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Post by tom on Sept 26, 2021 20:27:44 GMT -6
Read this very interesting story about Franchot Tone. Goes a bit more in depth on his career post-JC. www.altfg.com/film/franchot-tone/I was really struck by this photo recently posted to the BOE site. www.joancrawfordbest.com/60scandid21sept2.htmThis is taken in 1967, so not long before Tone passed away from lung cancer. I read somewhere, which I cannot lay my hands on now, that Joan took care of Franchot in his final days. Wish I could find the article. |
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Post by Admin on Sept 29, 2021 21:07:49 GMT -6
Thanks for the link to the article, Tom.
Unfortunately, I'm not a Franchot fan, for several reasons. One: I get the impression that he felt he was a superior type of East Coast theater actor and so was just "slumming" when he came to Hollywood. Trying to make some quick money for the Group Theater. Yet he ended up being just what he'd so disdained: a West Coast film actor. Two: I also get the impression that he felt he was superior to the women he got involved with---like Joan! Only...As it turned out, Joan was superior to him: stronger of character and a better actor (and not in need of any opera lessons). Tone went on to try to play Svengali to Barbara Payton and got beaten up by the low-life Tom Neil; he was also reputedly a customer of the Black Dahlia. In short: A rich boy trying to act decadent, which is annoying to me. Three: Joan, not one to speak ill of her former husbands, at one point spoke wryly of Tone and his Group Theater friends discussing "the working class" and Communism---while sitting by her pool being served by her maids! Can't stand that kind of phoniness. Lastly: I admittedly haven't seen many of his solo-starring films. But in his co-starring films with Joan, he's usually smirking and trying to act cute---I don't like his characters and how he portrays them. That said, though: Do you guys have any Franchot films that you recommend that I watch? Something that will make me like him more onscreen?
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Post by davidmorrocco on Nov 2, 2021 22:44:09 GMT -6
Not only did Joan take care of Franchot in his last year of his life, she took care of his requests on how and where to place his remains. I have to wonder what she was thinking during that time seeing Franchot aging, growing older and failing. What was next for her own life? She kept going on. She said she always like to look ahead to the future. She still did TV talk shows and movies and charities, award shows and so much more. She inspires me in so many ways.
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Post by tom on Nov 3, 2021 11:36:35 GMT -6
Not only did Joan take care of Franchot in his last year of his life, she took care of his requests on how and where to place his remains. I have to wonder what she was thinking during that time seeing Franchot aging, growing older and failing. What was next for her own life? She kept going on. She said she always like to look ahead to the future. She still did TV talk shows and movies and charities, award shows and so much more. She inspires me in so many ways. Good points. Judging from all the letters Joan was still getting from fans, friends, etc. I can only surmise that at that stage, late 1960s, she was still vital and forward looking. Still demanding of herself that she not just be "the girl next door." She was also still on the board of PepsiCo. Even as late as 1973 at NYC Town Hall, the crowd adores her. I don't think she lost her joi de vivre until the very end. |
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Post by tom on Nov 3, 2021 20:05:34 GMT -6
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Post by davidmorrocco on Nov 3, 2021 23:46:20 GMT -6
Tom. I’m so glad that you found the article about Joan and Franchot. It’s exactly how I remembered it. I also remember he gave her a beautiful ring at or around the time they had dinner the night before their divorce. Thanks for finding the article and photos.
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Post by tom on Nov 4, 2021 18:20:44 GMT -6
Tom. I’m so glad that you found the article about Joan and Franchot. It’s exactly how I remembered it. I also remember he gave her a beautiful ring at or around the time they had dinner the night before their divorce. Thanks for finding the article and photos. Most welcome. As someone who is a dog person, and loved our little fur angel so much, to me this may be the point at which JC saw that the end was at hand. From the BOE chronology... May 6 (Friday). Joan gives away her Shih Tzu, Princess Lotus Blossom, to the sister of her latter-day friend/companion Darinka Papich. |
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