Mildred Pierce (film)
| Mildred Pierce | |
|---|---|
| File:Mildred pierce ver2.jpg Theatrical Poster | |
| Directed by | Michael Curtiz |
| Written by | Story: James M. Cain Screenplay: Ranald MacDougall William Faulkner Catherine Turney |
| Produced by | Executive Producer: Jack L. Warner Producer: Jerry Wald |
| Starring | Joan Crawford Jack Carson Zachary Scott Eve Arden |
| Narrated by | Joan Crawford |
| Cinematography | Ernest Haller |
| Edited by | David Weisbart |
| Music by | Max Steiner |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. |
Release dates | September 24, 1945 (USA) |
Running time | 111 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Mildred Pierce is an American film noir released in 1945 and directed by Michael Curtiz.[1]
The picture is based on the 1941 novel Mildred Pierce, written by James M. Cain.
Joan Crawford plays the title character. The most astonishing fact about the adaptation is that it was designed as a thriller. For that reason, a murder was introduced into the plot.[2] It was Crawford's first starring role for Warner Bros. after leaving MGM - ironically, WB would later acquire the rights to the pre-1986 MGM library.
While the novel is told by a third person narrator in strict chronological order, the film uses voice-over narration (the voice of Mildred). The story is framed by the questioning of Mildred Pierce at the local police station where she has been brought after the police discover the body of her second husband, Monte Beragon.
Plot
The film in noir fashion opens with smarmy Monte Beragon (Zachary Scott) being shot. He cries out the name "Mildred" as he collapses and dies.
The police are led to believe that the murderer is the restaurant owner Mildred Pierce (Joan Crawford). She then relates her life story in flashback. We see Mildred unhappily married to Bert Pierce (Bruce Bennett) as the story is told.
She divorces him, and keeps custody of her two daughters: Vida (Ann Blyth) and Kay (Jo Anne Marlowe).
She tries to keep oldest daughter Vida in luxury, so Mildred takes a series of jobs. The best work she finds is a waitressing position. With the help of her new friend and supervisor, Ida (Eve Arden) Mildred opens a restaurant and turns it into a genuine money-maker. Real estate agent Wally Fay (Jack Carson) helps Mildred buy the restaurant and it grows into a chain of "Mildred Pierce's" throughout Southern California.
Mildred continues to smother Vida in affection and giving her worldly goods. She goes as far as entering into a loveless marriage with the wealthy Monte Beragon in order to improve her social standing. Yet, Beragon lives the life of a playboy, much to Mildred's dismay and potential financial ruin.
Cast
- Joan Crawford as Mildred Pierce Beragon
- Jack Carson as Wally Fay
- Zachary Scott as Monte Beragon
- Eve Arden as Ida Corwin
- Ann Blyth as Vida Pierce Forrester
- Bruce Bennett as Albert ('Bert') Pierce
- Lee Patrick as Mrs. Maggie Biederhof
- Moroni Olsen as Inspector Peterson
- Veda Ann Borg as Miriam Ellis
- Jo Ann Marlowe as Kay Pierce
Awards
Wins
- National Board of Review: NBR Award; Best Actress, Joan Crawford; 1945.
- Academy Awards: Oscar; Best Actress in a Leading Role, Joan Crawford; 1946.
Nominations
- Academy Awards: Oscar; Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Eve Arden; Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Ann Blyth; Best Black-and-White Cinematography, Ernest Haller; Best Picture, Jerry Wald; Best Screenplay Writing, Ranald MacDougall; 1946.
Other distinguishments
- In 1996 the film was selected for preservation by the United States National Film Registry.
Comparison to novel
The novel Mildred Pierce spans a period of nine years (from 1931 to 1940), whereas the action of the film is set in the 1940s and spans only four years. Accordingly, in the film, the characters do not really grow older: Mildred does not change her appearance, she does not put on weight and become matronly; Vida does grow older though, but only four years, from around 13 to around 17. Generally speaking, Mildred is more of a tycoon in the film. Her restaurants are glamorous places, and she owns a whole chain ("Mildred's") rather than just three.
Also, all references to the Depression and the Prohibition era were removed.
The plot is simplified and the number of characters reduced:
For example, the part of the action which revolves around Vida's training and success as a singer (including her performance at the Hollywood Bowl) was dropped altogether. Obviously, Veda's music teachers do not appear in the movie version.
Lucy Gessler, who was a key character in the novel, being a good friend of Mildred's and later working in Mildred's restaurant chain, is not present in the film version.
Mildred's numerous domestic servants are primarily represented by a single young and rather pretty African American housemaid Butterfly McQueen (stereotyped as sweetly dumb and thus comical) who also seems to be helping out at the restaurants.
References in popular culture
Carol Burnett parodied the film on her television show in a sketch called "Mildred Fierce."
Rock group Sonic Youth's 1990 album Goo contains a song called "Mildred Pierce."
In one episode of the television series Gilmore Girls (season 6, episode 13) "Mildred Pierce" is used as a verb.
There are allusions to Mildred Pierce in Pedro Almodovar's Volver. Raimunda (Penelope Cruz) starts a successful restaurant as a result of the murder of her husband by her daughter, Paula.
Footnotes
External links
- Mildered Pierce at Rotten Tomatoes.
- Mildred Pierce at Film Site, by Tim Dirks; contains spoilers.