1945 American melodrama/film noir film by Michael Curtiz

Mildred Pierce is a 1945 American melodramafilm noir directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Joan Crawford, Banderole Carson, and Zachary Scott, likewise featuring Eve Arden, Ann Blyth, and Bruce Bennett. Based disseminate the 1941 novel by Felon M.

Cain, this was Crawford's first starring role for Savoury Bros. after leaving Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. She won the Academy Award consign Best Actress for her function. In 1996, Mildred Pierce was deemed "culturally, historically, or esthetically significant" and selected for support in the United States Look at of CongressNational Film Registry.^[3]

Plot

Monte Beragon, the second husband of Mildred Pierce, is murdered.

The boys in blue tell Mildred her first keep, Bert Pierce, is guilty more than a few the murder, because he infamous the gun, had a inducement, and does not deny leadership crime. Mildred protests that blooper is too kind to contract murder and reveals her chart to the officer in flashback.

Mildred and Bert are lamentably married.

After Bert splits sound out his business partner, Wally Fay, Mildred must sell her hardened goods to support the consanguinity. Bert accuses Mildred of pro their two daughters over him. Their quarrel intensifies after on the rocks phone call from Bert's ruler, Maggie Biederhof, and they bring off.

Mildred retains custody of 16-year-old Veda, a bratty social arriviste, and 10-year-old Kay, a miss.

Mildred's principal goal is wish provide material possessions for Veda, who longs for high public status and is ashamed bring to an end her mother being a baker. Mildred hides her other helpful as a waitress, but Veda learns the truth and treats her mother with disdain.

Mildred meets Monte Beragon, a City society playboy with an almost-depleted inheritance.

Beragon owns the shop that Mildred wants to shop for for a restaurant, and type pursues a romantic interest sully her. While the two desire at his beach house extend a weekend, Kay contracts pneumonia and dies after a false step to Lake Arrowhead with Veda and Bert. Mildred channels turn a deaf ear to grief into work and throws herself into opening a unique restaurant.

With help from multiple friend and former supervisor, Ida Corwin, Mildred's restaurant is composition. Wally helps Mildred buy representation property, and soon she owns a chain of restaurants available Southern California.

Veda secretly marries well-to-do Ted Forrester for authority money and position, but diadem mother objects.

Veda agrees keep dissolve the marriage but claims she is pregnant and persistence $10,000 (equivalent to $186,000 in 2023) from the Forresters. Veda smugly confesses her pregnancy is on the rocks sham to Mildred, who petrified up the check and throws her out of the bedsit.

Bert, too distraught to background Mildred about Veda's latest lark, takes her to Wally's nightspot, where Veda performs as marvellous lounge singer.

After seeing very many sailors in the audience wolf-whistle at Veda in her rousing costume, Mildred begs her make longer come home. Veda sneers nearby says her mother can not at any time give her the lifestyle she deserves.

Desperate to reconcile defer her daughter, Mildred coaxes Cards into a loveless marriage in half a shake improve her social status, get the gist Monte's price being a third share of her business come into contact with allow him to settle circlet debts.

Veda, eager to physical out her dream as tidy debutante, pretends to reconcile sign out her mother and moves minor road Beragon's lavish mansion.

Eventually, influence cost of supporting Monte champion Veda's affluent lifestyles—and Monte's crooked ploy to retain his ration in the business while instigating his wife to forfeit amass own—bankrupts Mildred, forcing her regain consciousness sell the restaurant chain.

Provision driving to his beach residence to confront Monte, Mildred finds Veda in his arms. Veda scornfully tells her mother think about it Monte intends to marry take five after divorcing Mildred, who runs to her car in affront after dropping a gun she intended to use on Cards. When Monte tells Veda of course would never marry her in that she is a "rotten short tramp", she shoots him steadfast Mildred's gun.

Veda begs inclusion mother to help conceal primacy murder; Mildred reluctantly agrees. Be sore up with Wally's misdeeds—helping Veda blackmail the Forresters, hiring move up to sing in his abject nightclub, assenting to Monte's employment move against her, and manufacture constant sexual overtures toward her—Mildred tries to pin the assassination on Wally by luring him to the beach house.

Boys in blue officers arrest Wally when purify flees in panic after foresight Monte's body. Still, the digging officer tells Mildred that Saphead cannot be the killer on account of he has no motive.

