Mildred Pierce (Warner Bros.) (1945)

PUBLICITY ‘Mildred Pierce’ Opens Strand (Advance Reader) “Mildred Pierce,” distinguished production of James Cain’s engrossing tale of a tainted life, starring Joan Crawford, Zachary Scott and Jack Carson, is a Friday ‘arrival at the Strand. The exciting odyssey of a grass widow, “Mildred. Pierce” provides Joan Crawford with the finest role of her career and audiences with the: most absorbing movie. experience in: years. “Mildred Pierce’ is threeways great. As a description of mother-love, it is affecting and poignant. It is fascinating, too, as a sharp and accurate whatmakes-’em-tick analysis of the soul of a heel. And it is a tense, gripping, superior-caliber murder mystery. Considered in any one of these categories, “Mildred Pierce” would be rated an outstanding film. Successfully blending all three, it is something special for the discriminating moviegoer. Produced by Jerry Wald, “Mildred Pierce’ was directed by Michael Curtiz and written for the screen by Ranald MacDougall. Supporting the principal players are Eve Arden, Ann Blyth and Bruce Bennett. “Mildred Pierce” was _ photographed by Ernest Haller. Composer Max Steiner created the special musical score. Still No. Carson 26 Mat No. 111, Jack Carson is starred with Joan Crawford and Zachary Scott in film version of James M. Cain's "Mildred Pierce," New Drama Opening Tonight At Strand Theatre (Opening Day Reader) Probing skillfully the wounds suffered by a courageous: woman at the hands of an unkind fate, ‘Mildred Pierce,” exciting picturization of James Cain’s hardboiled looksee into the lives of a trio of double-dealers, opens tonight at the Strand Theatre. Joan Crawford is at her magnificent best in the title role, as the much-harrassed, much-maligned woman whose path is beset by the most agonizing pitfall of all: ingratitude. Outstandingly produced by Jerry Wald, directed by Michael Curtiz, “Mildred Pierce” also stars Zachary Scott and Jack Carson. The film searchingly explores a delicate motherdaughter relationship. “Mildred Pierce” was photographed by Ernest Haller and was scored by composer Max Steiner. Still No. Joan C46 Joan Crawford plays the title role of "Mildred Pierce" in film version of James M. Cain's hard-hitting tale of that name, currently playing at‘the Strand Theatre. Also starred in the film are Zachary Scott and Jack Carson. Mat No. 201, Star ‘All Dressed To Kill’—Even Herself! Joan Crawford wore Kelly green for her attempted suicide scene in “Mildred Pierce,” in which she is currently starring at the Strand. She wore a bright green wool dress, bright green shoes with very high heels and she carried a big purse of the same color. Over this she wore a fur capestyle coat with a matching fur hat. The wardrobe department said the fur was fitch and that the coat and hat were the most expensive items of the wardrobe. She would most certainly have been the best dressed suicide in pictures if the -whole proceedings hadn’t been stopped by a motion picture policeman who sent her home and thereby enabled to tell the story that led her into the situation which Mildred Pierce thought only suicide would solve. Beach Set Constructed For the purposes of Miss Crawford’s near demise, built a replica of one of the Santa Monica piers, complete with bait houses, bath house and restaurants. The company also provided the necessary sea water, surf, waves, seaweed and beach refuse, which added up to a most realistic setting for Miss Crawford’s attempt to take her own life. This she attempted at least twenty times, counting the rehearsals which Michael Curtiz, ner director, wanted and the takes which were spoiled for one reason or another. Twenty times or more, Miss Crawford walked down the dark pier, studied the water below and then started, suddenly, to climb over the railing. Requires Several Takes The scene was. important enough to the finished picture to be taken from several angles. One of these was, as nearly as possible, the suicide attempt as seen by Miss Crawford herself. The camera followed her closely through her walk, her contemplation of the water below and the climb to the top of the railing. Another. was the attempt from the viewpoint of the policeman who followed hér and stopped her just short of success in her attempt. A third “angle” used by Curtiz was from the innocent bystander’s angle, as it might have been seen by a total (and nonexistent) stranger walking the pier for his own purposes. Last, but not least, director Curtiz chose to film the try at drowning from the fishes’ eyeview at the water level, looking up at the fair lady in green and fitch as she climbed up and then down again and went home—a scene which the still cameraman probably wanted to use for leg art. Serious To Actress Miss Crawford seemed to take the whole business most seriously, as becomes an experienced actress, and she spent long minutes before each “take” in silent contemplation of the murky water below from outside the camera angle. Once or twice she really wept a little although, in the scenes actually photographed, the real tears were aided and added to by a glycerine spray. _ The whole crew saw to it that Miss Crawford almost but not quite disposed of herself in the studio’s ocean and took the proceedings soberly as well. It was a quiet, solemn set, with busy mer. and women at work on it, each doing his or her share to add to the eerie atmosphere of despair. Two or three of these men were kept busy fanning the steam clouds into the misty effect desired by Director Curtiz. All sighed with relief when Miss Crowford finally turned her back on the ocean and went home. Carson Refuses Aid In Tricky Scene Because he refused to let a stunt man go through a window for him; Jack Carson, who co-stars with Joan Crawford and Zachary Scott in ~“Mildred Pierce,” nursed a bad ly cut hand. The scene called for Carson to take a short-cut through a