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Mildred Pierce
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Synopsis
Joan Crawford won an Academy Award for her bravura portrayal of the titular heroine in Mildred Pierce. The original James M. Cain novel concerned a tawdry waitress who slept her way to financial security so as to provide a rosy future for her beloved daughter, only to be rewarded by having her true love stolen away by that same daughter. Ranald McDougall's screenplay tones down the novel's sexual content, enhancing its film noir value by adding a sordid murder. The film opens with oily lounge lizard Monte Beragon (Zachary Scott) being pumped full of bullets. Croaking out the name "Mildred", he collapses and dies. Both the police and the audience are led to believe that the murderer is chain-restaurant entrepreneur Mildred Pierce (Crawford), who takes the time to relate her life story. As the flashback begins, we see Mildred unhappily married to philandering Bert Pierce (Bruce Bennett). She divorces him, keeping custody of her two beloved daughters, Veda (Ann Blyth) and Kay (Jo Anne Marlowe). To keep oldest daughter Veda in comparative luxury, Mildred takes a series of jobs, culminating with a waitressing position. With the help of her wisecracking coworker Ida (Eve Arden), Mildred turns the restaurant into a genuine moneyspinner. With the help of slimy real estate agent Wally Fay (Jack Carson), she buys her own establishment, which grows into a chain of "Mildred Pierce's" throughout Southern California. Meanwhile, Mildred smothers Veda in affection and creature comforts. She goes so far as to enter into a loveless marriage with the wealthy Monty Beragon in order to improve her social standing; Beragon repays the favor by living the life of a layabout playboy, much to Mildred's dismay -- and possible financial ruin. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Cast

Eve Arden Ida
Bruce Bennett Bert Pierce
Ann Blyth Veda Pierce
Veda Ann Borg Miriam Ellis
Barbara Brown Mrs. Forrester
Jack Carson Wally Fay
Chester Clute Mr. Jones
John Compton Ted Forrester
Joan Crawford Mildred Pierce
Jo Ann Marlowe Kay Pierce
Butterfly McQueen Lottie
Moroni Olsen Inspector Peterson
Lee Patrick Maggie Binderhof
Zachary Scott Monte Beragon
Charles Trowbridge Mr. Williams

Production Crew

Anton Grot Art Director
James M. Cain Book Author
Ernest Haller Cinematographer
Max Steiner Composer (Music Score)
Milo Anderson Costume Designer
Michael Curtiz Director
David Weisbart Editor
Jack L. Warner Executive Producer
Perc Westmore Makeup
Leo F. Forbstein Musical Direction/Supervision
Jerry Wald Producer
Ranald MacDougall Screenwriter
George James Hopkins Set Designer
Oliver S. Garretson Sound/Sound Designer
Richard Van Enger Special Effects
Willard Van Enger Special Effects
Year: 1945
Runtime: 113
Country: USA
MPAA Rating: NR
Category: Feature

Genre
Drama

Produced by
Warner Brothers

Release
by Warner Brothers

Awards
1945 - Best Picture - Academy
1945 - Best Picture - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie
1996 - U.S. National Film Registry - Library of Congress