Mildred Pierce (1945) - Details

Mildred Pierce dotes on her daughters while husband Bert looks to Maggie Binderhof for affection. Elder daughter Veda goads her mother about their lack of money and in response Mildred proposes opening a small restaurant. Realtor Wally Fay advises her while making numerous rebuffed passes and introduces her to Monte Baragon whose property becomes the first of a chain of restaurants. Veda has a fling with Monte. She also pretends pregnancy by Ted Forrester in order to bilk his family of $10,000. Mildred tears up the check, is slapped by Veda, and orders her daughter to leave. After time away, Mildred returns to find Veda singing in a cheap club. Veda will return only if Mildred promises luxury, so Mildred agrees to marry Monte in exchange for a third of her businesses. Monte and Veda carry on behind Mildred's back. Mildred learns of this only after Monte has sold out his third of the her business leaving her bankrupt. She goes to Monte's beach house to kill him, but he takes the gun from her. As she leaves she hears a shot from the house…