"Mildred Pierce" Part Four (2011)

Director:

Todd Haynes

Writers:

James M. Cain (novel)
Todd Haynes (teleplay) ...
(more)

TV Series:

"Mildred Pierce" (2011)

Original Air Date:

10 April 2011 (Season 1, Episode 4)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

As the years have gone by, Mildred has become quite a successful businesswoman. It's now 1937 and she and Lucy...

Plot Keywords:

Faked Pregnancy | Glendale California | Restaurant | California | Single Mother

Cast

Kate Winslet	...	Mildred Pierce
Evan Rachel Wood	...	Veda Pierce
Brían F. O'Byrne	...	Bert Pierce
Melissa Leo	...	Lucy Gessler
James Le Gros	...	Wally Burgan (as James LeGros)
Mare Winningham	...	Ida Corwin
Hope Davis	...	Mrs. Forrester
Ronald Guttman	...	Carlo Treviso
Halley Feiffer	...	Arline
Miriam Shor	...	Anna
Marin Ireland	...	Letty
Murphy Guyer	...	Mr. Pierce
Daniel London	...	Mr. Levinson
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Marc Bicking	...	Restaurant Patron
Bridget Burke	...	Elaine
Laura Esterman	...	Mrs. Kramer
Erwin Falcon	...	Pancho
Edgar Felix	...	Dishwasher
Jefferson Mays	...	Man In Blue Coat
Brett McClelland	...	Philharmonic Tuxedo Guest
Guy Pearce	...	Monty Beragon (credit only)
Aija Terauda	...	Mother
Paul Terzenbach	...	Young Man
Nick Westrate	...	Sammy Forrester
Elvy Yost	...	Sigrid
Paul Pilcz	...	Tommy (uncredited)
Barbara Vincent	...	The Cigarette Girl (uncredited)
Ken Wharton	...	Businessman / Debtor (uncredited)
Bruce Winant	...	Hank Somerville (uncredited)

Directed by
Todd Haynes

Writing credits
James M. Cain		(novel)
Todd Haynes		(teleplay) &
Jonathan Raymond		(teleplay)

Produced by
Todd Haynes	....	executive producer
Pamela Koffler	....	executive producer
Ilene S. Landress	....	co-executive producer
Jessica Levin	....	associate producer
Kendall McCarthy	....	associate producer
Christine Vachon	....	executive producer
Harvey Waldman	....	line producer
John Wells	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Carter Burwell

Cinematography by
Edward Lachman		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Camilla Toniolo

Casting by
Laura Rosenthal
Jennifer Sabel		(background casting)

Production Design by
Mark Friedberg

Art Direction by
Peter Rogness

Set Decoration by
Ellen Christiansen		(as Ellen Christiansen-De Jonge)

Costume Design by
Ann Roth

Makeup Department
Nathan J. Busch II	....	key hair stylist
Christine Cantrell	....	key hair stylist
Martial Corneville	....	wig maker
Jerry DeCarlo	....	hair department head
Jeong-Hwa Fonkalsrud	....	makeup artist
Claus Lulla	....	key makeup artist
Linda Melazzo	....	makeup artist
Linda Melazzo	....	makeup artist: Ms. Winslet
Jerry Popolis	....	hair stylist: Ms Winslet
Rosemary Redlin	....	additional makeup artist
Patricia Regan	....	makeup department head
Barbara Sansone	....	hair stylist
Peggy Schierholz	....	key hair stylist

Production Management
Regina Heyman	....	assistant unit production manager
Matthew Shapiro	....	post-production supervisor
Harvey Waldman	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Timothy Bird	....	first assistant director
Noreen R. Cheleden	....	second assistant director
Guy Efrat	....	additional second assistant director
Matthew Mason	....	second second assistant director
Harvey Waldman	....	second unit director

