STEVE HAYES: Tired Old Queen at the Movies - MILDRED PIERCE (1945)

[bbath7]

Steve, Did you see the HBO miniseries of Mildred Pierce with Kate Winslet? What was your take on it?

[STEVEHAYESTOQ]

@bbath7

The acting was great, but Ranald McDougall who wrote screenplay in 1945, was wise enough to put in the murder of Monty, which raised the stakes of the story and moved it along faster. I also thought that combining the two female wisecrackers into the Eve Arden character worked better.

[LaSerpentaCanta]

Mildred Pierce is a MASTERPIECE.

[aauber1]

Love your reviews as always! Miss ya

Anne

[IngridBergmanRocked]

YEP-YEP!!!!!!

LOVE ya Steve and this film. Joan Crawford and Company at their very best:D

[moviefan19S]

Hey Steve! I love your reviews and you have such panache when talking about them! I just finished a biography on Joan Crawford and I seriously love her (I'm team Joan, not Bette by the way!). I love Mildred Pierce TO DEATH and I got my mom to see it and she was so swept into the story and really taking in all the drama! I saw your review of Sudden Fear and I'm seeing it soon hopefully! I love Barbara stanwyck too, and I'd love it if you could review "Ball of Fire"! Thanks!

[STEVEHAYESTOQ]

@moviefan19S YOU'RE SO WELCOME! "BALL OF FIRE" IS OFFICIALLY ON MY TO DO LIST!

[moviefan19S]

@STEVEHAYESTOQ : Thanks Steve! I'm doing some reviews on my favourite movies this summer, and I'm sure going to include Ball of Fire in my reviews very soon! You'd be so fab if you reviewed "Now Voyager" with Bette Davis, that's also a powerhouse chick flick from that era!

[emmers57]

Hey Steve, any chance of your reviewing the weirdest western ever made "Johnny Guitar"? I just remember that during one whole scene Joan Crawford refused to blink.

[STEVEHAYESTOQ]

@emmers57

It's on my list! I love MERCEDES McCAMBRIDGE!!! They hated each other though! Joan got drunk on night and threw Mercy's torn up wardrobe into the highway by moonlight. Imagine THAT! Thanks for watching.

[darlinkula1]

I'm a devoted fan of yours Steve! You misquoted Veda, she actually says,"You get yourself a new hairstyle" not a new hat, no big deal...I appreciate that you love Joan too! There's a black & white picture behind you to the left and the guy has your same G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S hairline, is that you?

[STEVEHAYESTOQ]

@darlinkula1

"You think you can yourself an knew hairdo and some expensive clothes and turn yourself into a lady, butcha' can't. Because you;'ll never be anything but a common frump!" I only WISH I looked like the guy in that photo! He's one of my favorite crushes from 50's, Richard "Dick" Davalos, who played James Dean's brother Aaron in "East Of Eden". I thought he was so beautiful. Nothing ever really happened to him after that. Thanks for watching and for the compliments!

[OldHollywood93]

I saw this on TCM and couldn't look away for a second.

Film Noir at its' best.

I've been trying to find it on DVD, but cannot find it anywhere ( along with "Auntie Mame" and "Imitation of Life")!

Sure, they put out all of Paris Hilton's sad excuses for films on DVD but hardly any of the classics!

[desmisc]

Mildred Pierce is the story of my life! Is Johnny married???

[snipedriver]

Thank-you for reviewing this. I just love the sublime drama of this piece. I think I might know all the dialogue from the film (!) Your shoulder pads bit is priceless. Hoping more fans for you from Australia soon! The other of only three films we have run twice in the many screenings at our film society. First 16mm and the second time brand new 35mm print. I told the audience at both screenings that if the audio had problems (rarely has thank god) that I could do all the dialogue. Thank-you!

[bobraleigh]

If you've never seen Joan in The Shining Hour, it is a must! She busts in a burning

building and picks up Margaret Sullivan and carries her out of there like a linebacker while all the men just stand around. It is a Hoot!

[cswpride]

Steve, I love you.

