Mildred Pierce (1945). Cast: Joan Crawford, Ann Blyth, Jack Carson, Zachary Scott, and Eve Arden. Noir. Screenplay by Ranald MacDougall, William Faulkner, and Catherine Turney was based upon the 1941 novel Mildred Pierce by James M. Cain. Director: Michael Curtiz and produced by Jerry Wald with Jack L. Warner as executive producer. Mildred Pierce was Crawford's first starring film for Warner Bros. after leaving MGM and won her the Academy Award for Best Actress.
The film, begins with Beragon being shot. He whispers "Mildred" as he dies. The police believe that the murderer is Mildred Pierce's husband. She then tells her life story in flashback.
We see a very unhappy Mildred married to a unemployed Bert Pierce. He was a partner of Wally Fay. Mildred's wants to spoil daughter Veda, who longs for possessions the family cannot afford. Mildred finds a job as a waitress. One day, Veda gives their maid Lottie Mildred's waitress uniform, which forces Mildred to admit that she is a waitress, embarrassing Veda. When, Mildred's younger daughter Kay dies of pneumonia, Mildred throws herself into her restaurant. With the help of Ida, Mildred's new restaurant is a success. And Mildred opens a chain of "Mildred's" throughout Southern California.
Mildred continues to try to please Veda, by going into a loveless marriage with Monty Beragon in order to improve her social standing. Beragon lives the wild life supported by Mildred. When Veda becomes romantically involved with Monty, things come to a head at the beach house where the film began.
Monty's Beach House, was owned by the film's director, Michael Curtiz. It was built in 1929 in Malibu. It collapsed into the ocean after a week of heavy storms in January 1983.
Set in Glendale, California in the 1930s, Mildred Pierce is the story of a middle-class housewife's who goes out on her own to support her two girls during the Great Depression.
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