Spring Planting Moon
Last night, Water for Elephants. Tonight, Mildred Pierce. Wisely held back from the Walker last night, resting my still aching back. While doing that we watched Water for Elephants. Loved the 1930’s circus, the cinematography. Rosie the elephant. Christoph Walz as the Benzini Circuses’ cruel dictator/savior chewed up crew and spat out hatred.
Reese Witherspoon and vampire Robert Pattison were to rise above it all with the purity of true love. Except their relationship wasn’t believable. Pattison had no depth, no fire. Witherspoon, better, still didn’t fill this role as ably as she has so many others I’ve seen.
It was about half a movie.
Mildred Pierce on the other hand. Wow. 1945. Manages to cram a self-reliant mother rising above a gray marriage to start a successful restaurant business into dramatic bed with a daughter who represents the conniving, manipulating greedy woman who only takes. Throw in three male supporting cast. A first husband stuck in the 40’s male role of bread winner with no job. Wally, the blowsy real estate salesman who wants a relationship with Mildred and the playboy, Monte, who ends up two-timing Mildred with her daughter, Veda.
Eva Gardner, of Our Miss Brooks, plays a tough, funny dame who works with Mildred (Joan Crawford) as she builds her business. The adult women are tough and hard-working. Successful.
Monte, the playboy, and the husband, Bert, are caricatures of the weak male and the wealthy lay-about. Wally, the hick who seems corny, “I am corny.” is the only one of the three who acts honorably with Mildred.
A murder mystery wrapped in a war time story of female self-empowerment with a side dish of ungrateful daughter. If you haven’t already seen this classic, pick it up.