Lots of kisses and pesky siblings fill new Mother's Day books The Canadian Press Take a look at an interesting article we found.
Movie Review: 'La Misma Luna' ('Under the Same Moon') Go Triad Take a look at an interesting article we found.
Dreams and reality of motherhood The (Montreal) Gazette Take a look at an interesting article we found.
Yes, foreclosures are up 327% in California -- to 0.45% of all households. Why doesn't the media tell us this?
 by Cynthia |
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 by J. Peterman |
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 by Peter Lake |
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May 09, 2008
What makes a mother great? Surely there are as many answers as there are moms, but we can gather a lot of clues from the movies.
Devotion? I can't think of a more devoted Mom than Dumbo's pachyderm guardian in the Disney classic of the same name. Even trapped in the circus equivalent of Sing-Sing, she manages to comfort and reassure her child with the beautiful ballad, "Baby Mine."
Toughness? Think of Cicely Tyson's never-give-in matriarch in Sounder or Sally Field in the just-on-the-verge-of-maudlin Places of the Heart.
Dedication? You can't help but be amazed by the sheer perseverance of the mothers in March of the Penguins.
But for some reason, it's a lot easier to think of negative examples from the big screen. Be it the perversity of human nature or twisted Hollywood values, but it's hard to think of many movie mom's as striking in their goodness as the bad ones are in their evil.
For Exhibit A, we offer Angela Lansbury as the beyond-wicked Mrs. Iselin in the original The Manchurian Candidate, our choice for the Worst Mother Ever Depicted Onscreen. There's simply no end to her vileness, which only begins with her destroying her son (the tortured Laurence Harvey) by helping brainwash him into a murderous automaton, a cog in a Communist plot to take over the U.S, as she explains without the merest hint of apology:
I know you will never entirely comprehend this, Raymond, but you must believe I did not know it would be you. I served them. I fought for them. I'm on the point of winning for them the greatest foothold they would ever have in this country. And they paid me back by taking your soul away from you...
But what makes that scene truly creepy, to the point where you want to take a shower afterwards, is Lansbury's kiss on her son's lips, a dementedly seductive gesture that turns her from a depraved schemer to a full-on monster. The only thing that comes close for pure maternal depravity is Corinna Harfouch as Frau Goebbels serenely poisoning her children in Downfall.
Other candidates? How about Livia Soprano, Tony's bitter, manipulative, self-pitying burden of a mother in The Sopranos, masterfully portrayed by Nancy Marchand. Trying to order a hit on her son, revenge for putting her in a nursing home, was only the most outward expression of her spite. Her real talent was for verbal abuse, delivered with such an acidic combination of bile and self-pity that it was a wonder Tony never had her whacked.
Or Lilly Dillon, Angelica Huston's brilliantly scheming con artist of a mom in The Grifters. The last scene, in which she attempts to connive and seduce her son out of a big payoff and ends up accidentally (?) killing him, is beyond nasty. Take her at her word: "You don't know what I'd do, Roy. You have no idea. To live."
More recently, Brenda Blethyn's narcissistically controlling, abusive show-business mother in the Australian drama Introducing the Dwights is a sight to behold, as is Frances McDormand's boundary-impaired rock star mother in Laurel Canyon.
But maybe a fixation with bad examples is just our problem. Tell us about your most memorable movie moms, for good or ill.
Share the Eye:
Mother's Day letter SheKnows Take a look at an interesting article we found.
Movie Mom Reviews Thoughts of Me Take a look at an interesting article we found.
Baby Mama: Movie may distorts picture of surrogacy West Coast Surrogacy Take a look at an interesting article we found.
still thinking about today...
Which movie mother is the worst?
50% 33% 0% 17%
As an image of a great Mother we can look to the many Italian Renaissance paintings of the Madonna and Child. Or even Michaelangelo's sculpture "The Pieta". As everyone now knows from a previous post I'm not religious anymore, but the foregoing are very tender and loving depictions of a mother.
How about Achilles mother? She wanted him to be immortal so she dipped in a sacred river. Both images, the Madonna and Achilles' mother are interesting because neither could protect their son's from their destiny.
As an evil mother, I can offer Rose's mother in the movie "Titanic". She wanted Rose to marry the rich man because she needed to maintain her standing in society. She didn't care about Rose's happiness.
There was a movie made a few years ago about Joan Crawford. She was a mother from hell.
To: LaDonna,
Good morning! Enjoy your coffee and have a great and wonderful day! (that should give Spinner and everyone else something to talk about (Ha!Ha!)
I only have a moment but I'll be back at my computer later. I just want to put in my candidate for most interesting movie mother. It's especially interesting that she was played by that real-life mother from hell, Joan Crawford.
In 1945, Joan Crawford played the title role in MILDRED PIERCE, one of the great masterpieces of that decade. In a delicious twist of theme, this movie shows us everything that is wrong with the traditionally lauded virtue of self-sacrifice. Mildred sacrifices everything for her daughter and winds up victimized by parasites of her own making. This is also a great twist on the film noir motif of the woman trapped in a toxic relationship with a bad man. Only, in this case, it's not a man but her own daughter.
