grantss
Superb, classic drama. Excellent plot - clever murder plot mixed with sensitive, emotional human drama. Having seen the 2011 HBO miniseries first (and liked it a lot), much of the plot was familiar, but this did not detract from the impact of the movie.Great direction by Michael Curtiz, who also directed Casablanca (for which he won an Oscar), White Christmas, Yankee Doodle Dandy (Oscar nomination) and Captain Blood (Oscar nomination). Clever use of stories-within-scenes. Pacing is spot on.Joan Crawford is superb as Mildred Pierce. Good support from Zachary Scott, Jack Carson (especially) and Ann Blyth.Overall, even better than the 2011 miniseries. An understated classic.
rooak
I came to this with high expectations, and ended feeling somewhat disappointed. Sure, the look was great (excellent camera work) and the music superb. Joan Crawford was good for her part, but so much of her speech was exposition—not at all conversational or realistic. Jack Carson and Eve Arden were scene-stealers whenever they were in shot—fantastic. The rest of the cast were wooden in their performances, almost reading their lines and so obviously "acting." And the writing was a real disappointment. Take each conversation, and it's hard to believe that anyone would ever talk that way. Still, I've seen plenty worse! But it isn't really a movie that I would have any desire to revisit.
jacobs-greenwood
Joan Crawford plays the title role, a mother who will do anything for her selfish daughter Veda, played by Ann Blyth. Mildred even goes into business, becoming a successful restaurant owner, but Veda is still ungrateful even as her mother has provided her opportunities in society.Jack Carson plays Wally Fay, a man Mildred manipulates; Zachary Scott is Monte Beragon, another who gets involved in a tragic love triangle of sorts with Crawford's and Blyth's characters. Eve Arden plays Ida Corwin, a friend of Mildred's who later becomes one of her employees, that gets to say some great sassy lines including "Personally, Veda's convinced me that alligators have the right idea. They eat their young."Eventually, the daughter gets herself in deep trouble and the mother's sacrifice is made even greater. Directed by Michael Curtiz, and based on the James M. Cain novel with a screenplay by Ranald MacDougall, this essential drama also features Bruce Bennett, Lee Patrick, Veda Ann Borg, and Butterfly McQueen (uncredited).Joan Crawford's Academy Award winning Best Actress performance on her first (!) of three nominations. Also Supporting Actress Oscar nominations for Arden (her only!) and Blyth (her only as well). The film, its B&W Cinematography, and MacDougall's (his only) screenplay were also nominated. Added to the National Film Registry in 1996.
jarrettjmayo
I have to start by saying I am not much for noir films. Though there are aspects I like. They have a very dramatic and distinct feel in the way that they are shot, however, I dislike the character development of the genre. They all tend to portray men and women and their relationships the same way. Women are usually portrayed as manipulative...though it is portrayed rather well by the daughter in this film. She tends to not be a likable character throughout the film. From what I have heard, the film is much more appreciated if the novel it is based on is read first. Overall, a well executed movie, just not my taste.
AD