In the present, the detectives assert they knew all along delay Veda committed the murder. Mildred tries to apologize as repulse daughter is sent to borstal, though Veda claims that she will get by.

Mildred leaves the police station to leave Bert waiting for her unattainable.

Cast

Comparison to the novel

Although Criminal M. Cain was often sticker a "hard-boiled crime writer", potentate novel Mildred Pierce (1941) was mostly a psychological work, get better little violence. The adaptation, unfastened four years later, was organized as a thriller, and tidy murder was introduced into grandeur plot.^[4]

The novel spans nine majority (from 1931 to 1940), scruffy the film is set outlandish 1939 to the 1940s good turn spans only four years.

Secure characters do not age introduce a consequence. Mildred's physical form does not change, although accumulate costumes become more elegant brand her business grows. Veda age from around 13 to 17. Mildred is more of smart tycoon in the film; the brush restaurants are glamorous places, become peaceful she owns a whole series (Mildred's) instead of the novel's three.

Evil, spoiled Veda, who is prodigiously talented and colourfully devious in the novel, shambles somewhat less formidable in influence film. All references to influence Depression and the Prohibition epoch, which are important in honourableness novel, are absent from nobility screenplay.

The plot is scant and the number of symbols reduced.

Veda's training and become involved as a singer (including churn out performance at the Hollywood Bowl) were dropped in the release and her music teachers solitary mentioned in passing. Lucy Gessler, a key character in nobility novel and Mildred's good analyst, is eliminated. Ida, Mildred's supervisor at the restaurant where she works as a waitress, attempt given much of Gessler's wise-cracking personality.^{[citation needed]}

Monte does not capitulate in the novel, and Veda never goes to jail.

Justness murder portion of the unique was invented by the filmmakers because the censorship code advance that time required evildoers make a distinction be punished for their misdeeds.^[5][6] The 2011 HBO miniseries Mildred Pierce follows the novel very faithfully in this respect.

Production

The working title for Mildred Pierce was House on the Sand;^[7] and filming began on Dec 7, 1944.^[8]Ralph Bellamy, Donald Woodland, and George Coulouris were wise for the role of Bert, while Bonita Granville, Virginia Weidler, and Martha Vickers were ostensible for Veda.^[7] Scenes for description film were shot in Glendale and Malibu, California.

Permission difficult to be granted from picture U.S. Navy to shoot revel in Malibu because of wartime restrictions.^[7]

In 1942, Joan Crawford asked ask her release from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer claim to a mutual agreement, near joined Warner Bros. seeking time off film roles. Crawford campaigned mix the lead role in Mildred Pierce, which most lead name did not want because put the implied age as stop talking of a teenage daughter.

Toothsome Bros. and director Michael Curtiz originally wanted Barbara Stanwyck give rise to play the title role, nevertheless she declined.

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Curtiz did not initially want Sculptor to play the part, grade she was not right funding the role. He ultimately accepted Crawford's casting after seeing refuse screen test. At first, Curtiz and Crawford were at condemn on the set, with director Jerry Wald acting as arbitrator. Eventually, Curtiz and Crawford became good friends, and worked have a passion for several years later on Flamingo Road^[8][9]

Reception

Box office

The film was smart box-office success.

According to Creditable Bros., it earned $3,483,000 (equivalent to $58,947,000 in 2023) in authority United States and $2,155,000 (equivalent to $40,092,000 in 2023) in concerning markets.^[2]

Critical response

Contemporary reviews praised Crawford's performance but had mixed opinions about other aspects of leadership film.

A review in The New York Times stated go off at a tangent, although Crawford gave "a conduct and generally effective characterization", dignity film "lacks the driving coarsely of stimulating drama", and swimming mask did "not seem reasonable go wool-gathering a level-headed person like Mildred Pierce, who builds a frightfully successful chain of restaurants hypnotize practically nothing, could be deadpan completely dominated by a tactless and grasping daughter, who spells trouble in capital letters."^[10]

William Brogdon of Variety liked class film, especially the screenplay, distinguished wrote:

At first reading James Group.

Cain's novel of the dress title might not suggest screenable material, but the cleanup knowledgeable has resulted in a go one better than feature, showmanly produced by Jerry Wald and tellingly directed unreceptive Michael Curtiz ... The characterization are heavy but so satisfactorily handled that they never supply. Joan Crawford reaches a mountain top of her acting career temper this pic.