There are many great examples of bad mothers for the same reason we like to make juicy lists of our favorite villains. It's just fun concentrating on the bad guy. But it's okay. After all, it's just a movie. And there are many more great mothers in the movies as well. Half of them were played by Anne Revere.
Got a big job to go to. More to come...
Since I know that this group loves a good discussion, concerning things like religion, politics, and who is alive and who is dead, I'm going to throw this idea out there!
Those who believe in reincarnation, believe that before your birth, you choose your mom and dad to learn (hopefully) certain lessons in this life.
Now, to my second cup of coffee, thank you Mr. ExPat!
To: LaDonna,
I've heard of a number of Christians (including Catholics) who believe in reincarnation. Obviously, their belief is "off the record". The Church would not approve. I can see the advantage of choosing your parents, but could you imagine what life lessons you would learn by choosing to be a "Mother from Hell" when you come back? How about choosing to be a "Deadbeat Dad"?
Talk about bad Karma.........I hope, LaDonna, you have nothing but good karma today and always.
My vote would be for Joan Crawford in the movie "Mommy Dearest". I thought she was the poorest example of a Mother I had ever heard of. She made her child sit for hours at a dinner table until she ate. How appauling!! Oh wait...that was me!! My 10 year old daughter was a picky eater needless to say. For years, she basically consumed chicken nuggets and french fries. One day I had taken all I could stand. I had cooked a delicious, nutritionally balanced, home-cooked family meal and she rudely declined to eat it (as she had many times before). Only this time I couldn't tolerate the seemingly ungrateful attitude. It became a standoff between she and I. Who could hold out the longest????? Well. after 3 hours of her staring at the table and never even lifting her fork...I cracked and sent her to her room without dinner. To this day...I can not believe that I did that. So, I guess I would qualify as an unfit Mother. After 21 years, she has never forgiven me for that incident. But what goes around comes around. My daughter now has 3 young sons. I have a feeling she too will one day turn into Joan Crawford. Other than that one incident I do beleive I was and still am a loving and caring Mother. But don't ask my daughter to confirm that sentiment.
Dear MACKDADDY:
I can tell, from the guilt that you feel over this matter, you are a loving and caring Mother. May you have a wonderful Mother's Day (and I'm sure your daughter feels the same way)!
thecatalyst said...
Two of the most memorable movie moms for me would be both from the same movie: Debra Winger and Shirley MacLaine in Terms of Endearment. They both were a little wacky and difficult, but definitely memorable. I can't think of the scene where Debra Winger is in her hospital bed with her son (with the little crooked smile) by her bedside, without tearing up.
Miss Julia said...
Okay, so this is a mother who originated in a book: Mrs. Bennet in Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice." There are different versions of her in the various film productions, but she is truly a hoot, a piece of work, tres gauche.
Her only goal in life is to see her daughters married, but her antics actually repel potential suitors.
Jane Austen is such a wit. How I would love to have tea with her!
Back to La Donna...Thank you for such a lovely compliment. You have made my day!!! If you are a Mom...Happy Mother's Day to you as well. If you're not...I can tell you WILL make a great parent someday.
Some things just can’t be captured on the silver screen.
In the words of Lou Gehrig, “I’m the luckiest man alive†to have been so blessed with such a wonderful Mother. I am seldom at a loss of words in this forum, as you all know too well by now, but I am struck dumb when it comes to adequately describing the great impact she had on me and our entire family; so I won’t even attempt it.
It’s the everyday Moms that deal with the everyday world, whom have the toughest, and perhaps, the best job in the world. So do Dads, but that’s for another day. I just want to wish all of the mothers who try so hard and give so much a Happy Mothers Day.
Why Disney cartoon characters so often motherless?
Bambi loses his mother, as does Snow White, Pinocchio never has one in the first place... etc etc...
Oh, and does good karma go well with coffee?
Evil and funny at the same time, Holly Hunter in The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom.
To: MACKDADDY1, Your so very welcome, thank you!
To: South-Side John, All I can say is, WOW.
To: Heiress, Bambi was the first movie that I ever remember seeing, and I cryed and cryed. Who could harm a wonderful, beautiful animal like that!?!
Oh, good karma does go well with coffee (two lumps)!
Somehow when I read the title of today's column I KNEW that Joan Crawford being an awful mother was going to be mentioned.
Being a Crawford fan I really do not believe that she was as Dread Pirate States "The Mother from Hell" and as is the belief of many people since the 1980's campy film was released.
Granted she is not going to win any mother of the year awards but neither would Hedy Lamar, Lana Turner, Bette Davis, Loretta Young & there are many more Classic Actresses & Actors that were just as awful to their children by not "Sparing the Rod" while raising them. I don't believe the way they are as parents negates their bodies of film work but it seems that for the longest time this was more so the case with Joan Crawford's films & reputation & not the any of the other "bad" hollywood parents out there.
Mildred Pierce is a wonderful Film Noir that is the very essence of what can happen when a Mother allows a child to rule the household.
To MackDaddy: Don't beat yourself up about it. My parents did the same thing.
