Mildred Pierce (1945)

Mildred Pierce (1945) – A mother sacrifices everything to provide her daughter with everything.

Directed by Michael Curtiz                             Starring Joan Crawford, Eve Arden, Ann Blyth

This movie re-launched Joan Crawford’s star in Hollywood.  In the 1930’s she had been one of the biggest draws of the big screen.  By the end of the decade, MGM no longer wanted any part of her.  She moved over to Warner Brothers, and this was her first movie for them.  It won a Best Actress for Crawford, and nominations for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress for Eve Arden and Ann Blyth, plus one each for the screenplay and cinematography.

This is yet another film noir (honestly, I’m amazed at how many noir films have popped up on my list recently.  Completely unintentional), and weaves all the usual plot pieces in.  Some murder, some sex, lots of lying, all basted in cynicism.  Pierce only wants the best for her children, most especially her daughter Veda (Blyth).  Along the way, she will discard one husband and generally play the game the way the boys always have.  It just doesn’t quite work out the way she’d planned.

This is a woman’s movie, through and through.  There’s really not a terribly interesting male character in it.  That’s just fine.  Because Crawford (shoulder pads and all) carries this one without any need of a male co-star.  Blyth is wonderful as the spoiled little brat daughter.  She’ll make you want to slap her, even if we don’t do things like that anymore.  She knows she’s Mommy’s weakness and plays it for all it’s worth.  In the end, inevitably, she betrays her mother utterly.  Eve Arden plays the role that she always seems to play.  The funny sidekick who can’t ever quite land a man.  She is really, really good in this one.

Crawford and director Curtiz (who was a workhorse for Warner.  He directed all kinds of movies for them including both “Casablanca” and “White Christmas”) bumped heads throughout the production.  Curtiz did not want her in the role til the very end.  They actually ended up working very well together.  Crawford’s favorite film.

It’s easy these days to shrug off Joan Crawford with “Mommy Dearest” references, but that does a serious disservice to an actress with some astounding work on her resume.

Why You Will Like It – Wonderful work by Crawford as a strong, successful woman from an age where you didn’t get a lot of them. Great supporting cast around her.

Rating – **** Recommended