window when he was presumably pursued by the police. Carson smashed the window beautifully but raked his hand with glass splinters as he went through the opening. It is therefore real blood that is seen in that particular scene. The film, adapted from James Cain’s best-selling novel of the same name, is currently playing at the Strand Theatre. CAST Mildred Pierce ........cccccscssscccsssees ... JOAN CRAWFORD 2 ds gird ee ne enteate me Ria eet Serenticus JACK CARSON Monty Beragon ........ccscscsesseees inne ZACHARY SCOTT idq....... orliesssts pan eccdvainoanssin srishivandiuinsdvatinasizscinana le Eve Arden sri So. 1. Se et RO eRe oe PE Bruce Bennett MOG PIOLCO iiss sccsscsesescossicssacscosss sel ccd htenoswarcur . Ann Blyth MS PEO gas ocb sakes in cdkciaeasatastn cick bs hasan Jo Ann Marlowe Dr. Gale .............. Bie; iacsioistioeueai eine lies Manart Kippen PIM PMOMBNOE oi. ooss tai hc oe Se Lee Patrick Inspector Peterson .........cccccscscscsssssssssscsssesese Moroni Olsen ERR, PORTOMIOE 6.5. scsecsocsssn Barbara Brown WEEE ING ss cons civ ancee sce Charles Trowbridge SOG SORPONNON (5550 ee John Compton TAOS os ish isdeviecgu Ge Butterfly McQueen Wi. JODBS 5h ce Gt Chester Clute PRODUCTION Produced by Jerry Wald. Directed by Michael Curtiz. Screen Play by Ranald MacDougall and Catherine Turney; From the Novel by James M. Cain. Photographed by Ernest Haller, A.S.C. Art Director, Anton Grot. Film Editor, David Weisbart. Special Effects by Willard Van Enger, A.S.C. Dialogue Director, Herschel Daugherty. Set Decorations by George James Hopkins. Montages by James Leicester. Wardrobe by Milo Anderson. Makeup Artist, Perc Westmore. Assistant Director, Frank Heath. Sound by Oliver S. Garretson. STORY (Not for Publication) Mildred Pierce (Joan Crawford) is found wandering on the pier at Santa Monica,. California, late one gloomy, rainy night by her friend Wally Faye (Jack Carson). Mildred has just attempted suicide and failed. The couple have a drink at the bar, which Wally owns, and then drive to a beach home at nearby Malibu Beach. At the beach house Mildred returns to “slip into something more comfortable.” After a long delay, Wally becomes impatient, knocks on the bedroom door and receives no reply. He finds the door locked and, as he looks out a window, sees Mildred fleeing down the beach. When he attempts to follow her, he finds he has been locked in the house. Stumbling through the dimly lighted house he knocks over a lamp which in turn reveals the dead body of Moniy Beragon (Zachary Scott), Mildred’s second and current husband. When Milared arrives at her Pasadena home, she is taken into custody by the Los Angeles police force and driven to headquarters for questioning by Inspector Peterson (Moroni Olsen). Mildred finds her first husband, Bert Pierce (Bruce Bennett), and Wally are both in custody and being held for interrogation. Peterson begins to draw from Mildred the events since 1939 which have led to the murder of Monty. Bert and Mildred Pierce separated in 1939 following a family row over Bert's relations with a woman of the neighborhood, Maggie Biederhof (Lee Patrick). Ambitious for her children, Mildred takes the only job she can find to feed and clothe them—that of a waitress in a North Hollywood cafe. This leads her into the pie business for the cafe during her off hours. The extra werk augments her income so that her fourteen-year-old daughter, Veda (Ann Blyth), is able to become even more snobbish and disagreeable than she has been in the past, Good natured, eleven-year-old Kay (Jo Ann Marlqw) remains unchanged by this slight improvement in the family fortunes. Mildred is finally inspired to open a cafe of her own. She enlists the aid of a fellow worker, Ida (Eve Arden), and begins to make her plans. Wally, a former associate of Bert’s, is called in to draw the lease for a home where she wishes to open her new venture. It is at this point that she meets Monty Beragon, decadent scion of a formerly prominent Pascdena family. During the subsequent negetiations, Mildred is prevailed upon to go to Monty’s Malibu home for a swim. When she returns from Malibu, she finds that Kay has contracted pneumonia after swimming in a cold mountain lake. The child dies shortly after Mildred reaches her bedside. The cafe is a tremendous success. Two other branches are eventually opened. Mildred becomes wealthy and lavishes more and more gifts on Veda. The results are not pleasant to witness. At the same time she continues to “loan” Monty money until he is virtually a kept man. About this time Veda has blackmailed a young man, Ted Forrester (John Compton). This ruse brings her a big settlement for an annulment but results in Mildred driving her from her home. Veda goes to work as an entertainer in Wally’s Hawaiian cafe. Mildred is determined to find a new home that will appeal to Veda so she can win her back. Mildted buys the Beragon home and bribes Monty into marrying her by giving him a third interest in her restaurants. Veda comes back and promises to mend her ways. Veda’s mother gives her an elaborate party to celebrate the reconciliation. On the night of the party Mildred learns that her corporation is no longer solvent and that Monty has sold his third interest. Wally has followed suit to protect his interests. Mildred finds that Monty has gone to the beach house and she immediately drives there to settle things. She finds Monty and Veda together. They brazenly admit they have been meeting secretly for some time. Stunned by this knowledge, Mildred starts to leave, is just outside the house, when she hears a gunshot within. She returns to find Veda has killed Monty because he refused to marry her. In spite of Mildred‘s efforts to accept the blame herself, Veda is apprehended and returned to police headquarters where she is taken in charge by the jail’s matron. Mildred and Bert are -recon ciled. (Running Time: 111 Minutes)