Art Department
Derrick Alford	....	carpenter
I. Ameijeiras	....	illustrator
Rand Angelicola	....	scenic artist
Michael Auszura	....	assistant art director
Stephen A. Baker	....	construction grip
Anthony Baldasare	....	set dresser
Robert Barnett	....	scenic artist
Stephen Barth	....	scenic artist
Dylan Bergeson	....	research assistant
Nikki Black	....	model maker
Robert Bortner	....	construction grip
Glen Bowen	....	construction grip
Terri Brennan	....	set dresser
Gabu Camilo	....	set dresser
Patrice Canfield Longo	....	warehouse manager
Bill Capucilli	....	carpenter
Yongxi Chen	....	scenic artist
Anthony F. Christy	....	on-set construction grip
Dan Decelle	....	set dresser
Ruth Deleon	....	on set dresser
Jacqueline Dickson	....	set decorating production assistant
Robert DiGrigoli	....	shop foreman
Paul George Divone	....	carpenter
Liza Donatelli	....	props
Richard Dowgin	....	best boy construction grip
Leo Drondin	....	scenic artist
Steven T. Duke	....	stage foreman
Lydia Fine	....	art department assistant
Colin Flynn	....	food stylist
Frank-Joseph Frelier	....	art department coordinator
Vanessa Frost	....	construction assistant
Isaac Gabaeff	....	on-set greensperson
Gordon Gertsen	....	greensman
James Gilliar	....	location foreman
Gregg Gilmartin	....	carpenter
Charles Goodman	....	on-set construction grip
Jonathan Graham	....	key construction grip
Roman Greller	....	location foreman
Sandy Hamilton	....	property master
Linda Harvey	....	carpenter
Brent Haywood	....	carpenter
Eric Helmin	....	production assistant
Arlo Hoffman	....	on-set greens
Chris Janks	....	carpenter
Kim Jennings	....	assistant art director
Deborah Jensen	....	assistant art director
Timothy Joliat	....	set dresser
Warren Jorgensen	....	camera scenic
Shauna Kellin	....	scenic artist
Claire Kirk	....	art department coordinator
Gordon Krause	....	key carpenter
Rob Landoll	....	scenic artist
Maddy Lederman	....	set dresser
Michael A. McFadden	....	construction grip
Timothy Metzger	....	leadman
Nick Miller	....	construction coordinator
Kris Moran	....	assistant props
Don Nace	....	scenic charge
Anthony O.H. Navarro	....	set dresser
Frazer Newton	....	greens
Mel Noped	....	tool foreperson
Tobin Ost	....	assistant art director
Hollywood Nick Pagani	....	picture car coordinator
Hollywood Nick Pagani	....	picture car wrangler
Jessie Pellegrino	....	art department assistant
Janine Pesce	....	shop foreman
Mark Pollard	....	graphic artist
Michael Powsner	....	props
Gennaro Proscia	....	carpenter
Raymond Reddy	....	shop foreman
James Reid	....	construction grip
Ernie Sandidge	....	industrial artist
Will Scheck	....	lead greensperson
Theo Sena	....	on set dresser
Nithya Shrinivasan	....	assistant art director
Rodney Sterbenz	....	set dresser
Carrie Stewart	....	set decorating buyer
Maki Takenouchi	....	researcher
Betsy Tanner	....	carpenter
Mitch Towse	....	carpenter
Kenneth Walshak	....	carpenter
Alice Wang	....	research assistant
Paul Weathered	....	second foreman: location
Joel Weaver	....	assistant property master
Ryan Webb	....	assistant property master
Anastasia White	....	art department assistant
Charlie Whitney	....	carpenter
Alyssa Winter	....	assistant set decorator

