Mildred Pierce (Keepcase)

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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

Description

What Veda wants, her mother Mildred Pierce provides. Even if Mildred must end her middle-class marriage, climb atop the male-dominated business world and marry a wealthy man she doesn't love. "I'll do anything," Mildred says in explaining her love for her daughter. But does anything include murder? Just when you think you got this nominee for five other Oscarsincluding Best Picture figured out, along comes a shocking twist ending! Director: Michael Curtiz Starring: Joan Crawford, Jack Carson, Zachary Scott, Eve Arden, Ann Blyth

Customer Reviews:

A Love Story with a Moral.......2007-07-21

It is night along the coast. Shots are heard, a man falls to the floor. A car drives away. A woman stands on a pier until a policeman talks to her. Then a man meets her and offers a free drink. They talk about the past, then return to the beach house. Wally's talk tells about his character. Wally finds a man's body, Mildred has left. The police arrive to find Wally leaving the house. When Mildred returns home she finds the police waiting to take her in for questioning about the dead man. A detective takes all the pieces about a murder, puts them together, finds out the motive for the murder, then arrests a suspect. [No scientific investigation at all? Not even a paraffin test? When they find the first likely suspect the investigation ends. But better investigatory techniques are coming from advances in criminalistics.]

The film shows Mildred's past life with her first husband Burt Pierce. He is out of work. Mildred is devoted to her two daughters. Her married life breaks up over their difficulties. Burt's friend Wally comes over and invites himself in. Would Wally pull a cheap trick? Mildred's oldest daughter has expensive tastes. [Where did that come from?] Mildred learns it is hard to get a job without experience. But she finds a job as a waitress and does real good. At home she baked pies for the restaurant. Daughter Veda is a spoiled rotten snob. Mildred hopes to open her own restaurant, and finds a suitable property. Her business plan convinces Mr. Beragon to sell the house.

Mildred works hard to make her restaurant a success. She applies for a liquor license. Her life seems to be improving. Beragon is a wealthy heir who has an empty life. Then her youngest daughter catches pneumonia, a fatal disease before antibiotics. Mildred's hard work and management made her restaurant a big success, with other locations. The story now jumps to the murder investigation. The police have learned more about Mildred's activities that night. Wally Faye warned Mildred about Beragon - he is a parasite. Veda has been borrowing money from Mildred's employees. The character of Monte Beragon is revealed by his actions.

Mrs. Forester, Ted's mother, objects to Veda's romance with Ted. Veda has married Ted! But now Veda wants to end this marriage - for $10,000. Mildred learns about the horrible character of Veda and throws her out of her house. Mildred takes a vacation in Mexico [no reason given]. Mildred finds out that Veda is a singer at Wally Faye's bar; she has a new life. Monte Beragon is down to selling off the family mansion. [Is this a comment on his character?] Monte will make a deal for a marriage to Mildred. Will Mildred do anything for Veda? Soon Mildred's creditors are demanding payment, and she finds out how she was betrayed. [No surprise here?] The ending has a shocking surprise that follows logically from the actions viewed previously.

There are morals to this story. Beware of the wealthy and their bad habits. Do not neglect your family so they get into trouble. The most important is to know when to cut your losses and avoid bad choices. Mildred should not have ripped up that $10,000 check, or gotten involved with sleazy Monte Beragon. [Does this story remind you of what you might see on the "Jerry Springer Show"?] Was this a sad story? Or a satire on human error?

Mildred Pierce.......2007-06-25

Peerless Warners director Michael Curtiz creates a diabolical murder yarn. Crawford resuscitated her fading career with the driven Mildred, a part she was born to play. Blyth grates as Veda (hard for her not to), and Scott and Carson each ooze their particular brand of acid as the calculating men in Mildred's life. For a vicarious glimpse into seamy small town intrigue, you can't beat this one. Joan won Oscar.

Evil, thy name is Veda..........2007-06-24

MILDRED PIERCE brought Joan Crawford her very first Academy Award in 1945, playing a valiant mother willing to sacrifice everything for her daughters' happiness.

Mildred Pierce (Crawford) is a frumpy middle-class housewife who invests every spare cent and waking moment into educating and bettering her two children; teenager Veda (Ann Blyth) and precocious Kay (Jo Anne Marlowe). When her husband Bert (Bruce Bennett) moves on to greener pastures, Mildred has no other option than to fling on the shoulderpads and enter the workforce. Despite her eventual success in opening a chain of restaurants, nothing she ever does or provides is "good enough" for Veda. Her ego spinning wildly out of control, Veda manipulates her mother and everyone around her, with dire consequences...

