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FROM THE BOOK:
Joan always remained in total control of herself on a movie set; fits of
temper were not permitted in her code of behavior. But so deep was the antagonism toward Norma Shearer that on one
occasion she lost her composure. It
was the only time Joe Mankiewicz ever saw her explode. Edsel Ford and his family, including a youthful Henry Ford II, were
visiting the set of Mannequin. Both Crawford and Spencer Tracy greeted the
Fords with great charm; then she excused herself to make a wardrobe change
for the next scene. As she entered
her dressing room, Mankiewicz was approached by the worried-looking
assistant director.
"Mr.
Mankiewicz, we're in for trouble," said the assistant.
"Why is that?" the producer asked. The assistant explained that
Norma Shearer was shooting wardrobe tests on a nearby
stage and wanted to
borrow William Daniels, who was photographing Mannequin.
Both Shearer and Crawford, as well as Garbo, valued Daniels as a
superb photographer of women.
"What'll
I do?" the assistant director asked Mankiewicz. "There's
Crawford's dressing room.
Go ask her."
Mankiewiez
watched as the man knocked on Joan's door, then disappeared inside.
Thirty seconds later the door was flung open, and the assistant
emerged hurriedly.
Crawford stood in the doorway, wearing only her underwear, her feet
planted wide apart.
"And you can tell Miss Shearer that I didn't get where I am on
my ass!" she exclaimed.
She slammed the door shut.
A few minutes later she emerged from the room in her glamorous
costume and rejoined the Ford party as if nothing had happened.
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