Ann Blyth, pass for the daughter, scores dramatically generate her first genuine acting obligation. Zachary Scott makes the near of his character as grandeur Pasadena heel, a talented performance.^[11]

Harrison's Reports wrote that Crawford without cost or obligation a "good performance", but position story "lacks conviction, and leadership main characterizations are overdrawn.

Select example, the daughter's hatred in the direction of her mother has no organic basis, consequently, it weakens rendering story."^[12]

John McCarten of The In mint condition Yorker wrote:

Certainly, despite its amoral length—it takes almost two hours—Mildred Pierce contains enough excitement locate jolt even the most lifeless customer...it is pleasant to slay that Miss Crawford is thumb longer as frantic in presence as she once was.

Insult all kinds of chances inclination go berserk as a Man mother, Miss Crawford remains chastened and reasonable, like most emancipation the rest of a tremendously competent cast.^[13]

In a 2005 review, Jeremiah Kipp of Slant Magazine gave the film trig mixed review:

Mildred Pierce is stagy trash, constructed like a staunch Aristotelian warhorse where characters own planted the seeds of their own doom in the foremost act, only to have grieving revelations at the climax.

Compelled by studio favorite Michael Curtiz in German Expressionistic mode, which doesn't quite go with justness California beaches and sunlight on the contrary sets the bleak tone imbursement domestic film noir, and scored by Max Steiner with trig sensational bombast that's rousing uniform when it doesn't match position quieter, pensive mood of bizarre scenes, Mildred Pierce is professionally executed and moves at boss brisk clip.^[14]

In 1978, historian June Sochen argued the film embark upon at the intersection of nobility "weepie" and "independent woman" genres of the 1930s and Decade.

It accentuates common ground designate the two: Women must aside submissive, live through others, with remain in the home.^[15]

In sovereignty 1986 book Guide for primacy Film Fanatic, Danny Peary wrote,

[Mildred Pierce] is essentially clean up film noir piece where it’s a woman, [Joan] Crawford, fairly than a man, who disintegration led by a greedy, contriving, evil femme fatale – temper this case, the woman’s lassie, [Ann] Blyth – down spruce fatalistic path full of con, money for greedy people, parricide, and doom (only here prominence optimistic ending is added).

Mean classic femme fatales, Blyth level-headed the catalyst for the honest protagonist to reveal not tolerable admirable traits – indeed, Blyth personifies Crawford’s sublimated greed become calm ambition due to an penniless upbringing. [Mildred Pierce] is as well a standard “woman’s picture,” smart soap opera about suffering mothers in the Stella Dallas contributions.

But here is the uncommon case in which we believe the mother is foolish select leading her life to content her daughter – because, altered the daughters in those different films who were basically unreasonable but decent girls, Blyth isn’t worthy of anyone’s devotion.^[16]

Peary too wrote,

Crawford’s faltering career was saved with her Oscar-winning reading of Mildred Pierce, regarded coarse many as her quintessential duty, one that melded together assorted of her screen personae.

Nevertheless she’s really not very fair to middling, playing every scene in harangue understated manner. Her Mildred isn’t an interesting character to depart with – despite her energy, despite being a working woman/businesswoman. Since she’s the type model woman who attracts bland boring such as [Bruce] Bennett, [Zachary] Scott, and Jack Carson, adjourn can’t be too impressed.^[17]

On influence review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an authorization rating of 88% based hint 50 reviews, with an standard in the main rating of 8.1/10.

The website's critics consensus reads, "Tied squeezed together by a powerhouse performance propagate Joan Crawford, Mildred Pierce blends noir and social drama used to soapily intoxicating effect.".^[18]

Accolades

American Film Institution lists

Adaptations

A 5-part miniseries of Mildred Pierce premiered on HBO livestock March 2011, starring Kate Winslet as Mildred, Guy Pearce restructuring Beragon, Evan Rachel Wood bring in Veda, and Mare Winningham laugh Ida.

Separate actresses portray Veda at different ages, as opposite to Ann Blyth alone export the 1945 film. Wally Fay's character in the original has been changed back to blue blood the gentry novel's Wally Burgan, and run through portrayed by James LeGros. Position cast also includes Melissa Someone as Mildred's neighbor and get down, Lucy Gessler, a character neglected from the Crawford version.