MILDRED PIERCE features some classic confrontation scenes between Crawford and Ann Blyth, who is so good as the evil Veda that you just want to throttle her! Based on the novel by James M. Cain (who also wrote "The Postman Always Rings Twice"), MILDRED PIERCE revived Joan Crawford's flagging film career and gave way to a series of similarly-themed noir drama roles at Warner Brothers. The amazing cast also includes Jack Carson, Lee Patrick, Zachary Scott and Eve Arden as Mildred's wisecracking best friend (in what surprisingly turned out to be her sole Oscar-nominated performance).

Followers of the infamous Joan Crawford/Bette Davis rivalry will be quick to notice that Max Steiner's musical score recycles portions of the main love theme from the 1942 Bette Davis vehicle "Now Voyager" (mostly during Crawford's love scenes). Whether or not Crawford noticed this, it's another great twist in the story of the reportedly bitter feud during their days as Warner Brothers' premier leading ladies.

The DVD includes a brilliantly-restored print of the movie (it's the best this title has ever looked on home video). Bonus features (on the flipside of the disc) are just as good, with the acclaimed feature-length TCM documentary "Crawford: The Ultimate Movie Star", narrated by Anjelica Huston, and featuring interviews with surviving co-stars and directors, biographers, historians, plus Crawford's adopted daughter Christina (who talks about the incidents in her book "Mommie Dearest"). A trailer gallery for all of the Crawford/Warner Brothers films is also quite interesting.

(Double-sided, single-layer disc)

Mildred Pierce.......2007-06-13

The movie was an old favorite of mine so I already knew it was great.
Jan

The Closest I will Ever Come to Loosing Myself in a Soap Opera.......2007-06-13

Mildred Pierce is such a soap opera. The characters are over the top. Wally, Mildred's ex-husband's ex-business partner, seems to have the single minded goal of getting into Mildred's now vacant pants. Monte is an aging spendthrift playboy, who is violently alergic to work, and vampirically latches on to Mildred's purse. Veda, Mildred's airhead daughter, is pure spoiled brat - nothing redeeming there, only a mother could love her. To polish off this soap opera quality, there is an awkwardly inserted scene of a child's death for added melodrama.

Mildred ties all these threads together as a good little housewife, who is striking out on her own to provide only the best for her daughter Veda. Her character has the most depth (any depth at all is a change in this movie). She remains motherly and virtuous, as she reallizes that she can be shark at business to keep the funds flowing for Veda's expensive hobbies. Similarly, Joan Crawford, who plays Mildred, holds the film together. It's so corny - I reallized this as I watched - and yet so gripping. I think that reading the script would have made me gag, and yet this movie pulled me in.

The Joan Crawford Collection (Humoresque / Possessed (1947) / The Damned Don't Cry / The Women / Mildred Pierce)

Average customer rating:

BECAUSE I AM ONE OF YOUR FAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNSSSSSSS
Joan Crawford-The Damned Don't Cry
Prompt and good service
Is That All There Is ?
you don't need any wire hangers to enjoy this set!

The Joan Crawford Collection (Humoresque / Possessed (1947) / The Damned Don't Cry / The Women / Mildred Pierce)
Starring: Joan Crawford , John Garfield , Oscar Levant , J. Carrol Naish , and Joan Chandler
Director: Jean Negulesco , Curtis Bernhardt , and Vincent Sherman
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0008ENID4
Release Date: 2005-06-14

Amazon.com

The Joan Crawford Collection brings together a potent group of films from Crawford's career renaissance: her Warner Bros. run of the late 1940s, beginning with Mildred Pierce. Four of the titles are from that heated, noirish streak, including Crawford's 1945 Oscar-winning turn in Mildred, a great Hollywood example of an actress's persona meeting the zeitgeist moment. In this adaptation of the James M. Cain novel, Crawford plays a sacrificing mother perfectly willing to claw her way to success for the sake of her ingrate daughter. Michael Curtiz directed, snapping Crawford out of a long career slide.

Humoresque (1946) was promptly given the top-drawer treatment, and it's a truly epic melodrama about a restless society woman who takes up the cause of a young violinist (John Garfield) from the slums. Possessed (1947) gave Crawford a thorough workout as a woman in complete obsessive breakdown from various romantic traumas. What Crawford lacks in subtlety she makes up for in sheer will, which suits the character well (and brought another best actress Oscar nomination). The Damned Don't Cry (1950) is a film noir smash-up, with Crawford as a low-rent dame who brazens her way into becoming a fur-lined mobster's moll (it was loosely inspired by the Bugsy Siegel-Virginia Hill story). It's overripe but entertaining.

