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From Amazon.co.uk
In Michael Curtiz's hands, James M. Cain's novel Mildred Pierce became a suburban noir, but Todd Haynes spins a more class-conscious tale in this HBO miniseries. The Depression is in effect when Mildred (Kate Winslet, ably filling Oscar-winner Joan Crawford's formidable shoes) breaks with her unfaithful husband, Bert (Brían F. O'Byrne), leaving the Glendale housewife to support her daughters as a waitress and part-time baker (cinematographer Ed Lachman brings her confections to delectable life). To keep up the middle-class façade, only neighbor Lucy (a fine Melissa Leo) knows about her blue-collar day job.
By protecting 11-year-old Veda (Morgan Turner) from the truth, however, Mildred encourages her snobbish tendencies, but then her pastry-making skills allow her to open a chain of restaurants with help from Lucy, feisty colleague Ida (Mare Winningham), and opportunistic realtor Wally (James LeGros, Safe), with whom she has a fling. That ends when she falls for playboy Monty (a dashing Guy Pearce), who takes a shine to Veda, at which point the girl becomes truly insufferable. The first time Mildred slaps her, it's hard not to suppress a cheer. The second time: Veda slaps her mother back. In 1937, when Mildred finally kicks her out (Evan Rachel Wood plays the teenaged Veda), you'll wonder why she didn't do it sooner.
Since 1941, audiences have debated Mildred's attempts to buy her daughter's love. Was Veda a bad seed or did slack parenting make her that way? In ditching the murder of the Curtiz film, Haynes and cowriter Jon Raymond (Meek's Cutoff) lend clarity to her motivations. Despite some awkward staging towards the end, Haynes directs with grace, and his cast rises to the occasion, particularly Winslet and O'Byrne. "Sometimes," Mildred tells Veda, "I wonder if you have good sense." The phrase applies equally well to her mother. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
Product Description
2DVD Uk Version // W/ Kate Winslet
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By W. Rodick
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:DVD
Impossible for me to watch this HBO series without considering how the original film was received in downtrodden working-class 1940s UK. I can only imagine how women aspired to Mildred's leadership. Her talent for making friends. Her will to live her dream. Echoes of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice with its set-up of what women aspire to and what they have to settle for. Free from compliance. Being Joan Crawford.
Part one of this five part series has all the pieces put in place. House, two kids, stray husband, separation, destitution in the background. Our first shock is her refusal to accept particular jobs. In a man's world only the Employment Exchange has a female boss. I have just finished watching Boardwalk Empire for the second time and could easily dove-tale the female lead in that series (Margaret) with Mildred Pierce. Both are attractive because of their self-confidence and their intelligence. Each speaks against the social norms of their time.
The film must have reached Britain in the late 1940s. I can easily imagine my mum being impressed by the will to win. The strength of character. And all women of that time drooling over all that physical attention. The dream of control over a man and by a man. A suave, dapper, rich young man. Enter Guy Pearce. New fruit.
I admit Boardwalk Empire is far more enjoyable for my male appreciation of booze, broads, guns and Al Capone but Mildred Pierce is very much story driven and does not allow you to settle to any conclusions very easily. I am half way through the series, I did not want to be loaded with the ending. Just to say that for women of a certain age, you were remarkable. Five stars. Not like today.
Part one of this five part series has all the pieces put in place. House, two kids, stray husband, separation, destitution in the background. Our first shock is her refusal to accept particular jobs. In a man's world only the Employment Exchange has a female boss. I have just finished watching Boardwalk Empire for the second time and could easily dove-tale the female lead in that series (Margaret) with Mildred Pierce. Both are attractive because of their self-confidence and their intelligence. Each speaks against the social norms of their time.
The film must have reached Britain in the late 1940s. I can easily imagine my mum being impressed by the will to win. The strength of character. And all women of that time drooling over all that physical attention. The dream of control over a man and by a man. A suave, dapper, rich young man. Enter Guy Pearce. New fruit.
I admit Boardwalk Empire is far more enjoyable for my male appreciation of booze, broads, guns and Al Capone but Mildred Pierce is very much story driven and does not allow you to settle to any conclusions very easily. I am half way through the series, I did not want to be loaded with the ending. Just to say that for women of a certain age, you were remarkable. Five stars. Not like today.
41 of 47 people found the following review helpful
By George
Format:DVD
A suggestion for the Norwegian reviewer: read the novel by James M. Cain. It is ART, not REALITY. And the mini-series captures the art of the novel. I am sure there are many people who lived through the 1940s with plucky perservance. But the mini-series is not a documentary, it is an adaptation of a NOVEL about the soul-destroying attributes of class envy and social respectability. As such, the mini-series attempts (very well) to capture the essence of the novel.
36 of 43 people found the following review helpful
By geraldine
Format:DVD
I must have watched a totally different series to the other reviewers. I thought it was totally wonderful and well acted, atmospheric. Kate Winslet portrayed Mildred very well and I didnt find her particularly miserable only as you would expect when your husband has left you and you have to provide for your children during difficult times. I havent seen original film or read the book but I will now. I wasnt expecting the end and found it very sad. I will miss this series on a Saturday evening and cant wait for the dvd to come out in November.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
just brilliant
A friend bought me this DVD for a present and I cannot thank her enough- it really is gripping and I couldn't wait to watch the rest of it. Read more
Published 8 days ago by Mrs. Sybil Jones
4.0 out of 5 stars
Pretty good series
A good watch, I'd never heard of this but it's worth watching, the period setting is great and the acting is fantastic. Read more
Published 1 month ago by ms. Siobhan Daffy
2.0 out of 5 stars
Big snooze
Disappointing. In the end I couldn't see what the point of it was. The plot, such as it was, twisted and turned with no ultimate purpose. Read more
Published 1 month ago by mark bush
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great film
Excellent actors, great story would highly recommend this film. Enjoyed every minute of this vintage drama, Kate Winslet is very versatile.
Published 2 months ago by M. J. Sydenham-shipman
1.0 out of 5 stars
I havent seen it
Just ignore this review, Kate Winslet is amazing but I havent seen Mildred Place as its not my cup of tea.
Published 3 months ago by J. Ashdown
1.0 out of 5 stars
Diabolical
Frankly the most disappointing of the HBO products I have ever watched. Forcing myself to watch to the end was like aform of psychological torture which was only ameliorated by the... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Dr P E Smith
4.0 out of 5 stars
MIldred Pierce DVD
Very good production, Kate Winslet was marvelous even when compared to Joan Crawford, but Lord have mercy was the pace SLOW!
Published 6 months ago by Bruce Mackay
1.0 out of 5 stars
Slow and Boring
I was eager to see the DVD as I'd read rave reviews of it but I was very disappointed. The 1930s atmosphere is very well conveyed and the acting, especially Kate Winslet, is... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Pamela Lake
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent re-Make of a Classic
I saw just one episode of Mildred Pierce on a transatlantic flight and ordered it from Amazon as soon as I got back home. I have not been disappointed. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Mrs. C. M. Greaves
5.0 out of 5 stars
Why listen to me
I have been invited by Amazon to 'review' Mildred Pierce as it may 'help' other purchasers. Look I will tell real friends whom I know and have some idea of their tastes that it is... Read more
Published 13 months ago by BILL
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