Movie For A Rainy Saturday Night - Mildred Pierce!

[launderess]

Here's me in on a cool, damp and wet Saturday night. Turned on telly to PBS to find they are showing "Mildred Pierce"!

Just the thing, now off to get a bevvy and some snacks.

Oh, three bonus points for anyone who can tie the film into the topic of laundry!

L.

 

[ptcruiser51]

Words to hurt

Didn't Veda kvetch to Mildred about: "You've never spoken of your people, how your mother took in washing..."

My personal favorite in the movie: Eve Arden on the ladder being eyed by Zachary Scott. "Leave something on - I might catch cold."

 

[petek]

Great movie I've seen a few times but cannot think of a laundry tie-in at the mo. grrrrrr

As for other another good oldie to look out for, two actually with the same title is "Imitation of Life" based on the same story but done totally differently

The original 1934 version with Claudette Colbert and Louise Beavers as Delilah.. sort of the Aunt Jemima story version, really about pancakes LOL

The second release in 1959 with Lana Turner, Juanita Moore and Sandra Dee..

both films same premise... White woman and daughter fall on hard times.. meet black woman with "white looking" daughter. Become friends and go into biz together making a lot of money.. but the "passing" daughter can't handle her dark skinned mother because she's embarassed which is the gist of both stories..until the end. You'll need a hankie

 

[polkanut]

I prefer the 1959 version myself.

 

[autowasherfreak]

I don't think I ever seen it all the way through, but love the skit that Carol Burnett did of it.

 

[launderess]

PTCruiser Got It

After Veda blackmails 10G out of her ex-hubby's family claiming to be with child, she and Mildred have it out. Veda calls her a "middle-aged frump whose father wore overalls and her mother took in washing".

Personally would have taken Veda over my knee often and frequently until she got the point.

"Imitation of Life".

My cousin sat me down one holiday to watch this film (the 1950's version), laying a bet that by the end I would cry, and I did. That beautiful old southern funeral, and how one supposed "poor" black woman, who worked as a maid did so much good in the community, and her own daughter didn't realise it until it was too late.

IIRC, the film was HOTLY debated and perhaps not shown all over the South. The idea of a light skinned negress "passing" touched a few too many nerves. Not that it didn't happen, persons just didn't want the work to get out.

IofL is not a "film noir" like MP, there isn't any crime, just a b&w film about women, their daughters and problems of children not happy with their lot and drying to be something they are not.

 

[petek]

Laundress, if you get the chance do watch the 1934 version, in a way I thought it was better and even more scandalous if that's the word for that time.

 

[bugsyjones]

Never saw it. Yet.

But this seems entertaining.

 

[launderess]

Have Seen The 1934 Version

As well, was on PBS late one night years ago.

Now, if you want "scandalous" movie, I'd vote for "All That Heaven Allows". Imagine being forced to give up Rock Hudson (in his prime), for the sake of two bratty children.

Respectable widow or not, I would have chucked the children out and moved Rock in. One can always find new friends, and seeing the grandchildren is highly over rated! *LOL*

 

[alr2903]

"Imitation of Life" That's Ms. Mahalia Jackson that sings the solo at the funeral, gets me every time too. Ms. Lana, had a gorgeous kitchen in "Imitation" iirc it was a Frigidaire cooktop, and 2 built in ovens. alr2903

 

[strongenough78]

OMG!!!!

That was the most hilarious thing I've ever seen on YouTube lol. I watched the entire parody and the guys who made this did a few others, the Mommie Dearest one is priceless! You've gotta see it if you haven't already!

 

[soberleaf]

love the original!!!

bugsy, love that satire too! hilarious!

 

[panthera]

"All That Heaven Allows"

A truly great film on how hard it is for people who dare to follow their heart. The nastiness of the children (for their mother's own good, of course) is breathtakingly well portrayed.

And yes, Rock stretched out on a couch is delightful. He really, really milks that for all it's worth. I don't think even Vivien Leigh came close to him for doing the 'been wronged by my man (er, woman) cliché.

 

[frigilux]

I'm a fan of director Michael Curtiz, who in addition to Mildred Pierce also directed Casablanca, Yankee Doodle Dandy (Cagney sings and dances!), White Christmas and one of the few decent Elvis films, King Creole (which was on TCM last night).

Mildred Pierce also sports two of my favorite character actors from the 1940s-50s: Eve Arden and Jack Carson. They were good in any film they graced, even if the film itself was not top-shelf.

 

[frigilux]

Another vintage zinger is "The Bad Seed", from some time in the 1950's. It's appropriately creepy and suspenseful. And it features another of my favorite character actors from the period, Eileen Heckart.

If you haven't seen it and you like campy, old black and white films, you should look for it. It plays on TCM every now and then.

 

[spiceman1957]

One of Joan's best movie

My favorite line in this movie is "Get out, Veda. Get your things out of this house right now before I throw them into the street and you with them. Get out before I kill you!!! " Has anyone ever noticed that when Joan was filmed up close, that there was a shadow about her neck? I guess she did not like her neck very much.

 

[bajaespuma]

Dig those Adrian shoulders!

I've seen Mildred Pierce many times, and like most classics, it gets better with each viewing. If you want a real laugh, watch Mildred before or after Mommie Dearest. The intersections are interesting. I believe Joan was an abusive mother but I can't help wondering how much of Vida was a part of the real Christina. We'll never know but I would have loved to have heard Joan's side of the story. Pity this was made in the Forties, Joan and Eve couldn't had a nifty little sidebar.

 

[hooverwheelaway]

Yay!

Loooove Mildred Pierce... I've seen it many times.

We actually went to see it on the 'big screen' at a local theatre on Thursday night this past week. It was a cold, rainy night -- much like the night Mildred was dropped off at home to find that Kay had come down with pneumonia.

It was incredible seeing it on the big screen--I was able to pick up on so much detail that had gone previously unnoticed. Not so much plot wise--but sets, and things in the background..

Whatever Happened to Baby Jane is playing at the end of the month.. that's the next one on the list.

Here's a link to other movies they'll be playing -- scroll down a bit. I may bug Robert to see some of those other movies as well as Baby Jane...

~F

The Heights Theater

www.heightstheater.com

 

[angus]

A great classic, better each time, n'est ce pas, Mother?

Surprised the health department hasn't banned the film because of the restaurant kitchen scene where La Crawford is shown flouring chicken with her bare hands then turns around and immediately puts a big handful of french fries on a plate going out of the kitchen.

BTW, other than becoming the spokesperson for Hostess Snack Cakes, what else did Ann Blyth do? (let's not forget the famous Carol Burnett spoof on her - Ann Bluth for Hostie snack cakes...)