James M. Cain's best-selling novels were embraced by Hollywood in the post-war era. His oeuvre is firmly rooted in social realism and was welcome fodder for studio scriptwriters who turned his books into melodramatic epics, censorship issues notwithstanding.
Mildred Pierce is a tale of sex and murder, set against the backdrop of suburban Los Angeles. Cain's characters are average people who find themselves drawn into hazardous situations. the plot is a page-turner of twisted relationships; the ambitious Mildred; her spineless husband; a louche lover; and a venal daughter, Veda. It is Mildred's wise-cracking assistant, Ida, who utters the famous line: "Crocodiles have the right idea - they eat their young."
Mildred Pierce was a wildly successful film for MGM in 1945. It proved a huge money-spinner, won Joan Crawford a Best Actress Oscar and revitalised a career that had been in decline. Guy Pearce starred in a prestigious version for television in 2011. Other Cain novels have been filmed: including Double Indemnity and The Postman Always Rings Twice.
No comments:
Post a Comment