Tuesday, 1 July 2008:

Film / video presentation, option 1: Karol Davis

Mildred Pierce (1945)

Mildred Pierce, a suburban housewife, loves her two daughters. Her husband Bert cannot find work, and Mildred has little empathy for him. He leaves home at the beginning of the movie. She bakes pies and does any other thing she can do so her daughters can have the best of everything. Veda, the older daughter, constantly tells her mother that she wants to live in a better house and wear better clothes. Mildred cannot make enough money to make Veda respect or love her mother.

In order to pacify Veda, Mildred takes a job as a waitress. Wally, Bert’s former business partner, introduces her to Monte Beragon who has a piece of property for sell. Mildred buys the property and builds a restaurant. She soon has her own chain. She and Monte begin a short-lived affair. Kay, her younger daughter, dies after contracting pneumonia.

Veda marries Ted Forrester and pretends to be pregnant in order to get a $10,000 settlement. When Mildred discovers that Veda lied, she tears up the check. Veda and Mildred argue, and Veda slaps her mother. Mildred orders her out of the house. After a short trip, Mildred returns to find Veda singing in a cheap roadhouse. Mildred decides to marry Beragon so that she can give Veda whatever she wants. She agrees to give one-third of her business to Monte.

Veda and Monte become involved, and he tries to ruin Mildred’s business. When Mildred discovers his schemes, she takes a gun and goes to the beach house. She finds Veda and Monte kissing. Veda tells her that Monte is going to divorce Mildred and marry her. Monte gets Mildred to drop the gun, and she runs out crying. Shots ring out and Monte lies dead.

Film Noir: “Black Film”

·         Usually a film of the 1940s or 1950s

·         Low-key black and white visual style

·         Flashbacks and flash forwards

·         Protagonist voice-overs

·         Murder common to plot

·         Protagonist trapped in unwanted situation

·         Protagonist usually a man

Femme Fatale: An alluring and seductive woman whose charms ensnare her lovers in bonds of irresistible desire, often leading them into compromising, dangerous, and deadly situations.

1.    What makes Mildred Pierce a film noir? Is the film a tragedy?

2.    What are the types of voices incorporated in the film genre?