Sound Department
Wade Barnett	....	adr recordist
Lara Dale	....	foley artist
Mark DeSimone	....	adr mixer: New York
Brian Dunlop	....	foley editor
Dann Fink	....	adr loop group director
Mark Goodermote	....	boom operator
Ellen Heuer	....	foley artist
Bobby Johanson	....	adr mixer
Paul Koronkiewicz	....	second boom
Paul Koronkiewicz	....	sound utility
Drew Kunin	....	sound mixer
Travis MacKay	....	adr mixer
Tony Martinez	....	adr editor
Tony Martinez	....	dialogue editor
Mari Matsuo Colley	....	sound editorial production assistant
Michael Miller	....	adr mixer
Thomas O'Neil Younkman	....	sound effects editor
Eliza Paley	....	supervising adr editor
Eliza Paley	....	supervising dialogue editor
James David Redding III	....	re-recordist
A. Josh Reinhardt	....	sound mixer
Leslie Shatz	....	re-recording sound mixer
Leslie Shatz	....	sound designer
Jason Stasium	....	pro tools playback mixer

Special Effects by
Fred Buchholz	....	special effects supervisor
Chris Jordan	....	special effects foreman
Robert Keymer	....	special effects technician

Visual Effects by
John Bair	....	visual effects supervisor: Phosphene
Renuka Ballal	....	visual effects producer
Vivian Connolly	....	visual effects executive producer
Constance Conrad	....	digital artist
Stefania Gallico	....	digital artist
Jihyae Ham	....	digital artist
Marci Ichimura	....	digital artist
Sergei Martirosov	....	digital artist
Nathan Meier	....	digital artist
Josephine Noh	....	digital artist
Uros Otasevic	....	visual effects production assistant
Thomas Panayiotou	....	digital compositor
Lea Prainsack	....	visual effects associate producer
Aaron Raff	....	digital artist
Lesley Robson-Foster	....	visual effects supervisor
Djuna Wahlrab	....	digital artist
Scott Winston	....	digital compositor
Soojung Yoon	....	digital artist

Stunts
Jill Brown	....	stunts
Stephen Izzi	....	stunt double
Asa Liebmann	....	stunts
Stephen A. Pope	....	stunt coordinator
Aaron Vexler	....	stunts
Victor Paguia	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Olga Abramson	....	second assistant camera operator: "b" camera
Tony Arnaud	....	company grip
Daniel Beaman	....	dolly grip
Michael J. Betzag	....	company grip
Geb Byers	....	first assistant camera operator: "b" camera: second unit
Bob Calandro	....	company grip
Elizabeth Cash	....	film loader
William Coleman	....	camera operator: "b" camera
William Coleman	....	director of photography: second unit
Divine Cox	....	best boy grip
John William DeBlau III	....	company electrician
Christopher DeBlau	....	best boy electric
John W. DeBlau	....	gaffer
Robert K. Feldmann	....	grip
Richie Ford	....	rigging gaffer
Ted Goodwin	....	electrician
Craig Haagensen	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Jeffrey Hinnes	....	company electrician
Jonathan Kealey	....	company electrician
Ed Koza	....	b dolly grip
Charles Libin	....	director of photography: second unit
Christian May	....	electrician
Dave McAllister	....	key rigging grip
James McMillan	....	key grip
Keith McNicholas	....	electric
Matt Naughton	....	company electrician
Heather Norton	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Andrew Peck	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Louis Petraglia	....	rigging electric best boy
Gerard Sava	....	camera operator
Andrew D. Schwartz	....	still photographer
Eve Strickman	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Christopher Studley	....	company electrician
Eric Swanek	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
T. Ray Treece	....	video playback
Craig Vaccaro	....	best boy rigging grip

