Well, I wasn't going to do a review of this item for a variety of reasons but reading the interesting comments on the doll boards and reproducing them here was just irresistible. Heads may roll.
"Mommie Dearest" Gift Set is being produced in a surprisingly large edition of 800. The price is $150.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Mommie Dearest is a memoir and exposé written by Christina Crawford, the adopted daughter of actress Joan Crawford. The book, which depicts Christina's childhood and her relationship with her mother, was published in 1978.
In the book, Christina Crawford claims that she was a victim of child abuse during her mother's battle with alcoholism
and that her mother was more concerned about her motion picture career
than the well-being of her four children, suggesting she may have
adopted them for publicity
purposes. She also suggests that Joan had a long list of affairs with
men whom Christina was required to call "Uncle" and rarely "Daddy", and
claims Joan also had many affairs with women.
Christina recounts several evenings where Joan's behavior was
unbalanced, and at least one encounter with her mother where Crawford
attempted to strangle her. In another, Joan reportedly discovered
Christina's clothes hanging in a closet on wire hangers, instead of
higher-quality padded hangers, and launched into a violent tirade on the
subject.
Movie Clip
No Wire Hangers (Warning: this is a very disturbing scene.)
Rodeo Queen ("Don't fuck with me fellas.")
Above, in the clips I have embedded from the movie Mommie Dearest, Faye Dunaway plays a chilling role as Joan Crawford. I can barely watch the hanger scene without cringing. It's terrifying. The outfits are the outfits that are reproduced in the gift set.
The woman portrayed in the movie was a raging, obsessive-compulsive, alcoholic, abusive, egocentric person. The doll is a sweet, pleasant faced thing.
With this doll, IT introduces their "Quick Switch" system:
...a new,
ultra-convenient neck post that will allow collectors to switch between
head sculpts without the need to pre-heat the vinyl first! Simply pull,
switch and click on a new head for a dramatic new look!
They note, however:
The QUICK SWITCH
system will work best at room temperature or slightly higher. If you
live in a colder climate, please wait until your doll has reached room
temperature or slightly higher before attempting to switch heads.
How do you make something higher than room temperature without heating it?
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Here are a bunch of positive and negative comments made by collectors. The negative outweighs the positive by far but some of the remarks are hilarious. (I highlighted my favorites in purple.)
-the
doll doesn't really look like Joan Crawford, either with blond hair or
darker hair. She doesn't look like Faye Dunaway playing her either.
-the doll just doesn't seem right, its a bit off and I cant put my finger on it, perhaps its the face
-the extra head and the hanger is a riot.
-Not one single thing about her thrilled me - can't believe I'm
saying it - but I'm going to pass as well. I didn't like her clothes,
her shoes, her hair, the additional crazy head...nothing.
-I will pass on her too. Not buying any old movie thingies any more. I don't relate at all and worse, don't want to.
-love the new neck system
-wish it came with the can of Ajax and a Brillo pad
-I have no interest in the extra head, (the whole "Mommie Dearest" thing does nothing for me)
-LOVE Joan Crawford! Both the real actress and the character Faye Dunaway played.
-the whited faced face is actually the prettiest of the two
-Recently we got footspeak, we now have Headspeak!
-I guess as great as this series is I also want to recognize the
characters. I want to see Joan with her iconic lips, why are they not
there?
-I like the headless swap idea
-I am amused by the two heads, and actually prefer the head with the
beauty mask, but still not buying her. I was surprised at the edition
size of 800 dolls.
-if only her second face wasn't this white.
-I think I like her...but then the dolls don't capture the drama of the character.
-Interesting doll, but not my taste. Don't think she looks anything like Joan or Faye.
-it was Bon Ami powder...I will only clean my bathroom with it!!
-I will have to be with the "this doll is not for me at this time" camp.
I was so excited about Sunset Boulevard and was completely let down.
Although I can't wait to get my hands on the new "neck knob" mechanism
in a body, the BOD/Victoire body is my least favorite and I have enough
black suits already. The one thing about IT is that something else is
"right around the corner".
-I am THRILLED with this set! It's a dream come true! I'm hoping the
production doll doesn't disappoint me like the Sunset Blvd doll did... I
ordered 2 sets so I can fully display both outfits and heads...
-I LOVE this doll! I love the movie Mommy Dearest -- unfortunately, I was raised by a woman just like this character.
-All I really want are the nude doll and yes, the white face head! Maybe she's recreating an Al Jolson movie -- Mammy Dearest?
-I'm waiting for a 'Mrs. Bates' gift set (dead and alive heads, a butcher
knife, a little blood stained shower curtain and a gray wig) with a
skinny Homme as 'NORMANNNN'...
-Love the Quick Switch head - yabadabadoo!!
-this doll should have been older OR in a scene from a younger years.
-I like the idea of interchangeable heads, though I have to say, the promo pic with the two of them looks creepy.LOL
-Went to You tube and watched some clips from the film... Gosh! It's
awful, these wire hangers... Sorry, but this doll is a definite pass for
me.
-NO MORE HEATING PADS!!!
-... So long as the new neck fits the previous/current heads. Plus I'd
like to know what's up inside the new heads that can clip on. Will there
be a new obstruction that will make rerooting a problem?
As to the doll. I love this head sculpt, but there are better choices
this year for her. Plus I'm not into black outfits anymore. I have too
many already, and I no longer display them. They look like shadows in my
doll collection.
I'd prefer that IT committed to the Joan Crawford makeup on this face.
I'll be passing on her too.
- While I enjoy the movie as a camp classic, I don't have any interest in
this doll not even for the head swap feature (Yes I'm going against the
grain). I don't rebody my dolls unless it's a necessity...
-I´m a big fan of Faye, and believe me this doll is neither Joan nor Faye. If she would be I would buy her twice!
-She is pretty and I have to thank Integrity to realize a doll with
character and a story which is not the typically "Doris Day" -Mr clean
Image!
-I´m a big fan of Faye, and belive me this doll is neither Joan nor Faye. If she would be I would buy her twice!
She is pretty and I have to thank integrity to realize a doll with
character and a story which is not the typically "Doris Day" - Mr. Clean
Image! I think some dolls are, like eating to much sugary cake. Too much
of Barbie-ish smile can cause sickness...I think this Joan doll will be
like half bitter chocolate!
-What will we see next? I'm hoping for "boobswap." I can't keep track of
all the bodies and I'd love an adjustable bust so ALL fashions fit.
Something inflatable/deflatable. Come to think about it, I'd like that
for me, too!
- Great to have on display as a conversation piece, but that's not really what my doll collecting is about.
-It might be a little funny but it is uber-tacky in my opinion.
-I think it is inappropriate and done in poor taste.
-She doesn't look anything like Crawford; more like Vera Miles... Tonner's Joan was spot on.
-Sorry to be negative, but she looks just like any other Integrity doll.
-So campy! I don't think it is meant to be taken seriously, it's fabulous!
-The movie was bad enough...the doll is even worse. The fact that they chose...where she beats the heck out of Christina is just plain wrong.
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The 'hardcore" Integrity Toy's fans usually praise every product that is introduced. They went beserk over the Jem doll and now pretty much every single other doll in that line is languishing in the dealers' stock. Who is going to buy 800 of these unusual gift sets now that it appears that the reception is rather cool? If you are among the fans of this gift set and wish to order one, click here here for the list of IT dealers who may be selling it.