Joan Asked for A Woman's Face

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A Woman’s Face was a remake of the 1938 Swedish film that starred Ingrid Bergman.

Joan Crawford thought the part was perfect and had actually reached out to Bergman.

She said, “I adore Ingrid and once wrote her a fan letter.”

Since Crawford respected the actress, she was unsure how she might respond to an American remake. After all, she wasn’t sure if Ingrid would want to reprise the role.

Luckily, the two were able to meet at a party at David Selznick’s house. Bergman had signed with Selznick and was remaking a film she had done in Sweden called Intermezzo.

Ingrid laughed at the notion of being offended, and so Crawford jumped at the chance.

“I went directly to Mr. Myer and asked him to buy the property for me. It was a wonderful part, and I knew I could be great in it. I wouldn’t be Ingrid Bergman, but I would be Joan Crawford.”

While studio head Louis B. Mayer doubted that Crawford would be good for the part, director George Cukor didn’t and stood up for the actress.

He later said, "Joan really gave her all in that picture... I think it remains one of her best performances."

Joan later said, “I have nothing but the best to say for A Woman’s Face. It was a splendid script, and George let me run with it. I finally shocked both the critics and the public into realizing the fact that I really was at heart a dramatic actress.”