JOAN CRAWFORD - DOCUMENT SIGNED 05/16/1952 - HFSID 227202

JOAN CRAWFORD
Joan Crawford signs a release form.
Document signed: "Joan Crawford", 1p, 8½x11. No place, 1952 My 16. Headed: "Release Form". In letter form to News Syndicate Co., Inc., New York, New York. Begins: "Gentlemen". In full: "In consideration of the publicity to be given to me and which may arise herefrom, my consent is hereby irrevocably given to you, your assignees and licensees, and to the Chicago Tribune-New York News Syndicate, Inc., and its subscribers and licensees, to use my name, picture, or portrait, in publications for editorial or promotional purposes, excluding, however, commercial advertising." Joan Crawford (1904-1977) 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 silent movies to the sound era, although she preferred the silent movies. 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. In spite of her melodramatic image, Crawford frequently wrote notes of congratulations and condolences, such as this one, to fellow actors and acquaintances. Lightly creased and soiled. Overall, fine condition.