Search - Mildred Pierce on DVD

MPAA Rating: NR Content Advisory: Adult Situations Movie Release: 1945 DVD Release: 02/04/2003 Format: DVD - Black and White - Closed Captioned Edition: Restored/Remastered Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English, French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 51 mins Studio: Warner Home Video Members Wishing: 20 Genres: Drama, Melodrama, Film Noir, Crime Drama, Family Drama See Also: Mildred Pierce

Joan Crawford won an Academy Award for her bravura portrayal of the titular heroine in Mildred Pierce. The original James M. Cain novel concerned a tawdry waitress who slept her way to financial security so as to provide a rosy future for her beloved daughter, only to be rewarded by having her true love stolen away by that same daughter. Ranald McDougall's screenplay tones down the novel's sexual content, enhancing its film noir value by adding a sordid murder. The film opens with oily lounge lizard Monte Beragon (Zachary Scott) being pumped full of bullets. Croaking out the name "Mildred", he collapses and dies. Both the police and the audience are led to believe that the murderer is chain-restaurant entrepreneur Mildred Pierce (Crawford), who takes the time to relate some of her sordid history. As the flashback begins, we see Mildred unhappily married to philandering Bert Pierce (Bruce Bennett). She divorces him, keeping custody of her two beloved daughters, Veda (Ann Blyth) and Kay (Jo Anne Marlowe). To keep oldest daughter Veda in comparative luxury, Mildred ends up taking a waitressing position at a local restaurant. With the help of slimy real estate agent Wally Fay (Jack Carson), she eventually buys her own establishment, which grows into a chain of restaurants throughout Southern California. Meanwhile, Mildred smothers Veda in affection and creature comforts. She goes so far as to enter into a loveless marriage with the wealthy Monty Beragon in order to improve her social standing; Beragon repays the favor by living the life of a layabout playboy, much to Mildred's dismay -- and possible financial ruin. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Joan Crawford - Mildred Pierce
Jack Carson - Wally Fay
Zachary Scott - Monte Beragon
Eve Arden - Ida
Ann Blyth - Veda Pierce

This smart melodrama/film noir from Michael Curtiz comes to DVD on a two-sided disc, and compliments go to Warner for a job well done. The 1.33:1 (this 1945 film was made before the change to widescreen) looks fabulous. The black-and-white photography is startling sharp and full of detail. Lines are flawlessly realized, as is the contrast level. It's truly a thrill to see such a fine transfer for an older title. The mono Dolby Digital soundtrack is equally well suited for the film. Dialogue is completely discernable and never distorted. Max Steiner's atmospheric score is also reproduced without the slightest hint of audio degradation. It's obvious that some care went into the production of this disc, not only for the audio and visual elements, but for the extras. While the movie is on one side, the supplements are on the other. This might seem unnecessary, as there are basically only two, but what is offered is rather significant. The first is a very full theatrical trailer gallery with a number of Joan Crawford films, including Mildred Pierce, Humoresque, Possessed, This Woman Is Dangerous, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, and a handful of others. Even more significant is an 85-minute documentary entitled "Joan Crawford: The Ultimate Movie Star" that is, to say the least, exceedingly comprehensive. Narrated by Anjelica Huston, this very balanced examination of her life includes numerous interviews with co-stars, directors, friends, and family, and reveals the successes, and failures, of an American icon. ~ Trent Fordham, All Movie Guide