Mildred Pierce

Released Sep 24, 1945

1h 49m

Drama

List

88%

Tomatometer

49 Reviews

90%

Audience Score

5,000+ Ratings

When Mildred Pierce's (Joan Crawford) wealthy husband leaves her for another woman, Mildred decides to raise her two daughters on her own. Despite Mildred's financial successes in the restaurant business, her oldest daughter, Veda (Ann Blyth), resents her mother for degrading their social status. In the midst of a police investigation after the death of her second husband (Zachary Scott), Mildred must evaluate her own freedom and her complicated relationship with her daughter.

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Critics Consensus

Tied together by a powerhouse performance from Joan Crawford, Mildred Pierce blends noir and social drama to soapily intoxicating effect.

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Ed Potton

Times (UK)

Crawford is always mesmerizing, steely and teary as she is manipulated, accused of murder and circled by men who are stolid...crass...or emollient.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 17, 2018

Full Review

David Jenkins

Little White Lies

This great film is a more subtle, nuanced beast than expected.

Rated: 5/5

Aug 13, 2018

Full Review

Manny Farber

The New Republic

The production, mainly because of Michael Curtiz's direction, is unimaginative and badly hoked-up.

Aug 31, 2012

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

Crawford is as poised as ever as the successful Mildred in the opening scenes but more importantly she gives a vulnerability to Mildred even as she creates a powerful figure as a business success built out of drive and hard work.

Sep 9, 2023

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

A sterling hybrid of a bleak film noir and a high-gloss melodrama.

Rated: 3.5/4

Apr 8, 2023

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Michael Calleri

Niagara Gazette

As an entry in the very long history of Hollywood studio “women’s pictures,” also known as “weepies,” the film noir classic is considered one of the most important. The deeply melodramatic movie is a riveting portrait of maternal sacrifice.

Mar 26, 2023

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Alec B

A great blend of classic Hollywood melodrama and noir. The murder mystery framing device is rather ingenious. It lures you in but even if you've determined who the killer is in advance of the reveal the characters are so compelling that you'll continue to be transfixed.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/10/24

Full Review

A R

It's such a treat to see a noir from this era that focuses on a relationship between two women! Mildred's relationship with her daughter is compelling and complicated, bolstered by Joan Crawford's incredible, delightfully subtle performance. The dialogue has cheesy, noir-ish lines, but manages to feel real and authentic most of the time (especially when delivered by Crawford). I often struggle to enjoy noir, but this was at least 50% family drama, so I loved it.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/18/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Talk about spoiled brat. It was a good one and she was James Welch, Henderson, Arkansas, July 10, 2023.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/09/23

