This work explores the life and career of one of Hollywood's great dames. She was a leading film personality for more than 50 years, from her beginnings as a dancer in silent films in the 1920s, to her portrayals of working-class shop girls in the Depression 1930s, to her Oscar-winning performances in classic films such as "Mildred Pierce". This biography goes beyond the gossip to find the truth about the legendary actress. The authors knew Crawford well and conducted scores of interviews with her and many of her friends and co-stars, including Frank Capra, George Cukor, Nicholas Ray, and Sidney Greenstreet. The biography also corrects the many misconceptions and myths that abound and tells the story of one of Hollywood's most influential stars, complete with on-set anecdotes and other movie lore.