A Film Noir Classic: Mildred Pierce

 Mildred Pierce (1945)

        Generally Approved for Audiences    1 hr. 51 min

            Directed by: Michael Curtiz

Starring: Joan Crawford, Jack Carson, Zachary Scott, Eve Arden & Ann Blyth




    I can't believe that I haven't reviewed a film noir flick yet, since I am a big fan of the genre, but here we are. For the uninitiated, film noir is a genre of crime pictures that existed from the 40s to the late 50s. Most often they are typified and parodied as those movies with are hard drinking private eyes narrate every single thing and are dealing with a treacherous dame, with hard hitting jazz music drowning out everything. This idea is so firm in the public consciousness, despite the fact most classic noirs exist in stark contrast to this. The perfect example of this is Mildred Pierce. If you are looking for private eyes, cliched characters and jazz music then I'm afraid that you'll walk away disappointed. But, make no mistake, Mildred Pierce is noir. A riveting story about an overprotective mother's attempt to make sure that her kids never want for anything and the disastrous consequences that follow. The cast is perfect with everyone really adding a sense of reality and 3 dimensions to each of their characters. I want to put special mention Joan Crawford. She really helps to singlehandedly upsets the traditional tropes of noir, by playing an achingly human character that feels like she could be your neighbor. She won an Oscar for it, and it's well deserved. Ann Blyth is also insanely good as Mildred's spoiled daughter Veda. 
    
    Put this cast together with a plot pulled from one of the greatest crime writers James M. Cain (The Postman Always Rings Twice, and Double Indemnity) and you have one the best noirs ever made and I would say one of the best dramas of the period and of all time. Don't let the fact that it's in black and white or that it's almost 80 years old let you choose not to give this movie a try.     


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