Mildred Pierce (1945 Michael Curtiz)

Both Bette Davies and Barbara Stanwyck turned down Ranald MacDougall's Oscar-nominated adaptation of James M. Cain's novel - Joan Crawford won the Oscar (it was her favourite role). Ann Blyth (sixteen, when cast, now ninety) and Eve Arden (real name Eunice Quedens!) were also nominated (Arden has all the best lines).

We thought Criterion's 4k transfer a bit hazy, not in the same league as Casablanca, unfortunately.

It's still great. With Jack Carson, Zachary Scott, Bruce Bennett.  And behind camera - Ernie Haller (also nominated), Steiner (not one of his very best), Warners' art deco production designer Anton Grot, Westmore (Perc).

"I didn't mean to kill him but the gun went off and off." Blyth is the Screen Queen Bitch.

Jo Ann Marlowe after rendition of 'South American Way;' between Butterfly McQueen and Crawford