Mildred Pierce (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] 02/21/17

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 selfsame daughter. Ranald McDougall's screenplay tones down the novel's sexual content, enhancing its cinematic 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 not only confesses to the crime, but takes the time to relate her life story. 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 takes a series of jobs, culminating with a waitressing position. With the help of her wisecracking coworker Ida (Eve Arden), Mildred turns the restaurant into a genuine moneyspinner. She seduces slimy real estate agent Wally Fay (Jack Carson) in order to afford her own establishment, which grows into a chain of "Mildred Pierce's" throughout Southern California. When youngest daughter Kay dies, Mildred smothers Veda in affection and creature comforts. She goes so far as to enter into a loveless marriage with wealthy Monty Beragon in order to improve her social standing. In return, the caddish Beragon enters into several shady business deals which bankrupt Mildred. He caps this misbehavior by carrying on an affair with stepdaughter Veda.

Condition:NEW.

Actors: Ann Blyth, Joan Crawford
Directors: Michael Curtiz
Format: Subtitled, Widescreen
Language: English
Subtitles: English
Region: Region A/1
Number of discs: 1
Rated:
NR
Not Rated
Studio: Criterion Collection
DVD Release Date: February 21, 2017
Run Time: 111 minutes

Cast & Crew

Joan Crawford Mildred Pierce
Jack Carson Wally Fay
Zachary Scott Monte Beragon
Eve Arden Ida
Ann Blyth Veda Pierce
Bruce Bennett Bert Pierce
Lee Patrick Maggie Binderhof
Moroni Olsen Inspector Peterson
Veda Ann Borg Miriam Ellis
Jo Ann Marlowe Kay Pierce
Barbara Brown Mrs. Forrester
Charles Trowbridge Mr. Williams
Butterfly McQueen Lottie
Chester Clute Mr. Jones
John Parker Compton Ted Forrester
Betty Alexander Party Guest
Ramsay Ames Party Guest
George Anderson Peterson's Assistant
Robert Arthur High School Boy
Lynne Baggett Waitress
Leah Baird Police Matron
Elyse Brown Waitress
Doria Caron Waitress
John Christian Singing Teacher
Wallis Clark Wally's Lawyer
Joyce Compton Waitress
Clancy Cooper Policeman
David Cota Pancho
Thomas P. Dillon Actor
Tom Dillon Policeman
Robert Evans Sailor
James Flavin Detective
Don Grant Bartender
Angela Greene Actor
Charles Jordan Policeman
Marjorie "Babe" Kane Actor
Richard Kipling Actor
Manart Kipper Dr. Gale
Marion Lessing Waitress
James Lono Houseboy
Robert Loraine Man
George Meader Man
Harold Miller Man
John O'Connor Detective
Garry Owen Policeman
Paul Panzer Waiter
Larry Rio Reporter
William H. Ruhl Personnel Man
Mary Servoss Nurse
John Sheridan Clerk
George Tobias Mr. Chris
Johnny Walsh Delivery Man
Wheaton Chambers Personnel Man
Joan Winfield Piano Teacher

Technical Credits

Michael Curtiz Director
Milo Anderson Costumes/Costume Designer
Leo F. Forbstein Musical Direction/Supervision
Oliver S. Garretson Sound/Sound Designer
Anton Grot Art Director
Ernest Haller Cinematographer
George James Hopkins Set Decoration/Design
Ranald MacDougall Screenwriter
Max Steiner Score Composer
Richard Van Enger Special Effects
Willard Van Enger Special Effects
Jerry Wald Producer
Jack L. Warner Executive Producer
David Weisbart Editor
Perc Westmore Makeup
William Faulkner Source Author

Special Features

New 4k digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack; New conversation with critics Molly Haskell and Robert Polito; Excerpt from a 1970 episode of The David Frost Show featuring actor Joan Crawford; Joan Crawford: The Ultimate Movie Star, a 2002 feature-length documentary; Q&A with actor Ann Blyth from 2002, conducted by film historian Eddie Muller; Segment from a 1969 episode of the Today Show featuring Mildred Pierce novelist James M. Cain; Trailer; Plus: An essay by critic Imogen Sara Smith