Mildred Pierce (1945): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Mildred Pierce is a 1945 mystery drama directed by Michael Curtiz, starring Zachary Scott, Joan Crawford and Bruce Bennett. It is partly based on Mildred Pierce by James M. Cain. It runs 1 hour 51 minutes and earned $11,751 worldwide. It won 1 Oscar, including Actress. Critics gave it 88% on Rotten Tomatoes and 88 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.9/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 51m (111 min)
- Director
- Michael Curtiz
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Warner Bros.
- Based on
- Mildred Pierce by James M. Cain
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Mildred Pierce About?
The premise of Mildred Pierce without spoilers, adapted from Mildred Pierce by James M. Cain. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Following her husband's abandonment, Mildred Pierce dedicates herself to building a successful business to provide for her two daughters. However, her ambition and drive create a rift between her and her family, particularly her resentful older daughter, Veda. As Mildred navigates personal and professional challenges, a police investigation into the death of her second husband forces her to examine the sacrifices she’s made and the complicated relationship with her daughter.
Mildred Pierce Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- restaurant
- mother daughter relationship
- told in flashback
- divorce
- spoiled child
- based on novel
- in medias res
- corpse
- waitress
- pie
- family relationships
- national film registry
+38 more Show fewer
- loss of sister
- murder
- mother daughter estrangement
- loss of daughter
- uniform
- pier
- pneumonia
- singer
- los angeles california
- nightclub
- slapped in the face
- suicidal
- interrogation
- accountant
- restaurateur
- police detective
- loss of husband
- new job
- police officer
- mansion
- extramarital affair
- beach house
- marriage proposal
- false confession
- marital separation
- father daughter relationship
- dysfunctional marriage
- sister sister relationship
- unemployment
- pasadena california
- social climber
- playboy
- f rated
- character name as title
- murder frame up
- restaurant chain
- polo pony
- blackmail
Mildred Pierce Cast
Zachary Scott leads the cast, with Joan Crawford and Bruce Bennett. Directed by Michael Curtiz; 10 actors are credited in all.
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Director Michael Curtiz
Also Starring in Mildred Pierce
· 6 moreMore from Michael Curtiz
More films directed by Michael Curtiz, best-rated first: Casablanca, Captain Blood, Yankee Doodle Dandy and Life with Father.
Mildred Pierce Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Mildred Pierce 88% on Rotten Tomatoes and 88 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.9/10.
-
IMDb 7.9 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 88% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 90%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 88 Metascore
User score 7.6
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 76% User score
See on TMDB
Mildred Pierce Plot Summary
What happens in Mildred Pierce from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Following a series of gunshots, Monte Beragon (Zachary Scott) collapses in the living room of a beach house, whispering the name “Mildred” before he breathes his last. His wife, Mildred Pierce-Beragon (Joan Crawford), soon arrives at the police station, visibly nervous and denying any involvement in her husband’s murder. When authorities suggest that Bert Pierce (Bruce Bennett), her first husband and the owner of the murder weapon, is the prime suspect, Mildred defends him passionately, igniting the detectives’ suspicions regarding her knowledge of the situation.
Full summary
The whole story of Mildred Pierce, scene by scene
Mildred Pierce Box Office
Mildred Pierce grossed $11,751 worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$11.8K
- International
- $10.3K
Mildred Pierce Awards & Nominations
Mildred Pierce won 1 Oscar, including Actress.
1 win1 nomination1 ceremony
-
Oscars 1946 1 win · 1 nomination- Won Actress – Joan Crawford
Mildred Pierce Trailers & Videos
8 videos: 4 trailers, 1 clip and 3 featurettes.
- Trailer Mildred Pierce (1945) ORIGINAL TRAILER [HD 1080p]
- Trailer Mildred Pierce - 4K restoration official trailer
- Trailer 'Mildred Pierce' and Joan Crawford's Triumphant Reinvention | Film 101
- Clip Mildred Pierce - Vida & Mildred fight
How Well Do You Know Mildred Pierce?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who is the first prime suspect in Monte's murder?
Cars in Mildred Pierce
17 cars on screen, including the 1940 Buick Century and the 1941 Buick Roadmaster.
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1940 Buick Century Important role -
1941 Buick Roadmaster Important role -
1940 Buick unknown Important role -
1942 Cadillac Series 62 Important role
Mildred Pierce Also Known As
20 alternative titles, including “El suplicio de una madre” and “Thyella se mitriki kardia”.
- Also known as
-
- El suplicio de una madre
- Thyella se mitriki kardia
- En amerikansk kvinna
- Ömre bedel kadin
- 밀드레드 피어스
- Le roman de Mildred Pierce
- Solange ein Herz schlägt
- Alma en suplicio
- Il romanzo di Mildred
- 欲海情魔
- Alma em Suplício
- מילדרד פירס
+8 more Show fewer
- Милдред Пирс
- Mildred Pierce - en amerikansk kvinna
- Mildred Pierceová
- Милдред Пиърс
- Мілдред Пірс
- Mildred Pierce - amerikkalainen nainen
- ミルドレッド・ピアース
- 慾海情魔
Seen Mildred Pierce?
Movies Like Mildred Pierce
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including PIECES OF HER, PIECES OF HER and Widows.
Mildred Pierce FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and awards of Mildred Pierce, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Mildred Pierce?
Mildred Pierce runs 1 hour 51 minutes (111 minutes).
When was Mildred Pierce released?
Mildred Pierce was released on October 20, 1945.
Who directed Mildred Pierce?
Mildred Pierce was directed by Michael Curtiz.
More films by Michael Curtiz Who is in the cast of Mildred Pierce?
Mildred Pierce stars Zachary Scott, Joan Crawford and Bruce Bennett, among 10 credited actors.
How much did Mildred Pierce make at the box office?
Mildred Pierce grossed $11,751 worldwide.
How is Mildred Pierce rated?
Mildred Pierce has 7.9/10 on IMDb, 88% on Rotten Tomatoes, 88 on Metacritic and 76% on TMDB.
Is Mildred Pierce based on a book?
Yes. Mildred Pierce is partly adapted from Mildred Pierce by James M. Cain.
What awards did Mildred Pierce win?
Mildred Pierce won 1 award from 1 nomination, including Actress at the Oscars 1946.
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