Mildred Pierce (1945)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

Michael Curtiz

Writers:

Ranald MacDougall (screenplay)
James M. Cain (novel)

Release Date:

20 October 1945 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Film-Noir | Mystery | Romance

Tagline:

In her heart of hearts she knew it would happen this way !

Plot:

After her cheating husband leaves her, Mildred Pierce proves she can become independent and successful, but can't win the approval of her spoiled daughter.

Plot Keywords:

Restaurant | Divorce | Snobbishness | Housewife | Source Music

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 2 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Joan Crawford	...	Mildred Pierce Beragon
Jack Carson	...	Wally Fay
Zachary Scott	...	Monte Beragon
Eve Arden	...	Ida Corwin
Ann Blyth	...	Veda Pierce Forrester
Bruce Bennett	...	Albert ('Bert') Pierce
Lee Patrick	...	Mrs. Maggie Biederhof
Moroni Olsen	...	Inspector Peterson
Veda Ann Borg	...	Miriam Ellis
Jo Ann Marlowe	...	Kay Pierce

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:A (original rating) | USA:Approved (PCA #10660) | Canada:PG (video rating) | Argentina:16 | Australia:PG | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

26652 Latigo Shore Drive, Malibu, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

William Faulkner contributed to the script, but his additions were not used. He wrote a scene that had Butterfly McQueen consoling Joan Crawford while singing a gospel song.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: Just before Veda is taken into custody, she tells Mildred: "I'll get by," but her lips don't move.

Quotes:

Monte: We weren't expecting you Mildred, obviously.
Veda: It's just as well you know. I'm glad you know.
Mildred: How long has this been going on?

Movie Connections:

Featured in Who the #$&% is Jackson Pollock? (2006)

Soundtrack:

Sweet Georgia Brown

A Truly Great Film Noir Masterpiece

Joan Crawford, one of the world's great movie stars, truly shines in "Mildred Pierce", a tense, prickly film noir full of suspense and drama!

Joan is Mildred, a hard working pie and chicken maven who becomes a successful restuaranteur. Ann Blyth is superb as her nasty daughter Veda, who stoops to every level to get what she wants. Eve Arden and Jack Carson are unstoppable as Mildred's friends. "Mildred Pierce" was directed by the famed Michael Curtiz, best known for his work in "Casablanca". But it is my opinion that his best work is "Mildred Pierce". The lighting, the costumes, the sets, and most importantly, the writing all help this gem of a film become a true classic.

Joan won an Oscar for her breathtaking performance, but the tour de force powerhouse in "Mildred Pierce" was Ann Blyth. Black hearted Veda was the lynch pin of this movie, and Blyth's portrayal made Veda seem all too real and frightening. Nominated for an Oscar, she should have won.

Don't miss this timeless nail-biter