6.7 Module 6 Summary

 Module 6 Summary

Wally is "too smart for his own good" in Mildred Pierce


RECAP
In this module you have explored the crossover of melodrama and noir in the unique project of Mildred Pierce. Joan Crawford cut her melodramatic and noir chops on this film which led to others Flamingo Road, Sudden Fear, Possessed, The Damned Don't Cry and Queen Bee.

Mildred Pierce (1945) Documentary segment video


To Demonstrate your learning, you completed the following activities and assessments: 
1. Read: "Film Noir: The Society Violence and the Bitch Goddess" by Stephen Farber and all module content. 
2. Watch Mildred Pierce
3. Contribute to Mildred Pierce Discussion. 

RESOURCES
"How Joan Crawford Became Mildred Pierce" (Links to an external site.)
"Eve Arden and the 'Ida Factor' in Mildred Pierce" (Links to an external site.)
"Joan Crawford and her Enduing Style Influence" (Links to an external site.)
"The Future of Style is Classic 1940s in Neo-Noir Blade Runner" (Links to an external site.) check out Sean Young channelling high Joan Crawford looks!
"The Great Los Angeles Novel," The Atlantic (Links to an external site.) HBO’s Mildred Pierce is based on James M. Cain’s book that has to go down as one of the great failures of American fiction.

Sudden Fear 1952 - Joan Crawford, Jack Palance - LINK Here to full film

Criterion - Restoration Spotlight: MILDRED PIERCE Video - Link here
A look inside the process of creating our brand new 4K restoration of Michael Curtiz's noir melodrama
Note from video Nitrate film used before the 1950s


JOAN CRAWFORD

As Crawford began her career during the silent era, this short video highlights some techniques she carried throughout her acting that were especially helpful for dramatic scenes.


Video from YouTube: Joan Crawford | Masterclass Acting | Silent Film Training







Video clip of Ann Blyth at the Castro talking about Joan Crawford - Link Here
MILDRED PIERCE - JOAN CRAWFORD's co- star ANN BLYTH shares memories of VEDA, JOAN & more on the video clip. 24 minutes. 


MINISERIES OF HBO Mildred Pierce (2011)
Todd Haynes made a 5 part mini-series adaptation of Cain's novel Mildred Pierce in 2011 that aimed to be more true to the source material. It certainly had "more room to move" and explore character over 5 hours, as opposed to the 111 minute feature film. You can see it in its entirety on HBO. The series has an amazing cast with Kate Winslet (Mildred) and Evan Rachel Wood (Veda) and sensual cinematography as a great period precursor to his 2015 film Carol, adapted from a Patricia Highsmith novel of the same period. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! HBO Trailer - link here  

MOMMIE DEAREST
For those who want to go DEEP into Crawford mythology check out this epic Be Kind Rewind video essay on the legacies of Joan Crawford and Faye Dunaway via the making of the unintentional cult classic Mommie Dearest (1981) - Link Here

50:59 minutes starts out with: "When it comes to cinematic camp classics Mommie Dearest is Citizen f***ing Kane". - Les Fabian Brathwaite, OUT Magazine

THE FEUD - A three minute trailer from the film
Link Here - Film by FX

PARODY IS THE BEST FORM OF FLATTERY? 
Carole Burnett spoofs Crawford in Mildred Pierce 19 minutes
Video from Carol Burnett show - her version of Mildred Pierce
Video - Link Here





Now you're ready to move on to Module 7

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