Rating: 
Summary: I am on my way to watch it again
Review: This is Joan Crawford at her best in a thoroughly entertaining film. Also, the DVD comes with a great retrospective of her career.
Rating:
Summary: "Mildred Pierce" A Woman Determined!
Review: "Mildred Pierce" is a credit to Joan Crawford's talent and a definite must see! Joan was awarded an Oscar in 1945 for her portrayal of Mildred Pierce, a woman consumed with making her daughters happy, no matter the cost. Michael Curtiz demonstrates "Casablanca" was not his last masterpiece, doing an outstanding job directing this Warner Brothers film.Mildred Pierce is determined to make the lives of her daughters, Veda and Kay, everything her own was not, refusing to let anything or anyone stand in her way. Veda Pierce (Ann Blyth) is a spoiled, self absorbed teen who is never satisfied. Kay Pierce (Jo Ann Marlowe) is the sweet, endearing grade school girl who enjoys being a tom boy. Bert Pierce (Bruce Bennett), the children's father, is concerned primarily with his own wants and deeply resents the attention and material things Mildred lavishes upon Veda. With the loss of his job, he walks out on Mildred and the girls, leaving behind a mountain of bills. Taking action, Mildred takes a job waiting tables in town in addition to the baking she already does for her neighbors. Befriended by Ida Corwin (Eve Arden) she quickly learns the ropes. Soon she can afford piano and dance lessons for Veda and Kay, all the while keeping her place of employment a secret from the girls because she fears Veda's reaction. However, Veda snoops around until she learns the truth and confronts her mother. Lying to Veda, Mildred explains that she is just learning the nuts and bolts of running a restaurant so she can have her own. With the help of Wally Fay (Jack Carson), former business partner of Bert's, she makes a deal with a lazy cad named Monte Beragon, played by Zachary Scott, to open a restaurant in a property he has for sale. "Mildred's" is such a success she soon opens a chain of them. She has made it and Veda will finally be happy! Sadly this is not the case. Still seeking Veda's love and approval Mildred marries a man she can barely tolerate. Now she has an even bigger and better home with nice new furnishings. Surely this will satisfy her daughter! But Veda has other plans and sabotages everything Mildred has worked so hard to obtain. I truly enjoyed "Mildred Pierce", a film that transports the audience to a world decades in the past. Even so, its illustration of to what extent people are willing to go in order to get what they want, regardless the price, remains forever timeless.
Rating:
Summary: Saint Joan
Review: Director Michael Curtiz ("The Adventures of Robin Hood," Casablanca") brings another James M. Cain ("Double Indemnity," "The Postman Always Rings Twice") steamy pulp novel to life on the silver screen with the immortal "Mildred Pierce." With her portrayal as the title character, Joan Crawford gives a performance that places her in such august company as Barbara Stanwyck as the bottle blonde Phyllis Dietrichson in "Double Indemnity" (1944, dir: Billy Wilder) and Lana Turner's ambitious Cora in "The Postman Always Rings Twice" (1946, dir: Tay Garnett). Mildred, like Cora, is a driven woman, bent on commercial success. Crawford rightly earned the Best Actress Oscar for her role as the modern businesswoman, a model of ruthless ambition, making her mark and her way in a traditionally man's world. Following her transformation from ditched housewife to waitress to restauranteur
and tycoon, the viewer readily identifies with Mildred's struggle and sacrifice to make it big. "Mildred Pierce" is one of the screen's all-time inspirational portrayals of woman as efficacious heroine, a paragon of efficiency. Yet, it is also a deeply human tragedy of Shakeperian dimensions, for Mildred is also a flawed heroine, on the same scale as Othello or Hamlet. What drives Mildred is not a clean motivation such as personal fulfillment as a businesswoman nor even a simple one such as amassing a fortune to obtain financial security. Rather, Mildred is driven by a Fatal Flaw -- insecurity and fear of failure. For it is not the curse of the ancient Greek tragic heroes -- hubris -- but utter selflessness and altruism that brings down the House of Mildred. The object of Mildred's Mother Teresa-like compassion and sacrifice is the one person who holds veto power over her emotions and wallet, her conceited eldest daughter Veda, played by Ann Blyth. What Veda wants, Veda gets. The ultimate spoiled daughter, her lower middle-class parents give her "the best of everything" (pun intended -- another great Joan Crawford flick, also produced by Jerry Wald), from piano lessons to tailored dresses. Bent of giving Veda "everything I