Mildred Pierce: The Illusion Amidst Reality

Mildred Pierce, a recent divorcee and mother of two daughters - Kay and Veda, soon realizes that she must acquire wealth to support her spoiled and materialistic daughter. Veda's goal to acquire prestige, wealth and social status becomes Mildred's main focus. The death of Kay intensifies Mildred desire to please Veda. Everything Mildred does become a first priority to Veda wants and desires. As Mildred's business picks up Veda becomes more greedy and extravagant. Mildred realizes her daughter greed and materialistic nature. This realization is exposed when Veda pretends to be pregnant by wealthy Ted Forrester in order to deceive his family for $10,000. Mildred takes a short vacation to take her mind off Veda. When Mildred returns she finds Veda singing in a cheap club. This frustrates Mildred; and a mother's love for her daughter proves inseparable. Veda blackmails her mother and will only return home if Mildred promises luxury. Mildred agrees to marry Monte Beragon in exchange for a third of her business. Veda and Monte begin to have an affair behind Mildred's back. Mildred learns of their affair after Monte has sold his third of her business leaving her bankrupt. Mildred is determined for answers and yet discovers reality in the illusion of love.

Mildred Pierce was initially turned down for production because it violated the Production Code (1944). Joseph Breen of the MPPA wrote a letter on February 2, 1944 stating that, "the story contains so many sordid and repellent elements that we feel that the finished picture would not only be highly questionable from the standpoint of the Code, but would likewise, meet with great deal of difficulty in its release." Furthermore, Mildred Pierce had created a mixture between film noir and melodrama that before its time had not been conceived of. This mixture added to its difficulty in been released by a studio. This atypical cynical film was nominated the following year for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress, Best Screenplay and Best B/W Cinematography.