Animation Department
Nat Jencks	....	title animator

Casting Department
Jodi Angstreich	....	casting associate
Maribeth Fox	....	casting associate
Jennifer Sabel	....	extras casting associate (as J. Sabel)
Grant Wilfley	....	extras casting
Sara Wilfley	....	extras casting associate
Bruce Winant	....	adr voice casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Megan Asbee	....	costume supervisor
Scott T. Coppock	....	milliner: ager/dyer
Gerald Crawford	....	set costumer
Debbe DuPerrieu	....	costume research
Kate Edwards	....	additional costumer
Sandi Figueroa	....	costumer: Kate Winslet
Nicole Greenbaum	....	key costumer
Staci Greenbaum	....	costume coordinator
Lara Greene	....	seamstress
Joni M. Huth	....	seamstress
Kortney Lawlor	....	key costumer
Brittany Loar	....	costume production assistant
Angela Lynn	....	costume production assistant
Donna Maloney	....	costume supervisor
Michelle Matland	....	assistant costume designer
Yaneya Rovira	....	costumer/stitcher
Jonathan Schwartz	....	costume assistant
Ashley E. Singer	....	milliner
Ariel White	....	costume production assistant
Patrick Wiley	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Kate Abernathy	....	assistant editor
Parker Chehak	....	post production supervisor
Sam Daley	....	colorist
Ron Dulin	....	first assistant editor
Emily Fenster	....	post-production coordinator
Gardner Gould	....	post-production assistant
Patrick McGuinn	....	dailies manager
Jay Tilin	....	senior on-line editor
Samantha Uber	....	assistant on-line editor
Michael P. Whipple	....	digital intermediate engineer

Music Department
Carter Burwell	....	conductor
Carter Burwell	....	orchestrator
Tony Finno	....	music preparation
Mick Gormaley	....	music assistant
Christopher Guardino	....	music coach: piano
Todd Kasow	....	music editor
Evyen Klean	....	music consultant (as Evyen J. Klean)
Stewart Lerman	....	music producer
Sandra Park	....	orchestra contractor
Dean Parker	....	composer assistant
Randall Poster	....	music supervisor
David Weyner	....	music consultant: classical music
Todd Whitelock	....	music engineer
Carter Burwell	....	music producer (uncredited)
Sumi Jo	....	playback singer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Frank Beggins	....	driver
John Black	....	driver
Ed Brunnhoelzl	....	driver
Anthony Buffalino	....	driver
Ray Connors	....	driver
Ryan Patrick Cooke	....	driver (as Ryan Cooke)
Jesse Czypinski	....	driver
Christopher Defeo	....	driver
Edward Devereaux II	....	driver
Edward Devereaux II	....	transportation co-captain
Buonaventuro Devivo	....	driver
Ralph Devivo	....	driver
Bill Espaney	....	driver
James Fanning	....	driver (as Jimmy Fanning)
James Fanning	....	transportation captain
Sean Heilig	....	driver
Tom Heilig	....	driver (as Thomas P. Heilig)
John Hicks	....	transportation co-captain (as John M. Hicks)
Peter Krienbihl	....	driver (as Pete Kreinbihl)
Brian Lieberz	....	driver: cast
John Miale	....	driver
Ray Moyer	....	driver
Bryan Place	....	driver
Brian Salomone	....	driver
Kenneth Swanson	....	driver
Michael Vanness	....	driver
Mark A. Whittaker	....	driver
Gilbert S. Williams	....	driver

