LYCOS RETRIEVER 
George Cukor: Joan Crawford
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Cukor had established a reputation for being able to handle the most temperamental actresses. He was chosen to direct a cast of 135 actresses in MGM's all-female cast of The Women in 1939, including a trio of easily ruffled leading ladies, Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, and Rosalind Russell. Cukor was careful never to call any of them to the set first, making sure they were treated equally, to the point that he would dispatch several assistants to knock on their trailer doors simultaneously.
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Many female stars adored Cukor, whom they eagerly sought to work with and counted as a friend. Joan Crawford, for example, who gave her best performances under his demanding eye, insisted on working with him as often as possible. They responded not only to his oft-remarked personal charisma and wit, but ... to his ability repeatedly to elicit Oscar-winning performances from them.
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The story files contain script material submitted to Cukor. Of interest are a screenplay titled The Free Man by Jean Anouilh, a 1934 treatment for Joan of Arc by Thornton Wilder, a play script and test scene for Magnolia by Booth Tarkington, and a first-draft screenplay titled Naked, Sir, Is the Best Diguise by Gene Allen.
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Joan Crawford