HBO Mildred Pierce- Page 2

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/5/11 at 1:50pm

"Footing" is a real thing. I see it in German porn all the time.

[Almira]

Posted: 4/11/11 at 2:46am

Boy did that take a nose dive.


SNOOZE

[Broadwaywest]

Posted: 4/11/11 at 10:47pm

I really enjoyed it. My favorite scene is Evan Rachel Wood's walk to the mirror nude and then brushing her hair with so much arrogance it was disgusting. And Kate Winslet who seems to be more in disbelief of her attitude then her action.

I have also come to realize that Vita is probably one of the greatest screen villians of all time. There is absolutely not one drop of remorse in her.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 4/12/11 at 12:40am

I don't think that's quite true. If she had no remorse she would have just left for NYC without bothering to say goodbye to her parents. I think she felt some degree of remorse but it wasn't enough to really make a difference to her. She just pushed it down and went on.

[Jane2]

Posted: 4/12/11 at 12:49am

I think I missed an important line at the end. When Veda was about to get in the taxi to the airport, Mildred was trying to talk her into staying. Veda said something which sent Mildred into a mad frenzy and that's when she told Veda to get out of her life. Does anyone remember what Veda said?

[Almira]

Posted: 4/12/11 at 1:01am

If I remember correctly,in the novel Veda is living with Burt and Mildred. It appears Veda has been humbled and they have something of a family again.

Then out of the blue a cab shows up and Veda waltzes out of the house telling everyone she is going to New York . It is made clear that she and Monty were simply biding their time. Monty working behind the scenes and Veda feigning illness to be dropped from you $500 a week contract in order accept her $2500 a week contract.

[Jane2]

Posted: 4/12/11 at 1:14am

Right,that's the same scenario on HBO but there was definitely one remark made by Veda that changed Mildred's entire mood. First Mildred was feeling loving towards Veda because Veda actually showed up at the house, but that all changed.

[Almira]

Posted: 4/12/11 at 1:55am

I don't remember the remark Veda made in the final encounter with Mildred in the HBO series, but the scenario is not quite the same as the book.

In the HBO series, Veda stops by the party celebrating Mildred's return from Reno. It suggests that Veda is feeling "something," remorse maybe, but she is feeling an obligation of some sort towards Mildred. The person I saw it with wasn't even sure whether Veda was faking the illness or whether Mildred had just gone nuts and was inventing a wild scenario.

...but in the novel, as I remember it ...

Veda, living in Glendale, is secretly exploiting Mildred's guilt for killing her music career; she is faking her throat illness. Veda is also faking humility and warm feelings towards Bert and Mildred while waiting out the rumors circulating about what happened the night Mildred strangled her. It is clear that Veda was quick to play her cards in just the right way to get her higher salary, lover/step-father and once again heartlessly use Mildred.

Veda is a variation on the femme fatale.

Updated On: 4/12/11 at 01:55 AM

[misschung]

Posted: 4/12/11 at 8:45am

I DVRed the last two episodes and am about halfway through. I thought this was a great miniseries - the costumes and music were sensational, and Kate Winslet is breathtaking as always.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 4/12/11 at 12:08pm

IIRC it was Veda's comment that Monty was waiting for her in New York that made something click inside Mildred.

[Jane2]

Posted: 4/12/11 at 12:38pm

Thanks Eris!

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 4/12/11 at 1:12pm

I think it was that she mentioned that she had been speaking with the folks at Consolidated, who had offered her a contract she couldn't take the night she performed at the Hollywood Bowl.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 4/12/11 at 1:21pm

I wrote another post here - I sure I did. Maybe I typed it and didn't press "send" (wouldn't be the first time)

I think we can all be happy in the knowledge that the Veda/Monty relationship is most certainly doomed. If the book/movie had continued Monty would have bled her dry. Perhaps it might even lead up to the murder detailed in the first film version.


ETA: Phyllis, I think it was a mix of the two. But I clearly remember her reacting to the mention of Monty's name.

Updated On: 4/12/11 at 01:21 PM

[Almira]

Posted: 4/12/11 at 1:51pm

I'm not convinced Monty would have bled Veda dry.

In the novel Veda's vocal coach is pretty detailed on what the life of a snake-like coloratura is like. He explains they earn tons of money yet expect others to pay for everything. Which is how Veda was living when he returned to Mildred's life.

I expect Monty would be Veda's lapdog until he got too old for her or she found another lover to sexually satisfy her. Financially Veda would be fine. Monty would have the sad gigolo past-his-prime ending.

[Jane2]

Posted: 4/13/11 at 12:31am

lol, I just happened to look up at the rerun tonight during that scene. Veda said to Mildred "now you're going to make me late for my plane" and then Mildred blew up.

whew.