MILDRED PIERCE (1945) Directed by Michael Curtiz. With Joan Crawford, Jack Carson, Zachary Scott, Eve Arden, and Bruce Bennett, in a film noir about a long-suffering mother and her ungrateful daughter. Based upon the 1941 novel Mildred Pierce by James M. Cain. This was Crawfords first starring film for Warner Bros. after leaving MGM, and won her the Academy Award for Best Actress. Director Michael Curtiz had originally wanted Bette Davis to play the title role, although she refused. Curtiz, however, did not want Crawford to play the part. Curtiz campaigned for Barbara Stanwyck to play Mildred Pierce, although she was working on MY REPUTATION (1946) at the time. When hearing that Stanwyck wasnt going to be cast, Curtiz actively campaigned that either Olivia de Havilland or Joan Fontaine play the part of Mildred. However, after seeing the screen test Crawford, Curtiz approved of her casting. Nevertheless there was tension on the set between the director and the star, with producer Jerry Wald acting as peacemaker. The film went on to be nominated for 6 Oscars, Awarded 1. ***AIRS MONDAY DAYTIME ON TCM (PART OF A DOUBLE FEATURE).
Posted on: Sat, 29 Nov 2014 23:32:40 +0000
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