XOXO from SFO

[gregkotler]

ok, loved your review and always love your reviews!! Thank you TOQ!!! I think its time for you to do a review of The Bad Seed!! BTW, HBO films is doing a remake of Mildred Pierce, starring Kate Winslett, Rachal Evan wood. And not sure yet in the male leads.

[scottlukaswilliams]

I love Eve Arden in this film!

[BKM31609]

Hi Steve a few of my all time favorites are Judys Garland in A Star is Born, and Summer Stock. Jean Harlows Red Dust and Red headed Woman, Bette in Old Acquaintance and Dead Ringer. Joan in Harriet Craig,and Lucille Ball in The Big Street. And that awesome French actor known as Alain Delon. I love your comments and impressions, and i LOVE old movies!

[bddavis81]

Huge Crawford fan here! I'm sure you have seen all her films, but I think the best Crawford performance is A Woman's Face. Never more beautiful! She may not be the best actress in the world, but I really respond to her desire/HUNGER to succeed and BE somebody. Love your channel Steve!

[Nataspam]

Superb!!! So insightful and interesting. THANK YOU

[artemiscarrington]

Omg, you're so awesome! i'm a 18 year old joan crawford fan from Buenos Aires, Argentina. i'm just so excited to see all the joan crawford staff you have! i'm so jelaous, lol. I only have the dvd packs :( congratulations for all the goods you have about our favorite movie starr

[STEVEHAYESTOQ]

HELLO ARGENTINA!

I'm thrilled that you like the show and love Joan as much as I do! If you want Crawford memorabilia, go on Ebay, that's where I've found alot of wonderful stuff. Autographs, photos, even personnel items. I'm so glad you said "Hello!"

Thanks!

OXOXOX

TOQ

[larrybmovie]

Great Series!! Funny, informative, insightful -- wow! Re: "More Joan soon!" I hope that's going to

include "Humoresque" Yeah, I know she won the Oscar for MP, and "Sudden Fear" is really good, but for my money, "Humoresque" is her BEST film. She's willful, arrogant, GORGEOUS, and she walks into the sea while Wagner plays on the soundrack! Woof! PS: Any plans on branching out into lower budgeted pictures?

[STEVEHAYESTOQ]

I know. Humoresque was the last film where she was really gorgeous. She won the Oscar while shooting it and she's radiant, confident and allows the camera to zoom in for those amazing close-ups. I think she and Garfield had much better chemistry than he did with Lana Turner. I love the scene where she gets drunk in the bar and talks about her previous marriages and then throws her wine glass against the wall. Just gorgeous, romantic film making.

Thanks for watching!

OXOX

TOQ

[larrybmovie]

The bar scene -- YES!!!!!!

[SASORI707]

Chalk up another fabulous review for Steve Hayes! As usual, the impersonations are the icing on the cake, from the suffocating little ice-queen Veda, to Eve Arden (the left and right glances are right on the money). In this movie, Eve has what looks like a wet-terrier coiffure, not at all like her "Our Miss Brooks-Tinkerbell-do"! And the shoulder pad story is the cherry on top!

[STEVEHAYESTOQ]

Oh, thank you! I'm so glad you like it! I LOVE this movie and figured there was no better time that the Oscars to do it. More Joan soon!

happy Spring and thanks for watching and for your lovely comments!

OXOXOX

TOQ

[helenlawson]

Another awesome review Mr Hayes.

I love Joanie!

And Eve Arden is a hoot.

[STEVEHAYESTOQ]

I'm delighted that TOQ is a sure fire cure for the "grumpys"!

Thanks for watching!

OXOXOX

Steve

[joecab]

Another great pick! "...that would have been dreadfully recherche, n'est-ce pas?"

[stevenandnicola123]

Steve, brillant review as always. I don't know much about the films you review, I'll have to get on Amazon and spend some money. Keep em coming.

[zepp4]

Steve - not only are your reviews insightful, but the production is terrific - love the intercuts that enhance and illustrate your review -

I've seen about 2/3's of the movies so far, and damn if your movie suggestions aren't right on .. (they must be -- They agree with mine!)