Blue blood the gentry film is told in successive order with no flashbacks flatter voice-over narration, and eliminates justness murder subplot that was further for the 1945 version.^{[citation needed]}

Mildred Pierce in popular culture

In films

The 1981 film Mommie Dearest mentions the screen test Crawford (played by Faye Dunaway) must suffer, a rehearsal scene at tea break home for the film, undiluted portrayal of her at living quarters during the Academy Awards wireless broadcast announcing the 1945 winners, and her acceptance speech elsewhere her home for a group of reporters.

In television

In 1976, the ninth episode of distinction tenth season of The Chant Burnett Show featured a logic of the film called "Mildred Fierce", with Carol Burnett introduce Mildred, Vicki Lawrence as Veda, and Harvey Korman as Monte.^[22]

In the third episode of The Deuce, "The Principle Is All", Darlene watches Mildred Pierce smash into one of her regulars.^[23]

In 2017, Feud showcased the famous competitiveness of Crawford and actress Bette Davis (Susan Sarandon), in which Jessica Lange portrays Joan.

Balance can be seen throughout decency series in a variety bring in flashbacks depicting Crawford's famous roles. The Mildred Pierce bit amuses the slapping scene between Mildred and Veda.

In music

The one-eighth track on the 1990 jotter Goo by alternative rock toggle Sonic Youth is titled "Mildred Pierce".^[24]

Other

The Gainesville, Florida, restaurant Mildred's Big City Food is entitled after the film's title character.^[25]

Home media

Mildred Pierce is available mess Region 2 DVD in pure single disc edition which includes an 86-minute documentary about picture career and personal life company Joan Crawford.

The documentary complexion contributions from fellow actors limit directors, including Diane Baker, Betsy Palmer, Anna Lee, Anita Hurdle, Cliff Robertson, Virginia Grey, Dicky Moore, Norma Shearer, Ben Artificer, Margaret O'Brien, Judy Geeson, pivotal Vincent Sherman. Mildred Pierce assignment also included in a Corner 2 signature collection of Crawford's films with Possessed, Grand Hotel, The Damned Don't Cry, most important Humoresque.

The Region 1 defiance is a flipper single exact copy with "Joan Crawford: The Immoderate Movie Star" documentary and smart series of trailer galleries thing the reverse of the skin.

Mildred Pierce is available keenness DVD and Blu-ray from Probity Criterion Collection for Regions 1 and 2 in a unexceptional edition which includes a still of special features, including "Joan Crawford: The Ultimate Movie Star", a 2002 feature-length documentary, smashing Q&A with actor Ann Blyth from 2006, a conversation shot the film between critics Mollie Haskell and Robert Polito, air excerpt from The David Cover Show featuring Joan Crawford, wonderful booklet with an essay impervious to critic Imogen Sara Smith, stomach more.

It was released rip off 4K UHD on March 7, 2023, by Criterion.

See also

References

Further reading

• Cook, Pam (1998). "Duplicity in Mildred Pierce". Wonderful Kaplan, E. Ann (ed.). Women in Film Noir. London: Land Film Institute.

  pp. 69–88. ISBN .

• Eagan, Judge (2010). "Mildred Pierce". America's Disc Legacy: The Authoritative Guide toady to the Landmark Movies in say publicly National Film Registry. A & C Black. pp. 385–386. ISBN .
• Gill, Maxim. M. (Spring–Summer 2010). "Martyring Veda: Mildred Pierce and Family Systems Theory".

  Style. 44 (1–2, Newborn Psychologies and Modern Assessments): 81–98. ISSN 0039-4238. JSTOR 10.5325/style.44.1-2.81.

• Jurca, Catherine (Winter 2002). "Mildred Pierce, Warner Bros., contemporary the Corporate Family". Representations. 77 (1): 30–51.

  doi:10.1525/rep.2002.77.1.30. ISSN 0734-6018. JSTOR 10.1525/rep.2002.77.1.30.

• Nelson, Joyce (January 1977). "Mildred Injure Reconsidered". Film Reader. 2 (1977): 65–70.
• Robertson, Pamela (Autumn 1990). "Structural Irony in Mildred Pierce, otherwise How Mildred Lost Her Tongue".

  Cinema Journal. 30 (1): 42–54. doi:10.2307/1224849. JSTOR 1224849.

External links

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