JOAN CRAWFORD - CONTRACT SIGNED 11/18/1949 - HFSID 72852

JOAN CRAWFORD
Academy Award-winning actress Joan Crawford signed this document with Warner Brothers in 1949 to modify her 1947 contract with the studio.
Contract signed "Joan Crawford" in blue ink and by an assistant secretary at Warner Brothers Pictures, Inc. in black ink. 2 pages, 8½x10¾, single-sided sheets, on Warner Brothers letterhead. Nov. 18, 1949. Addressed to Miss Joan Crawford, c/o MCA Artists, Ltd., Burbank, California. Crawford signed this document with Warner Brothers to amend a contract that she signed with the studio in 1947. It says that if she simply received a screenplay or "literary material" between films, this wouldn't constitute notice that she had to start a new film. Crawford (1904-1977, born Lucille Fay LeSueur in San Antonio, Texas) shot to stardom on the strength of 1928's Our Dancing Daughters, starring as Diana "Di" Medford, a role originally intended for Clara Bow. The film was hugely successful, and MGM soon doubled her salary and began featuring her name on marquees. Unlike so many stars of the period, Crawford successfully made the transformation from the silents to the sound era, although she preferred the silents. Crawford, originally a professional dancer, had made her film debut in 1925. She won a Best Actress Academy Award for Mildred Pierce (1945) and was nominated for Best Actress Oscars for Possessed (1947) and Sudden Fear (1952). A tell-all memoir, Mommie Dearest (1978, later made into a feature film), by her daughter Christina, portrayed Crawford as unfeeling and ruthlessly ambitious. However, Crawford was a faithful correspondent with her large fan base. Lightly toned, creased and rippled. Staple holes in upper left corner. Top edge of page 2 is lightly nicked. Folded twice and unfolded. Otherwise in fine condition.