couldn't have," Mildred's motivation is for her daughter to not only rise above, but to blot out the family's humble and plebian origins. After her husband, the wooden but commonsensical Bert (played by Bruce Bennett) leaves her for another woman, Mildred becomes a waitress in order provide for Veda. She even hires a maid, but never divulges to Veda the nature of how the money comes in to put food on the table. She is literally ashamed to face Veda with her workaday persona, and when confronted, makes up a story about being a waitress in order to learn the restaurant business. So, playing the role, Mildred opens a restaurant, and to her surprise, learns she's got the knack for it. But, as she becomes more successful, and as the money rolls in, Veda's avaricious appetite grows larger. The once innocent looking bobby soxer
high-school girl has become "a young lady of very expensive tastes," and naturally, Mildred caters to those tastes, even going so far as marrying a man she doesn't love in order to keep Veda in the lap of luxury. But that's not enough for Veda, who herself marries a boy she's not in love with, just to cash in on his fortune. "Mildred Pierce" is an all around masterpiece: Ernest Haller's camerawork is classic 1940s noir, but with Jerry Wald's slick production, looks almost five years more modern than its later Warner's counterpart, Howard Hawks' "The Big Sleep" (1946) and looks forward to more great Wald noir with "Key Largo" and "Dark Passage." The supporting cast is stellar, in particular Eve Arden as Ida, Mildred's wisecracking pal and mentor in the restaurant business, Zachary Scott plays Monty Beragon, Mildred's weaselly Latin playboy husband, Jack Carson is the hard-nosed Wally, her slick and slippery business partner and Moroni Olson (a veteran Warner's contract player) as the detective who interrogates Mildred (a typical noir device, which sets the narrative for the movie, but with the twist that it's a woman telling the story, not the male detective, con, sap or sucker). Max Steiner's score sobs, throbs and rumbles, with its sweet violin strains underscoring Mildred's sacrifice and humanity and plenty of foreboding low strings and brass a la Richard Wagner intoning the movie's tragic violence. "Mildred Pierce" more than holds its own in the Cain trilogy and is a unique and first-rate movie. It will leave Joan Crawford fans on their feet cheering.
Rating:
Summary: Joan Crawford IS Mildred Pierce
Review: Poor Joan Crawford! Her memory may be forever associated with wire hangers. And this is all too bad because before Mommie Dearest, Joan Crawford was remembered as a serious and talented actress.
In Mildred Pierce, Joan plays a mother who gives up everything -- including her happiness -- for the love of her bratty daughter. Joan is so good in this movie, that I once read somewhere that someone commented on how you could actually believe Joan WAS Mildred, that you could actually believe it when she was mixing that cake batter.
Considered one of the best "woman's picture" in cinema history, Mildred Pierce is actually a brilliant film noir that works on many levels. This DVD is packed with extras that Crawford fans and film buffs will enjoy. Included on side B of the disc is a documentary on Crawford and trailers for six of her films! What a delight this is! The only thing I do not like about this DVD is the cover -- it is misleading and does not really say what the movie is about. For a film of this caliber, I am surprised that the studio could not invest on a nicer piece of artwork. Overall, Excellent. A+
Rating:
Summary: Pitch Perfect
Review: There are good films, even great films...and then there are those in which all the elements come together to form something so close to perfection, something that so exemplifies what can be enriching, artistic and just flat out entertaining about the medium that you can only sit back in wonder and let it flow over you like a pleasant, soothing bath. "Mildred Pierce" is such a film. The cinematography, music, script, acting -- there are few films that come close to matching the skill with which "Mildred.." has been put together. There's not a moment, a line or a look that rings false; not a frame that doesn't speak of the craft of Hollywood at its peak. But not in a self-conscious way. In fact, this is the least campy of Hollywood's melodramas, even with Miss Joan Crawford in the lead. Few actresses have deserved their Oscar more. The sensitivity and understatement she brings to the role is mighty impressive, particularly in light of the scenery chewing and self-parody to which she could so often fall prey. If you're at all interested in Hollywood's golden years and you don't know "Mildred Pierce" -- well, you really can't be a Hollywood connoisseur without it in your collection.
