Joan Crawford was one of the most durable and professional Hollywood stars. She dedicated her life to stardom and her posthumous reputation has suffered because of this. This biography maintains that there was far more to Crawford than is generally believed. The book puts into context Crawford's movie career and also examines her turbulent private life, using previously unpublished sources and recent interviews with those who knew and, in some cases, loved her. Four times married and driven by a powerful sexuality, Crawford lived life on a knife's edge. She was also a generous woman who cared deeply for her four adopted children. Crawford's life in the entertainment business spanned nearly 40 years, from silent movies to television. This biography does not seek to disguise the dark side of her nature but restores a balance to the account of her life and sets the record straight with regard to some of the wilder accusations that have been made about and against her.