1939's The Women, an MGM picture, doesn't fit the mood of the collection, although it has its fans. George Cukor directed this catty version of the Clare Booth Luce play, which has an all-female ensemble cast; Crawford is in very good form as a bad girl. The movie's reputation is somewhat beyond its actual witchy charm. (Packaging gaffe: the photo on the back cover is from Seven Women.) DVD extras tend toward smallish documentaries, save the absorbing 90-minute career profile The Ultimate Movie Star on the Mildred Pierce disc, an even-handed study that includes frank revelations from director-lover Vincent Sherman and the "wire hangers" story from adopted daughter Christina. Sherman contributes a commentary on The Damned Don't Cry. --Robert Horton

Description

The Joan Crawford Collection features classics from the star whose career spanned more than 40 years. "I never go out unless I look like Joan Crawford the movie star. If you want to see the girl next door, go next door." - Joan Crawford

Customer Reviews:

BECAUSE I AM ONE OF YOUR FAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNSSSSSSS.......2007-09-17

This is the Shing Best of the Best Hollywood Actress Ever, Ms. Crawford.

If you have never seen a Joan Crawford movie then I certainly recommend getting this set because you will be a fan once you see how versatile and how hard Joan always worked. My favorite film from this collection is "Mildred Pierce." And coming in at a close second is "Possessed." Keep Joan alive on the small screen and in your heart with these classic movies from the Golden Age!

Here's the basic stats for each movie:

The Women (September 1, 1939) (Studio: MGM)
Runtime Listing: 133 mins.
Color/BW: Black and White
(Joan played: Crystal Allen)
Brief Synopsis:
A happily married woman lets her catty friends talk her into divorce when her husband strays.

Mildred Pearce (September 24, 1945) (Studio: Warners)
Runtime Listing: 109 mins
Color/BW: Black and White
(Joan played: Mildred Pierce)
Brief Synopsis:
A woman turns herself into a business tycoon to win her selfish daughter a place in society.

Humoresque (December 25, 1946) (Studio: Warners)
Runtime Listing: 123 mins
Color/BW: Black and White
(Joan played: Helen Wright)
Brief Synopsis:
A classical musician from the slums is sidetracked by his love for a wealthy neurotic.

Possessed (July 26, 1947) (Studio: Warners)
Runtime Listing: 108 mins
Color/BW: Black and White
(Joan played: Louise Howell)
Brief Synopsis:
A married woman's passion for a former love drives her mad.

The Damned Don't Cry (April 7, 1950) (Studio: Warners)
Runtime Listing: 102 mins
Color/BW: Black and White
(Joan Played: Ethel Whitehead, also known as Lorna Hansen Forbes)
Brief Synopsis:
The murder of gangster Nick Prenta touches off an investigation of mysterious socialite Lorna Hansen Forbes, who seems to have no past, and has now disappeared. In flashback, we see the woman's anonymous roots; her poor working-class marriage, which ends in tragedy and her determination to find "better things." Soon finding that sex appeal is her only salable commodity, she climbs from man to man toward the center of a nationwide crime syndicate...a very perilous position.

Joan Crawford-The Damned Don't Cry.......2007-09-13

This is a great collection if you're a fan of the old great stars like Joan Crawford and Bette Davis. I highly recommend.

Prompt and good service.......2007-07-13

The package arrived in good time. The box was frayed at the corners, probably because of its long voyage from the US to Hong Kong.

Is That All There Is ?.......2007-07-08

At last volume one, but where is volume two ? Joan is wonderful and we need more of her now !

you don't need any wire hangers to enjoy this set!.......2007-06-29

Fans of the divine Joan Crawford are sure to enjoy this great-value DVD set from Warners which packages five of Crawford's best films.

From the outer box artwork to the extra features, a lot of care and attention has clearly been spent on this set, and we are certainly lucky in having it so beautifully presented. The emphasis is very much on Joan's years as a film noir femme fatale, with The Damned Don't Cry, Possessed and Humoresque all from Crawford's glory days at Warner Brothers. Mildred Pierce (Keepcase), her first Oscar-winning role; plus her catty turn in The Women (Keepcase) are also here. Each disc is housed in it's own sturdy plastic Amaray case.

THE DAMNED DON'T CRY - Joan Crawford plays a gangster's moll who climbs up from the gutter only to discover that life at the top can be twice as dangerous. Extra features include the new featurette "The Crawford Formula: Real and Reel", audio commentary with director Vincent Sherman, and the trailer.

POSSESSED - Love takes a deadly turn in this noir drama co-starring Van Heflin and Raymond Massey. Crawford plays Louise Howell, a woman driven to desperate measures when her boyfriend marries another woman. Extra features include audio commentary by Dr. Drew Casper, featurette "The Quintessential Film Noir", and the trailer.

