Afouotos Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

KnotStronger This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

Hayden Kane There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

Kaydan Christian A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

JohnHowardReid SYNOPSIS: An ambitious woman spoils her 14-year-old daughter and becomes involved in murder and blackmail.NOTES: Nominated for Academy Awards for Best Picture (lost to The Lost Weekend), Best Actress (won!), Best Supporting Actress - Eve Arden, Best Supporting Actress - Ann Blyth (lost to Anne Revere for National Velvet), Best Adapted Screenplay (lost to The Lost Weekend), Best Cinematography (lost to The Picture of Dorian Gray). Joan Crawford also won the National Board of Review award for Best Actress. Curtiz accepted the Oscar on Crawford's behalf as she was home in bed with flu.Despite Crawford's Academy triumph, Mildred Pierce was not highly regarded by most contemporary critics. But the film (assisted by clever publicity using the tag line "Don't tell anyone what she did!") was an instant success, grossing over $5 million in domestic rentals alone.Uncredited script contributions were made by William Faulkner and Louise Randall Pierson. Other writers involved were Albert Maltz and Margaret Gruen. For a full account of this uncredited work (of which Mrs. Pierson's was the most significant) consult the screenplay edited by Albert J. La Valley, published by The University of Wisconsin Press, Madison, 1980.COMMENT: Mildred Pierce rivets the attention right from its dramatic opening when Scott plunges into the camera. The whole film is beautifully photographed - the lighting, the compositions, the camera angles. The drive and pace of the direction, the skilful use of sound effects, the atmos¬pheric music score, the impressive sets, but above all the performances command attention. Crawford no doubt deserved her Oscar, but it is a part she could have played standing on her head. It is Carson, Bennett, Scott and Blyth that really impress, particularly Carson who makes the most of his dialogue and gives perhaps the best dramatic performance of his career. Scott tends to make his character a little too charming so that his climactic murder comes as a bit of a shock. And there are other glaring holes in the script too, though basically it was an ingenious idea to place a bitter, realistic examination of a materialistic society within the framework of a murder mystery - and it also gives Moroni Olsen the opportunity to shine as an unconventionally jovial detective. Production values are superlative.

rooak I came to this with high expectations, and ended feeling somewhat disappointed. Sure, the look was great (excellent camera work) and the music superb. Joan Crawford was good for her part, but so much of her speech was exposition—not at all conversational or realistic. Jack Carson and Eve Arden were scene-stealers whenever they were in shot—fantastic. The rest of the cast were wooden in their performances, almost reading their lines and so obviously "acting." And the writing was a real disappointment. Take each conversation, and it's hard to believe that anyone would ever talk that way. Still, I've seen plenty worse! But it isn't really a movie that I would have any desire to revisit.

Lee Eisenberg Joan Crawford won an Oscar for her portrayal of a mother whose determination to make a better life for her daughter leads to disastrous outcomes. Whereas Crawford is now known as abusive towards her children, "Mildred Pierce" casts her as a caring individual, while her daughter is the brutal one. Michael Curtiz's adaptation of James M. Cain's novel creates a truly noir setting. None of the characters can truly get called a "good" or "bad" person, even though plenty of them do questionable things.Without a doubt, the bulk of the credit has to go to Crawford. Her facial expressions are enough to chill you. Good performances also come from the rest of the cast, but Michael Curtiz's - of "Casablanca" fame - direction merits praise. The camera angles, lighting, and overall pace of the movie create one of the most intense movies that you'll ever see. I don't know what James M. Cain - of "The Postman Always Rings Twice" fame - thought of this adaptation, but I recommend it.As for movies about Joan Crawford, "Mommie Dearest" has a trashy reputation, but I took it seriously. I understand that Ryan Murphy has produced an upcoming miniseries about the production of "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?", starring Jessica Lange as Joan Crawford and Susan Sarandon as Bette Davis. This sounds good. In the mean time, definitely see "Mildred Pierce" (I still haven't seen Todd Haynes's 2011 miniseries starring Kate Winslet).

jacobs-greenwood Joan Crawford plays the title role, a mother who will do anything for her selfish daughter Veda, played by Ann Blyth. Mildred even goes into business, becoming a successful restaurant owner, but Veda is still ungrateful even as her mother has provided her opportunities in society.Jack Carson plays Wally Fay, a man Mildred manipulates; Zachary Scott is Monte Beragon, another who gets involved in a tragic love triangle of sorts with Crawford's and Blyth's characters. Eve Arden plays Ida Corwin, a friend of Mildred's who later becomes one of her employees, that gets to say some great sassy lines including "Personally, Veda's convinced me that alligators have the right idea. They eat their young."Eventually, the daughter gets herself in deep trouble and the mother's sacrifice is made even greater. Directed by Michael Curtiz, and based on the James M. Cain novel with a screenplay by Ranald MacDougall, this essential drama also features Bruce Bennett, Lee Patrick, Veda Ann Borg, and Butterfly McQueen (uncredited).Joan Crawford's Academy Award winning Best Actress performance on her first (!) of three nominations. Also Supporting Actress Oscar nominations for Arden (her only!) and Blyth (her only as well). The film, its B&W Cinematography, and MacDougall's (his only) screenplay were also nominated. Added to the National Film Registry in 1996.