Mildred Pierce (1945)

[Akijama]

https://www.criterion.com/films/29025-mildred-pierce

New 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray
New conversation about Mildred Pierce with critics Molly Haskell and Robert Polito
Excerpt from a 1970 episode of The David Frost Show featuring actor Joan Crawford
Joan Crawford: The Ultimate Movie Star, a 2002 feature-length documentary on Crawford’s life and career
Q&A with actor Ann Blyth from 2002, conducted by film historian Eddie Muller
Segment from a 1969 episode of the Today show featuring novelist James M. Cain
Trailer
PLUS: An essay by critic Imogen Sara Smith

Melodrama casts noirish shadows in this portrait of maternal sacrifice from the Hollywood master Michael Curtiz. Its iconic performance by Joan Crawford as Mildred, a single mother hell-bent on freeing her children from the stigma of economic hardship, solidified Crawford’s career comeback and gave the actor her only Oscar. But as Mildred pulls herself up by the bootstraps, first as an unflappable waitress and eventually as the well-heeled owner of a successful restaurant chain, the ingratitude of her materialistic firstborn (a diabolical Ann Blyth) becomes a venomous serpent’s tooth, setting in motion an endless cycle of desperate overtures and heartless recriminations. Recasting James M. Cain’s rich psychological novel as a murder mystery, this bitter cocktail of blind parental love and all-American ambition is both unremittingly hard-boiled and sumptuously emotional.

Mildred Pierce (1945) Trailer - YouTube

[noirjunkie]

This is such great news. I like the cover art, too.

[Akijama]

What an awesome and unexpected surprise! I thought WAC was going to release it eventually.

[octagon]

This is excellent news.

Between the Warner Archives Collection and this new deal with Criterion Warner has really stepped up catalog releases. And they're doing it without skimping on quality.

This should look gorgeous.

[evilive]

Oh man, that new cover art is killer!!

I hope Criterion gets Gun Crazy too!

[PowellPressburger]

Great news.
I just wish we could have a great commentary track for the film.

Day one!

[Arch Stanton]

Wonderful!

[The Great Owl]

This is the best news that I've read all week.

Here's to retiring another one of my film noir DVDs.

[Akijama]

Hopefully a mod will fix the year.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

This is the best news that I've read all week.

Here's to retiring another one of my film noir DVDs.

TCM has taken to airing it every Mother's Day and for the past three or so years I've dutifully DVR'ed it only to let it sit there unwatched because I was sure it would be coming out 'any day now'.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Akijama

Hopefully a mod will fix the year.

[octagon]

BTW, if anybody's curious, the HBO mini-series with Kate Winslet is also extremely good.

It doesn't try to recreate the noir feel (or even a Chinatown-ish neo-noir feel) but it's very faithful to the book and very, very well done.

Winslet is great (duh) but so is pretty much everybody else.

[greekak229]

GREAT film.

[MJD64]

Mildred, Before Trilogy and Women On The Verge...February is taking a toll on my wallet, but certainly lifting my soul!

[Scarface32]

FINALLY, I've been wanting this movie on Blu-ray for the longest time.

[Mb37985]

Sudden Fear in December and now Mildred Pierce in February. Can't wait! I wonder what other goodies WB has licensed to Criterion?

[tallrichard]

Day One!

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Mb37985

Sudden Fear in December and now Mildred Pierce in February. Can't wait! I wonder what other goodies WB has licensed to Criterion?

Yeah, whatever lingering doubts I might have had about the extent of this new partnership have been shattered by The Asphalt Jungle and now this.

Arsenic and Old Lace? Why not. 7 Days in May? Perfect fit. Thin Man box set? Not nearly as crazy as it seemed a couple months ago.

Hell, even something like Ken Russell's The Devils doesn't seem totally crazy anymore.

[Mb37985]

Originally Posted by octagon

Yeah, whatever lingering doubts I might have had about the extent of this new partnership have been shattered by The Asphalt Jungle and now this.

Arsenic and Old Lace? Why not. 7 Days in May? Perfect fit. Thin Man box set? Not nearly as crazy as it seemed a couple months ago.

Hell, even something like Ken Russell's The Devils doesn't seem totally crazy anymore.

I'd love to see Angel Face, The Bad and the Beautiful, The Letter (1940), A Face in the Crowd, Splendor in the Grass, Wait Until Dark, and Klute.

[MifuneFan]

Can't wait. Really piercing cover

edit: I just realized I made a bit of a pun there. Totally unintentional, but probably a subconscious thing