HUMORESQUE - Crawford gives one of her most nuanced performances as jaded socialite Helen Wright, whose love affair with an up-and-coming violin virtuoso sends her to the brink of madness. Extra features include featurette "The Music of Humoresque", and the trailer.

MILDRED PIERCE - From James M. Cain's novel comes the legendary potboiler about a devoted mother (Crawford) and her ungrateful, hellion of a daughter (Ann Blyth). Extra features include the movie-length TCM documentary "The Ultimate Movie Star", and a trailer gallery.

THE WOMEN - In director George Cukor's screen version of the Claire Booth Luce comedy, Joan Crawford plays a hard-boiled mantrap who moves in on Norma Shearer's husband. Fabulous comic turns from Rosalind Russell, Mary Boland, and Paulette Goddard. Extra features include alternate B&W fashion show sequence, and trailers.

Even at it's full list-price, buying this box set is cheaper than getting each DVD individually. If you love Joan Crawford, this will be a mandatory addition to your movie collection.

Average customer rating:

A Love Story with a Moral
Mildred Pierce
Evil, thy name is Veda...
Mildred Pierce
The Closest I will Ever Come to Loosing Myself in a Soap Opera

Mildred Pierce (Snap case)
Starring: Joan Crawford , Jack Carson , Zachary Scott , Eve Arden , and Ann Blyth
Director: Michael Curtiz , and Peter Fitzgerald
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00007G1ZM
Release Date: 2003-02-04

Amazon.com essential video

Description

Joan Crawford won the Best Actress Oscar(R) for her role as a divorcee who will do anything for her spoiled daughter in this classic, gripping melodrama, nominated for six Academy Awards(R) Year: 1945 Director: Michael Curtiz Starring: Joan Crawford, Jack Carson, Zachary Scott, Eve Arden, Ann Blyth

Customer Reviews:

A Love Story with a Moral.......2007-07-21

Mildred Pierce.......2007-06-25

Evil, thy name is Veda..........2007-06-24

Mildred Pierce.......2007-06-13

The movie was an old favorite of mine so I already knew it was great.
Jan

The Closest I will Ever Come to Loosing Myself in a Soap Opera.......2007-06-13

The Leading Ladies Collection (Now Voyager / Mildred Pierce / For Me and My Gal / Father of the Bride / Dial M for Murder)

Average customer rating:

Good Mixed Classic Set

The Leading Ladies Collection (Now Voyager / Mildred Pierce / For Me and My Gal / Father of the Bride / Dial M for Murder)
Starring: Bette Davis , Paul Henreid , Claude Rains , Gladys Cooper , and John Loder
Director: Irving Rapper , Michael Curtiz , and Busby Berkeley
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000GETTIY
Release Date: 2006-08-29

Customer Reviews:

Good Mixed Classic Set.......2007-03-22

In "Now Voyager" Bette Davis plays a great heartbreaking role in a tragic romance with Paul Henried. "Mildred Pierce" has Joan Crawford wonderfully playing an independent woman after her divorce. "For Me and My Gal" has Judy Garland well cast in a romantic musical. "Father of the Bride" with Spencer Tracy and Joan Bennett is excellent romantic comedy. "Dial M for Murder" is a suspenseful murder mystery with Ray Milland and Grace Kelly.

Best of the 40s (Adam's Rib / The Big Sleep / The Maltese Falcon / Mildred Pierce)

Average customer rating:

Best of the 40s (Adam's Rib / The Big Sleep / The Maltese Falcon / Mildred Pierce)
Starring: Joan Crawford , Jack Carson , Zachary Scott , Eve Arden , and Ann Blyth
Director: Michael Curtiz , Howard Hawks , and John Huston
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00011ZBH0
Release Date: 2003-12-02

Average customer rating:

Essential Viewing

Now Voyager / Mildred Pierce (Two-Pack)
Starring: Warner 2pak
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0002QO3TQ
Release Date: 2004-10-12

Customer Reviews:

Essential Viewing.......2004-11-01

Without a doubt these DVD,s (great transfers)show two of the greatest actresses we have known portraying characters that are still common place today despite the movies being termed as ""old fashioned" etc. I viewed them at the one sitting and thought back to the good old days of double features and afterwards came away impressed and wondering why filmakers nowadays cannot make simple dramas like they used to. People argue that 1997,s Titanic was a great love story,I beg to differ,it was poor in comparison to the 1940,s love stories which set a trend. Bette and Joan I salute you both,fantastic actresses

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