmare childhood; simply in search of something better.

Little and Often

A trying week for Iconista, not without its highlights although, having come within a whisker of running down a cyclist and a pedestrian in her two-seater, she has decided to dust off her chauffeur. But, before she goes to blow away his cobwebs, she'd like to share today's sweetest finds. 

Great Disapproving Looks #4

OK, Iconista's not been doing her homework, not the sort she can post on a blog anyway.
So this paltry pick is less "Disapproving" than "No thanks, pal."
Iconista may have to create a spin-off called The Big Chill.
It's a thought.
I shared it.
Now, ogle and move on. Iconista doesn't have all day



Don't mess with Wide Ida



He's not gonna hold out long



No one's buying it for a moment Joan, but we appreciate the effort.



Careful, Gary. The only man who ever achieved anything by sulking was Gandhi.

Great Disapproving Looks #3

Iconista has survived Halloween. Dispensing candy to mendicant urchins is not my idea of fun. But any excuse to wear black is welcome, though I'd rather be marking the death of a rich husband than playing jellybean dispenser.

Enough chitchat.

OK, Kirk is more menacing than disapproving here. But the whole is-he-gonna-slap-her-or-kiss-her look always sizzles. At least it's more honest than patronising "tut-tut" sexual aggression...

...which is frankly condescending.

Of course, sometimes it's just plain cute.

Iconista is ambivalent about the battle of the sexes.

(Don't you just love how everyone is disapproving on that one?)

At the end of the day, for all their pouting, you know Lana and Joan could sock it to them easy.

They simply choose not to.

Mind you, I think Kirk's dame had better join in or get out before she gets hurt.

Too late, darling.

Joan Crawford

Damn fine.
You want words?

Read a book.

Iconista is indisposed.
 

Joan Crawford

Iconista must bow down before the Siren for posting this Hurrell snap of Crawford. It made a change for the Siren to include more picture than words, for which Iconista was doubly grateful.

I hate to say this

But all hail the Siren. Overly wordy though she is, the Siren occasionally makes Iconista stop to read.

Iconista liked this post. She didn't read all of it, but concentration has never been one of her good points. I mean it's simply bad manners to devote one's attention to a single guest at a party. (Iconista doesn't linger too long lest her champagne grows flat.)

But the combination of Old Hollywood tittle-tattle and phrases like "waves of crazy" and "sea of batshit" left Iconista blinking with admiration. Read it yourself and share any juicy bits I may have overlooked.

While you have my attention, didn't I promise you big dresses a while ago? Suck these up, sweeties, and if they're not your thing, you can always take what Iconista refers to at dinner parties as "The Vegetarian Option".

Vivien Leigh, Waterloo Bridge

Peggy Fears. You name the movie. I hadn't even heard of the dame.

Bette Davis hamming it up, no doubt in Jezabel

Marlene in The Scarlet Empress, a deliciously weird and gorgeous movie

Garbo pretending to be sweet in Camille. Yeah, right.

Norma Shearer as Marie Antoinette. Sugar-wouldn't-melt bitch playing sugar-wouldn't-melt bitch. Delicious.

Merle Oberon in Wuthering Heights. Bless.

Do I need to tell?

Great Disapproving Looks #1

I adore a well-executed disapproving look. Of course Gable was the master.

Here are some of my other favourites. Do tell Iconista if you spy any more.

Joan Crawford and Douglas Gilmore, from the days when lust and disapproval went hand in hand. I can just hear him thinking, "Oh how dare she arouse me by being so damn desirable, the wicked siren." Someone should hand that woman a Burka before he fires one off.

But of course there's always Katharine to even up the score. I love the hint of amused pity under those lashes.

Of course Jimmy was just a plain brute. I suspect Babs can take care of herself though.