Mildred Pierce

TCM's Alicia Malone introduces Mildred Pierce, 1945.

Ben Mankiewicz introduces Mildred Pierce, 1945.

Ben Mankiewicz introduces Mildred Pierce, 1945.

Ben Mankiewicz introduces Mildred Pierce, 1945.

Partner Wally (Jack Carson) complains to title character (Joan Crawford) about her husband Monte (Zachary Scott) who, after Ida (Eve Arden) interrupts, arrives with daughter Veda (Ann Blyth), in Mildred Pierce, 1945, directed by Michael Curtiz.

Title character (Joan Crawford) commiserates with her maid Lottie (Butterfly McQueen) as they make pies for extra income, narrates, then discovers her snobby older daughter Veda (Ann Blyth) has found out about her lowly job, in Mildred Pierce, 1945.

Opening sequence features Monte (Zachary Scott) getting killed then the title character (Joan Crawford) being distraught on the pier, Garry Owen the cop, Jack Carson her befuddled friend Wally, in Mildred Pierce, 1945, from James M. Cain's novel.

Famous climactic fight on the staircase between title character (Joan Crawford) and daughter Veda (Ann Blyth) who, it turns out, has just blackmailed a boyfriend, in Mildred Pierce, 1945, from James M. Cain's novel.

Title character (Joan Crawford) at the police station after her husband's murder by an unknown subject, where she meets pal Ida (Eve Arden), business rival Wally (Jack Carson), her ex Bert (Bruce Bennett) and cop Peterson (Moroni Olsen), early in Mildred Pierce, 1945.

A woman turns herself into a business tycoon to win her selfish daughter a place in society in Mildred Pierce (1945) starring Joan Crawford in an Oscar-winning role.