(I guess that's why I never thought it was strange or the wrong thing Joan did in MD)
My sister & I are healthy ladies who eat most all foods & love to try new recipes & enjoy life. Of course everyone has foods they hate but that is not the point ~ The world that our parents opened up for us by making us try & eat different & at the time "gross" foods is one of the best gifts they ever gave us.
My vote for wonderful film moms would have to be some of the following:
Thelma Ritter in the Mating Season ~ She really was a mom who believed that her son should be happy & was happy for him no matter how much he seemed to pull her down. The seemingly unconditional love from her towards her son is really the true plot of this film.
Shirley McCaline in Terms of Endearment ~ The Hospital Screaming Scene. Enough Said
Irene Dunne in I Remember Mama ~ A great adaptation of the Book to film & such a story about a family life that is not rich in cash but rather is richer in spririt.
Stella Dallas ~ Barbara Stanwycks heartbreaking sacrafice in trying to give her daughter everything is still a tear jerker to this day.
Steel Magnolias ~ Sally Field is wonderful as the Mother who is so torn in fact that if her Shelby gets her own family that it just may have to go on without shelby being a part of it.
In closing: I LOVE my mom she frustrates me to no end, makes sure I am still not trying to be a 20 year old, listens, bends over backwards to help me & laughes at my views of my world.
For myself I couldn't have asked for anyone better to call Mom.
To: Heiress,
I find that good karma and decaf, unsweetened, are a very good mix these days.
leahold30 said...
To MACKDADDY1:
I am a new Mom considering your experience and I do things everyday that I feel I could have handled better. I'm sure there are plenty of perfect Mom's in the world but I feel like I'm growing up with my child. I feel like he teaches me just as much as I am teaching him. I have to give my vote for best mom to my own since she sacrified everything for her family and continues to teach me how to be the best person I can be.Whether I want her to or not.
Spinner said...
Okay! Okay! The self-appointed morals and standards committee chairman has arrived! Enough with the karma and coffee. I have NO idea, but I am sure there is hidden meaning here and I am getting my ruler out. With Joan Crawford as my example, I need to take charge. You all are definitely out of control! And remember, No Wire Hangers!
Actually, I have to say that every one of the suggestions for good/bad moms have been great examples. I really couldn't pick one because every name I read seemed to be better than the one before.
I do have to relate a personal story here though. Please accept it. I was talking to my son a couple of years ago when his daughter was about 2. We were discussing the possibility of home schooling her and I made the comment that if I were raising him today, I would strongly consider home schooling. There was a pause. I asked if he was implying that we wouldn't have been up to the task. He replied, "No, Mom, you did home school me." He went on to say that he felt we had worked hard to enrich his life far beyond what the classroom had taught him. I cannot tell you what a wonderful gift that was to me. It seemed to pull it all into one simple statement and a statement I will always remember. I guess that is what mother's are really for. Home schooling.
If you are still reading this, thank you.... Now back to the karma and coffee... Behave yourselves!
Mr Spinner.....
I do believe, you are trying to stir things up!
To: LaDonna,
We did get people stirred up and talking, didn't we? I think an English writer named Samuel Johnson said "there's nothing sweeter than tea and gossip in the afternoon". I guess in our case it's morning coffee.
We (with the help of Heiress) have obviously come to the attention of the "morals and standards committee". I'll behave my self if you will............(Ha!Ha!)
Mothers and motherhood have fascinated dramatists ever since Sophocles wrote OEDIPUS REX all those centuries ago. In the movies, we have seen as many fascinating varieties of mothers as there are genres of film in which to portray them.
Strong women exhibiting tough mother love shine through in the person of Jane Wyman in THE YEARLING and Dorothy Maguire in A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN. Later, that tradition was carried on by Ellen Burstyn in ALICE DOESN’T LIVE HERE ANYMORE and Christine Lahti in RUNNING ON EMPTY.
Sinning mothers with much to regret and redeem seem to be dominated by Meryl Streep. Witness both of her Oscar-winning heartbreaking turns in KRAMER VS. KRAMER and SOPHIE’S CHOICE. Less sympathetically disastrous mothers include Mary Tyler Moore’s portrayal against type in ORDINARY PEOPLE and Katharine Hepburn’s masterstroke as Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine in THE LION IN WINTER.
Daffy mothers played for comedic effect include Alice Brady in MY MAN GODFREY and both of Jessie Royce Landis’ collaborations with Alfred Hitchcock, TO CATCH A THIEF and NORTH BY NORTHWEST.
Kind, strong, tender mothers can be found in the person of Shirley MacLaine in THE TURNING POINT, Katharine Hepburn in both GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER and ON GOLDEN POND, and Olympia Dukhakis’ delightful performance in MOONSTRUCK. Then, of course, there was virtually everything Anne Revere ever did including NATIONAL VELVET and GENTLEMAN’S AGREEMENT.
A forerunner to Angela Lansbury’s MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE demon was Leopoldine Konstantine as Claude Rains’ conniving spy of a mother in Hitchcock’s NOTORIOUS. But even she couldn’t out-evil the Master of Suspense’s most compelling mother of them all: the absent Mrs. Bates in PSYCHO.