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Mildred Pierce

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88% Tomatometer 50 Reviews 90% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
When Mildred Pierce's wealthy husband leaves her for another woman, Mildred decides to raise her two daughters on her own. Despite Mildred's financial successes in the restaurant business, her oldest daughter, Veda, resents her mother for degrading their social status. In the midst of a police investigation after the death of her second husband, Mildred must evaluate her own freedom and her complicated relationship with her daughter.
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Mildred Pierce

Mildred Pierce

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Critics Consensus

Tied together by a powerhouse performance from Joan Crawford, Mildred Pierce blends noir and social drama to soapily intoxicating effect.

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Critics Reviews

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Ed Potton The Times (UK) 08/17/2018
4/5
Crawford is always mesmerizing, steely and teary as she is manipulated, accused of murder and circled by men who are stolid...crass...or emollient. Go to Full Review David Jenkins Little White Lies 08/13/2018
5/5
This great film is a more subtle, nuanced beast than expected. Go to Full Review Manny Farber The New Republic 08/31/2012
The production, mainly because of Michael Curtiz's direction, is unimaginative and badly hoked-up. Go to Full Review Julian Singleton Cinapse Jul 12
It’s the glimpses of fragility amidst the fearlessness that Crawford and Curtiz allow Mildred that makes her such a compelling protagonist and makes her film so memorably irresistible. Go to Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand 09/09/2023
Crawford is as poised as ever as the successful Mildred in the opening scenes but more importantly she gives a vulnerability to Mildred even as she creates a powerful figure as a business success built out of drive and hard work. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy 04/08/2023
3.5/4
A sterling hybrid of a bleak film noir and a high-gloss melodrama. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Russ G Jan 4 Starts off as a Noir murder mystery but then segues into a sappy melodrama. Affter 40 minutes I just jump-editted through the predictable soap-operatic scenes to get through it. The script is campy and the overacting is atrocious, but what else could the cast do with the one-dimensional characters they're given? Bottom line: Hollywood studio rushes another best-seller to the screen as a cheap cash-in. Forget any big reveal; you know whodunnit with about 15 minutes left. See more ray m 01/20/2025 Watched this so many times and never tire of it. Film noir at it's best. See more Leaburn O 10/10/2024 Fully deserving of classic noir status, this is one of the best films from the 40s with stella performances for the roles of Mildred and Veda, the latter can consider herself unfortunate not to pick up the best supporting actress gong. A fierce plot, not really of its time made this a tort thriller centred on family bonds and sociopathy. Watched on DVD. See more Alec B @Alec97 01/10/2024 A great blend of classic Hollywood melodrama and noir. The murder mystery framing device is rather ingenious. It lures you in but even if you've determined who the killer is in advance of the reveal the characters are so compelling that you'll continue to be transfixed. See more A R 09/17/2023 It's such a treat to see a noir from this era that focuses on a relationship between two women! Mildred's relationship with her daughter is compelling and complicated, bolstered by Joan Crawford's incredible, delightfully subtle performance. The dialogue has cheesy, noir-ish lines, but manages to feel real and authentic most of the time (especially when delivered by Crawford). I often struggle to enjoy noir, but this was at least 50% family drama, so I loved it. See more 07/09/2023 Talk about spoiled brat. It was a good one and she was James Welch, Henderson, Arkansas, July 10, 2023. See more Read all reviews
Mildred Pierce

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Cast & Crew

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Michael Curtiz

Director

Joan Crawford

Mildred Pierce Beragon

Jack Carson

Wally Fay

Ann Blyth

Veda Pierce Forrester

Zachary Scott

Monte Beragon

Eve Arden

Ida Corwin

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Mildred Pierce

Mildred Pierce (1945) Mildred Pierce (1945) Mildred Pierce (1945) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis When Mildred Pierce's wealthy husband leaves her for another woman, Mildred decides to raise her two daughters on her own. Despite Mildred's financial successes in the restaurant business, her oldest daughter, Veda, resents her mother for degrading their social status. In the midst of a police investigation after the death of her second husband, Mildred must evaluate her own freedom and her complicated relationship with her daughter.
Director
Michael Curtiz
Producer
Jerry Wald
Screenwriter
James M. Cain, Ranald MacDougall, William Faulkner, Catherine Turney
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co
Warner Bros.
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 24, 1945, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 31, 2008
Runtime
1h 49m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
35mm
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