Mildred Pierce (film)

Mildred Pierce is a 1945 American drama film directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Joan Crawford, Jack Carson and Zachary Scott and featuring Eve Arden, Ann Blyth and Bruce Bennett, in a film noir about a longsuffering mother and her ungrateful daughter. The screenplay, by Ranald MacDougall and the uncredited William Faulkner and Catherine Turney, is based upon the 1941 novel Mildred Pierce by James M. Cain. The film was produced by Jerry Wald, with studio head Jack L. Warner as executive producer.

While the novel is told by a thirdperson narrator in strict chronological order, the film uses voiceover narration the voice of Mildred. The story is framed by Mildreds interrogation by police after they discover the body of her second husband, Monte Beragon. The film, in noir fashion, opens with Beragon Zachary Scott having been shot. He murmurs the name Mildred before he dies. The police tell Mildred Joan Crawford that they believe the murderer is her first husband, Bert Pierce Bruce Bennett. Bert has already been interrogated, and confessed to the crime. Mildred protests that he is too kind and gentle to commit murder, and goes on to relate her life story in flashback.Mildred was married to Pierce, who is presently unemployed. Bert had been a real estate partner of Wally Fay Jack Carson. Mildred has been supporting her family by baking and selling pies and cakes. Bert accuses Mildred of caring more about their daughters, and making them her priority instead of her husband. Mildred admits this, and the two decide to separate. ........

Source: Wikipedia