Other crew
Ramona Adair	....	production assistant
Malcolm Alston	....	location assistant
Jose Astimbay	....	craft service
Maureen Beitler	....	set medic
Carl Bellavia	....	location scout
Alex Berard	....	location unit assistant
Zoran Blazevic	....	location scout
Kate Boyer	....	production assistant
Valerie Rose Bronte	....	accounting clerk
Salvatore Carino	....	production controller
Jonathan P. Caro	....	location assistant
Victoria Carter	....	location assistant
Kacey Chapin	....	office production assistant
Kerry Clark	....	parking coordinator
Chris Cloud	....	location assistant
Scotch James Diaz Crisostomo	....	payroll accountant
Rives Curtright	....	location assistant
Tana David	....	post facilities coordinator
Tomas Deckaj	....	key set production assistant
Ana Dutan	....	craft service
Guy Efrat	....	key assistant location manager
Melissa Elliott	....	end titles
Katie Ennis	....	production assistant
Steve Faughnan	....	location coordinator
Brian Fernekes	....	production assistant
Charlotte Fleck	....	dialect coach: cast
Sarah Follett	....	location assistant
Travis Gerdes	....	post production assistant
Joe Guest	....	location manager
Laura Heaney	....	assistant: Ms. Landress (as Laura E. Heaney)
Susan Hegarty	....	dialect coach: Kate Winslet
Jodi Innerfield	....	additional production assistant
Michelle Israel	....	set production assistant: first team
Jeanne Jirik	....	chef
Matthew Kania	....	assistant location manager
Ben Katz	....	additional production assistant
Rich Koski	....	set production assistant
Liz Kugle	....	additional production coordinator
Phoebe Kwong	....	production staff
Gabrielle Lasting	....	assistant production coordinator
Brendan Lee	....	set production assistant
Carrie Lukasiewicz	....	assistant: Ms. Winslet
Kristin Martini	....	assistant: Mr. Wells
Marlene McCarty	....	title concept
Marlene McCarty	....	title designer
Robert Noonan	....	location scout
Eric Papa	....	location scout
Marcia Rivas	....	craft service
Wendy Lee Roberts	....	script supervisor
Ramón Rodríguez	....	first assistant accountant
Doreen Roman	....	set medic
Leigh Rydberg	....	production assistant
Julie Sage	....	location assistant
Jennifer Schilling	....	production assistant
James Sehring	....	office production assistant
Alexis Page Smith	....	production secretary
Tanya Smith	....	assistant: Mr. Haynes
John Spady	....	location scout
Luca Waldman	....	production assistant: 2nd unit
Paula Wright	....	office production assistant
Rufus Wyer	....	location assistant
Dean A. Holtermann	....	second assistant accountant (uncredited)
Rachel Jaros	....	additional production assistant (uncredited)
Bonnie Munoz	....	second assistant accountant (uncredited)
Wayne Petrucelli	....	security coordinator/security Ms Winslet (uncredited)
Michael Sparkes	....	production assistant: behind the scenes (uncredited)
Sam Wootton	....	accounting clerk (uncredited)

Thanks
Tom Colicchio	....	thanks
Richard Glatzer	....	thanks
Wendy Haynes	....	thanks
Kelly Reichardt	....	thanks
Amy Ryan	....	thanks
Greg Sax	....	thanks
Wash Westmoreland	....	thanks

Set Decoration by
Ellen Christiansen		(2010)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Timothy Bird	....	first assistant director (2010)
Noreen R. Cheleden	....	second assistant director (2010)
Joe Guest	....	second assistant director (2010)
Matthew Mason	....	second second assistant director (2010)

Special Effects by
J.C. Brotherhood	....	special effects supervisor (2010)

Visual Effects by
Lesley Robson-Foster	....	visual effects supervisor (2010)

Stunts
William Cote	....	stunt double (Guy Pearce) (2010)
Christopher Place	....	stunts (2010)

Production Companies

• Home Box Office (HBO) (as HBO Miniseries) (presents)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (in association with)
• Killer Films
• John Wells Productions (as John Wells)

Distributors

• Galapagos Films (2012) (Poland) (DVD)
• HBO Hungary (2011) (Hungary) (TV)
• HBO Polska (2011) (Poland) (TV)
• HBO (2011) (Czech Republic) (TV)
• Home Box Office (HBO) (2012) (Netherlands) (TV) (HBO2) (limited)
• Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (2012) (USA) (DVD)
• Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (2012) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Sky Atlantic (2011) (UK) (TV)

Other Companies

• ARRI / Camera Service Center  camera equipment provided by
• Helen Uffner Vintage Clothing  vintage clothing rentals

Runtime:

70 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Netherlands:12

Company:

Home Box Office (HBO)

Trivia:

Kate Winslet shares a scene with Hope Davis. Davis played the role of Nancy in the Broadway play 'God of Carnage,' while Winslet played it in the film version, Carnage (2011).

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: In the end credits the Triple Concerto by Beethoven is identified as Op. 55. It is actually his Op. 56.