Rating: 
Summary: Why she got to be Joan Crawford
Review: Not exactly my cup of tea, but between Joan Crawford, Jack Carson and Michael Curtiz this odd domestic noir has nothing but class. Based on a James M. Cain (Double Indemnity, Postman always Rings Twice) novel, the movie shows its period both in its arms length treatment of its sexual content and in the
"fairness" of its end. But this is Crawford the Academy Award winner, not the "Mommie Dearest" cartoon. Allow for the period and enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: It's about time
Review: "Mildred Pierce" certainly took long enough to arrive on DVD, but it was worth the wait. This transfer is everything one would want. I second all the positive opinions on this page. If you like this DVD, I recommend "Sudden Fear" (an exceptional thriller with several great Crawford "moments") and the very campy "Queen Bee," which have been released. And let's hope other sought-after Crawford films from the same era are soon released on DVD. "Possessed," for one. The vulnerability of her performance in that makes the viewer's hair stand on end. The very entertaining (often in unintentional ways) "Torch Song" is another choice movie. And let's not forget the excellent "A Woman's Face." Or even better, the studio could release box sets collecting the best of Crawford's output (as was the case on laserdisc). When all is said and done, Joan Crawford remains the epitome of the Hollywood star, and more of her striking and affecting performances deserve to be burned onto DVD.
Rating:
Summary: Christina is Amazing!
Review: This DVD is almost like a full-lengthed well done documentary on Joan Crawford, and they threw in "Mildred Pierce" as a bonus! The movie is classic, but what made me order this
immediatley is because of the documentary that I hadn't seen on TV. I am so glad to see Christina Crawford again. What a great story! She's my favorite celebrity because of her work, her down-to-earthness, and her humor. I'm glad she exposed what was going on in the Crawford house. I'd love to meet her some day. Great
DVD!
Rating:
Summary: What a show! What a transfer! In every way, a triumph!
Review: My respect for Warner Brothers goes up another notch with the release of Mildred Pierce. After leaving MGM, Joan Crawford found a new studio and greater respect for her talents over at W.B. She also took home the Best Actress Oscar for this flick. Crawford is Mildred, a struggling single mom who has to battle a cut-throat business partner, philandering boyfriend and ungrateful child in this classic film noir who done it. About the transfer: Warner has taken great pains to restore both the picture and sound elements and their attention to detail shows. The visuals are glorious, sharp and in pristine condition. Close ups reveal actor's make up and fine detail in the fabric of their costumes - the transfer is that good! Included on side two is a heartbreaking documentary about the star that perhaps reveals more than one side to "Mommy Dearest". Clearly Joan was not mother of the year but she was a marvelous actress and a great talent. No one, not even daughter Christina, can deny Joan that! This is a definite must have for anyone who loves Joan Crawford, black and white film noir or just movies in general. Buy it today!
Rating:
Summary: Worth EVERY penny except for cardboard case
Review: It just goes to show that an old movie can come out on DVD with lots of extra features (take note, Paramount). Any fan would agree that getting this movie alone is enough to race out and buy it. Warner have gone the extra mile though and added a recent documentary on Crawford (and it's over an hour in length!), heaps of Crawford trailers for her other movies and also some snapshots of Awards she received for the film. The film itself has been restored to pristine condition. Still, there are some complaints - when will Warner Bros move away from cardboard DVD cases? It is very annoying because these can get scratched! We want plastic cases, thanks. The other complaint relates to the cover art. Warner obviously didn't know their product because they have included a picture of Joan with a gun on the bottom of the cover with words referring that men wouldn't want to know her. Wrong movie Warner! I guess they'll fix it up, and for those who have this dud cover - well, it might be worth something in years to come because of this error!
|