I think my favorite Joan movie must be The Damned Don't Cry -- Scheming, conniving - and she gets her comeuppance the hard way --great stuff ..

Eagerly awaiting your next submission!

Thanx for all your efforts.

[STEVEHAYESTOQ]

I LOVE that one! She starts out the movie named "Ethel Whitehead"...sounds like a bad complexion problem... and ends it as "Lorna Hansen Forbes". An "ex" of mine one year gave me stationary that had Lorna Hansen Fobes as the letterhead for Christmas. It made me keep him around a little longer!

Thanks !

OXOXOX

TOQ

[callhimmissross]

Steve .. You did not just review MILDRED PIERCE!! Loved, loved, loved your review! I never feel that Joan has received the credit she was due. I also feel that her movies post- MILDRED are some of the best, including my fave, TORCH SONG. Great review! BTW, also love the GENE Dolls that you show in the background. My mom has a few I hope to inherit. I was fortunate to find a copy of Mel's book, Gene Marshall - Girl Star.

[HigginsDog09]

Can't wait for the next one! You are fantabulous, darling. The Michael Curtiz "shoulder pads" story is priceless. Thanks for doing what you do!

[ShuShoo]

I always end up on Joanie's side whenever there are Joan vs. Bette debates; love this film! My 2nd fave of her movies is Female on the Beach, which sadly seems to be unavailable.

[STEVEHAYESTOQ]

I can't beli-EVE- it! Me too!!!

I LOVE Female On the Beach!

Joan and Jeff and Jan Sterling too! That was the period where she got to act with all the great "bad girls", Jan Sterling, Gloria Grahame, Mercedes McCambridge. My friend Carl knew her and once commented on how mean she was in "Queen Bee". She giggled and said; "Wasn't I? I got Betsy Plamer to hang herself!"

Thanks for watching!

OXOXOX

TOQ

[BrizyComics]

Steve, this was not only a brilliant picture, but it inspired a brilliant parody by Carol Burnett, "Mildred Fierce"! A barrel of laughs!

[STEVEHAYESTOQ]

I've seen it! Hilarious! Thank GOD for Carol Burnett! And thank YOU for watching TOQ!

OXOXOX

Steve

[ErickB69]

Great, as usual. Keep 'em coming.

[Strepsi1]

P.S. > All of James M. Cain's film noir novels are worth reading, but Mildred Pierce is just a great novel, period!

[STEVEHAYESTOQ]

They're filming the re-make of it with Kate Winslet right now. And this time they're filming the book! So, we'll see how it compares.

Thanks for watching!

[Strepsi1]

Steve, another winner! I'ved loved you since you reviewed THEM! and A Place In The Sun, and it's like you're inside my head picking all the underrated films I try to foist on my friends! Ah well, maybe they'll listen to the TOQ.... and Joan Crawford is a great choice for an underrated Best Actress (not to mention the top box office draw for over a decade!) Speaking of underrated actresses, how about something with one of my favorites, Jean Arthur?

[STEVEHAYESTOQ]

Poor Jean Arthur. A delightful comedian. That wonderful plummy voice of hers purring like a kitten. Great comic timing too, but one of the really tormented people. Very difficult to work with because she was so insecure. She left the business and became a virtual recluse living in Carmel California and talking to no one. Never thought anything she did was worth anything to anyone . So sad.

Thanks for watching and for the compliments!

OXOX

TOQ

[tattooskin72]

Joan is pure genius :)

[MarcitOmaha]

Thank You, Steve!

[johnmcboston]

I was really surprised I loved this film so much. being Joan I expected somethign way over the top but it's a great story with great performances all around. Excellent choice Steve!

[STEVEHAYESTOQ]

I know! It's really a GREAT OLD MOVIE! besides being a Crawford vehicle, it has a great plot, good acting and it moves as all those wonderful Warner's movies of the period did.Michael Curtiz was sooo underated! I'm so glad you like it!

OXOXOX

TOQ