Quotes:

Mildred Pierce:But why, Veda? Haven't I given you everything you've ever wanted? If there was something you needed, couldn't you have come to me first instead of resorting to this? To blackmail?
Veda Pierce:You want to know why? I'll tell you why. With enough money, I can get away from you! You... And your pie-wagons, and chickens, and everything that smells of grease! I can get away from Glendale, and its dollar days, and furniture factories, and women that wear uniforms and men that wear smocks! From every rotten, stinking thing that even reminds me of this place. Or you.
[...]

Location, location, location!

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Mildred has found a property where she plans to turn into another Mildred's, with a twist. Located in Laguna Beach, the place is the perfect spot for the newest restaurant in the chain. She brings Lucy to take a look at the location for the restaurant. Lucy comes up with a brilliant idea, instead of making it another chicken place, why not have fish that is plentiful and cheap? Mildred is delighted with the prospect.

It is 1937. Years have gone by, but Veda is still the nasty little girl with her nose up in the air thinking she is better than her mother. Veda's passion for the piano suffer a setback when she learns of the sudden death of Mr. Hannen, who took her as his student, and has been an influence in her life. She is devastated. Mildred suggests finding another coach that can help her. Veda decides to go see Carlo Treviso, a conductor of note, who takes private students. Her audition with the maestro goes badly, so mother and daughter are offended by the bluntness of Treviso's rejection.

Veda begins to see a fast young crowd, way out of her league. With her mother coming to some money now, she is quickly accepted by a group of idle young men and women. One of the new friends, Elaine, is a starlet trying to make it in the movies. Suddenly, Veda feels that is the area where she would like to try. Mildred is concerned about her daughter's own well being. One day, while resting, Mildred is aroused by the loud playing coming from the living room.

One night Veda comes in quite late. Mildred watches her drunken escort struggling to get in the car. The following morning Mildred goes to the patio, where she finds Veda lounging around reading movie magazines. Mildred wants to know about her friends and comments that according to Lucy, she has been seen with her fast friends at the Laguna restaurant. Veda offers only her side of the story blaming Lucy for not minding her own business. While Mildred is at the Glendale restaurant, a waitress comes to announce the arrival of Mrs. Lenhardt, in whom Mildred recognizes Mrs. Forrester, who had interviewed her for a job as a housekeeper. This woman has come to discuss the situation of their children. Her son, Sam, has been seen with Veda all over town. Mrs. Lenhardt is shocked because her son comes from a different, and richer background. She will not be blackmailed by Veda.

Mildred, quite disturbed goes home to find her daughter. Veda is not home, so Mildred falls asleep awaiting her arrival. When confronted, Veda tells her mother she is pregnant. She had thought it advisable to withhold the fact from Mildred. Veda goes on to reveal she had already spoken to Wally Burman. Veda hoped to get a nice settlement to get out of Sam's life.

Horrified by what she learns, Mildred calls Bert for a talk. In the end, they agree the only possible solution is for Sam to marry their daughter. Mildred informs Veda of her decision, something that brings the worst in her daughter who lashes against her telling her mother she wanted the money to get out of the house. She utters all kinds of nasty things against Mildred, who in a moment of rage, tell her to leave her house right away.

Mildred is too upset with Veda out of the house. She had heard she is living in Hollywood, so one night she goes past the building where her daughter is living, and watches as Veda comes home. Distraught with the finding, she cannot sleep. In that state, she is surprised when Bert arrives with a newspaper showing a radio program where Veda Pierce will sing. The night of the concert, Bert and Mildred sit at the Laguna restaurant as Veda begins to sing. Mildred walks away to toward the pier not to let anyone see her crying.

Another good episode of this mini-series conceived by Todd Haynes, and based in James Cain's novel. The original material was adapted by Jon and Jonathan Raymond. Kate Winslet's Mildred is one of her best work. Ms. Winslet is an intelligent actress who shows her range in the program. Evan Rachel Wood is perfect as the nasty Veda, the conceited spoiled daughter. Hope Davis impressed with her Mrs. Lenhardt. The supporting players contribute to Mr. Haynes'success directing the adaptation.