Flamingo Road (1949)

This film also stars Zachary Scott, Sydney Greenstreet, David Brian, and was directed by Michael Curtiz. Crawford plays a dancer in a carnival that is stranded in a small town in the south. This is another story of a steely dame with glamour, guts, and a gun. She becomes romantically involved with the local deputy sheriff and has a run-in with a corrupt local political boss who is determined to run her out of town before she spoils everything. This became one of the films that had her changing into her "older woman" era. What she has lost of her youth she makes up for in attitude.

Torch Song (1953)

Also starring Michael Wilding, Gig Young, Marjorie Rambeau, and directed by Charles Walters, this film is based on the story by I.A.R.Wylie called "Why Should I Cry?" Crawford plays a tough Broadway musical star who doesn't take criticism from anyone. She has two emotional levels — demanding and impossible. A blind pianist with whom she finds love just may be able to break through her tough exterior. Entrenched in her latter day career, this movie is almost campy with Crawford's stiff dancing and lip-synching performance. It also includes the infamous scene in which Crawford performs the number "Two-Faced Woman" in blackface — actually chocolate-brown face paint. At the end of the number she rips the black wig off her head and reveals bright orange hair. This movie must be seen to be believed. This film's appeal lies more in its cult status.

On each disk are a series of extras including vintage comedy shorts such as "Goofy Movies #4", "The Lonesome Stranger," and "Little Cesarie." There are theatrical trailers, featurettes such as "Gable and Crawford," and "Crawford at Warner's," as well as some audio-only bonuses. In my opinion, the extras are rather thin, but there are some good pieces.

What I liked about Joan Crawford Collection, Volume 2 is the wide variety of films that are presented in this collection. These are not second rate films; rather they are some of the quintessential Crawford features. Four of them are great, and one of them is worthy of inclusion, if only for the stark contrast to the first ones.

There is a lot of diversity in Joan Crawford Collection, Volume 2 and it's a solid collection. If you are a fan of the Golden age of Hollywood, of Crawford, or classic cinema in general, then Joan Crawford Collection, Volume 2 is well worth your time and effort.