Mildred Pierce (Criterion Collection)

Joan Crawford netted her sole career Oscar for the title role in this memorable soap-opera-as-film-noir melodrama, as the divorced mother who climbs from waitress to chain restaurateur in order to provide a good life for her children, only to face a fateful-and fatal-betrayal from her heartless and ungrateful eldest (Ann Blyth). Gripping read on the James M. Cain novel co-stars Zachary Scott, Jack Carson, Eve Arden; Michael Curtiz directs. 111 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English Uncompressed PCM mono; Subtitles: English (SDH); bonus documentary "Joan Crawford" The Ultimate Movie Star" (2002); interviews; bonus footage; theatrical trailer; essay. Two-disc set.