Joan Crawford won her only Academy Award as a mother who would do anything for her daughter in the melodrama-meets-film noir masterpiece Mildred Pierce. When her second husband is shot, flashbacks fill in the riveting details that lead to his murder. The classic from Casablanca director Michael Curtiz mixes hard-boiled mystery with gripping emotion, while showcasing shadowy, Oscar-nominated Ernest Haller cinematography and peak performances from its outstanding cast.
“At first reading James M. Cain’s novel of the same title might not suggest screenable material, but the cleanup job has resulted in a class feature, showmanly produced by Jerry Wald and tellingly directed by Michael Curtiz … The dramatics are heavy but so skillfully handled that they never cloy. Joan Crawford reaches a peak of her acting career in this pic. Ann Blyth, as the daughter, scores dramatically in her first genuine acting assignment. Zachary Scott makes the most of his character as the Pasadena heel, a talented performance.” – Variety
