Amazon.com essential video: For a full dose of pure, unfiltered Joan Crawford, look no further than this slab of scorching film noir. Crawford is in her element as the heroine of James M. Cain's pulp-fiction classic, a ditched wife and mother who is forced to become a waitress. On the strength of Crawford's steely willpower (and maybe those intimidating wide-wing shoulder pads), she constructs an empire of eateries, only to be disappointed by her rotten daughter (Ann Blyth) and a ferret-faced new husband (Zachary Scott). Director Michael Curtiz (Casablanca) whips up a storm of atmosphere, and the script is a series of tartly written exchanges. The best lines go to perennial wisecracker Eve Arden, as Crawford's acid-tongued pal--she earned her only Oscar nomination for the role. Commenting on the ungrateful daughter, Arden says, "Alligators have the right idea. They eat their young." Crawford herself took home the best actress Oscar, and the film was a triumphant personal comeback: her longtime studio MGM had released her from her contract before Mildred Pierce came along. Is this great acting? (Pauline Kael called it "heavy breathing.") Whatever Joan Crawford is doing in this movie, it's movie presence at its most formidable. --Robert Horton
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - Great film from Hollywood's Golden Era
This film is a gem from the Hollywood era. Joan Crawford delivers a terrific performance as Mildred Pierce, a middle-aged women desperately trying to provide for her daughters as her marriage collapses. Told mostly in flashbacks, the film opens with a man being shot in a fancy Southern California beach house. The police pick-up Mildred and start questioning her, since it's her 2nd husband who is dead. Mildred recounts the ups and downs or her life and her inexplicable drive to win-over the love of her children, especially her spoiled, demanding eldest daughter named Veda.
Rating: - Joan Crawford in one of her best performances
entertaining Hollywood picture, a little ahead of its time...a woman who runs her own business but does it for the all the wrong reasons
Rating: - Mildred Pierce
Seemed much better than when I was young. I didn't understand the plot then. Second time 'round it was excellent!
Rating: - MILDRED PIERCE
I ENJOY ANY JOAN CRAWFORD MOVIES AND THIS ONE IS A GOOD ONE. WELL DONE!
Rating: - Joan At Her Best!
Good to have this movie in my collection. One of the quintessential Joan Crawford movies. A must have! Acting is superb all the way around, especially Crawford, Blythe, Arden, Scott, and Carson.
- 