Full Review

Matthew D

Heartfelt and emotionally harrowing acting from Joan Crawford. Director Michael Curtiz' film noir melodrama Mildred Pierce (1945) is quite gripping with Mildred's mysterious past and motives. I found Curtiz exceptionally empathetic towards Mildred's struggles as a single woman trying to provide for her dastardly selfish, greedy, and thoughtless children. Having her contend with sleazy men with their own ambitions is a compelling way to show how awful and cruel the world is to poor Mildred. Joan Crawford allows any viewer to understand why Mildred Pierce endures heinous men and cruel taunts just to impress her horrible daughter Veda. She is the ultimate mother trying to win over her ungrateful daughter's love, trust, or affection. You cannot buy someone's love. This is what Mildred Pierce truly teaches. Original writer James M. Cain forms a fascinating mystery that feels remarkably feminist for its era. You have complete sympathy for Mildred Pierce, disdain for the men in her life, and a loathing for her reprehensible daughters. Screenwriters Ranald MacDougall and Herschel Daugherty make things go from bad to worse for Mildred with an endless string of inconveniences and tragedies. Mildred Pierce pulls on your heartstrings and Joan Crawford melted my heart with a devastating performance that neatly won her Best Actress at The Oscars. Editor David Weisbart keeps Mildred Pierce at a briskly paced 111 minutes. His sharp cuts make the past sequences and dark reveals quite gripping. Cinematographer Ernest Haller uses moody shadows for atmospheric shots and neat mirror shots. I loved his fast and smooth panning shots that turn into striking close-up and medium shot frames. Art direction Anton Grot and Bertram Tuttle brings the coolest dark lighting, crowded rooms, and grim shadows all over Mildred Pierce. Set decorator George James Hopkins puts tons of accounting books, dishes, pies, pens, and other props. Joan Crawford is magnificent as Mildred Pierce Beragon. Crawford ensures that Mildred Pierce is remembered as a sympathetic figure of motherhood. She's practically a saint. Mildred tries all she can to win Veda's favor because she is her mother who requires her daughter's affections. No wonder women have loved Mildred Pierce for decades as Crawford is completely emblematic of a modern working woman and single mother. I do feel Mildred Pierce would have been totally justified if she had killed Monte, but it makes sense a selfish rat like Veda shoot Monte as a vengeful act of passion with the multiple shots. Jack Carson is great as the chummy investor, but too forceful suitor interested in Mildred named Wally Fay. You see how sleazy he becomes by the time Veda is just a raunchy dancer girl in his shady bar. Jachary Scott is excellent as Mildred's sleazy cheapskate second husband Monte Beragon, who is sadly bleeding her dry. He starts out as an enigmatic rich bachelor, he tries to seduce and charm Mildred, but we see that he's really a total creep. You can tell he is flirting with Mildred's spoiled daughter Veda quite openly. Bruce Bennett is interesting as Mildred's ex-husband Bert Pierce. He has a disturbing argument, then sympathetic as he cuts straight to the chase that Veda is irredeemable. You do feel like he treats Mildred terribly too as he will not even grant her a divorce when she first asks. There is decency to him in the end. Ann Blyth is pure demon energy as the spoiled, entitled brat Veda Pierce Forrester. Veda is impossible to impress with unheard of standards and Ann Blyth plays it perfectly. She is actually evil, cruel, judgmental and just hilarious to watch her outrageous villain Veda. Her demands for fine dresses and a larger house feel especially cruel and selfish given her mother's difficult financial situation. Her eventual asking for a new car and more money continues to get more disgusting. Ann Blyth is truly despicable as the money mad girl that desires only cash and status. She is an unreal actress portraying an unbelievable wretch of a young lady. Her spiteful disregard for her own mother is shocking. Eve Arden is feisty as the restaurant owner Ida Corwin. She's friendly and alive with real energy. She is funny with her hatred of men and disdain for anything that is not drinking. Lee Patrick is fun as Bert's side lady Mrs. Maggie Biederhof. Moroni Olsen's sarcastic and direct Inspector Peterson is entertaining. Jo Ann Marlowe is funny as Mildred's little monster tomboy daughter Kay Pierce. Her fate is fitting as another blow to Mildred's heart. Butterfly McQueen is hysterical as the high pitched maid and cook Lottie. She's very funny in Mildred Pierce. Garry Owen's blunt policeman on the pier is unsympathetic to the point of being rude. Veda Ann Borg is bubbly as Veda's fellow singer and dancing girl Miriam Ellis. Composer Max Steiner creates a film score that is sweeping and eerie. He crafts a windy orchestral that is romantic, scary, playful, and intriguing. I love his music for Mildred Pierce. Sound designers Oliver S. Garretson and Robert G. Wayne let gunshots burst, dishes clash, clocks tick, phones ring, and voices speak clearly. Costume designer Milo Anderson gives Joan Crawford a puffy fur coat and hat among numerous fancy ladies' suits. I love Joan's big, sparkling brooch on her lapel. Makeup artist Perc Westmore does up Joan's hair neatly and gives her lipstick and eyeshadow look severe, but ladylike. In all, Mildred Pierce is shocking and devastating with sublime acting from Joan Crawford in a career best performance.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/09/23

Full Review

Aldo G

Mildred Pierce is another Michael Curtiz film formed, in part, from the fights of a difficult production. This time the fights with Joan Crawford helped deliver a fiery performance from the starlet in the title character role.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/06/23

Full Review

Cole T

Superb! Plot and acting are both phenomenal and the movie itself is legendary! On top of all this, Joan Crawford is one of if not my favorite old movie actress and probably still is one of my favorite actresses of all time! Albeit it has a few slow parts as especially a lot of older movies do. But ultimately will keep you on the edge of your seat from shocking twists and mystery. "Mildred Pierce" is an immaculate work of art!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/19/23

Full Review

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Michael Curtiz

Director

Joan Crawford

Mildred Pierce Beragon

Jack Carson

Wally Fay

Ann Blyth

Veda Pierce Forrester

Zachary Scott

Monte Beragon

Eve Arden

Ida Corwin

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Synopsis

When Mildred Pierce's (Joan Crawford) wealthy husband leaves her for another woman, Mildred decides to raise her two daughters on her own. Despite Mildred's financial successes in the restaurant business, her oldest daughter, Veda (Ann Blyth), resents her mother for degrading their social status. In the midst of a police investigation after the death of her second husband (Zachary Scott), Mildred must evaluate her own freedom and her complicated relationship with her daughter.

Director: Michael Curtiz
Producer: Jack L. Warner
Screenwriter: James M. Cain, Ranald MacDougall, William Faulkner, Catherine Turney
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Warner Bros.
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 24, 1945, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 31, 2008
Runtime: 1h 49m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: 35mm

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