By: Benjamin Scuglia — On screen, Kate Winslet survived the sinking of the Titanic and has tackled hot-button topics ranging from the horrors of the Holocaust to middle-class suburban ennui. But soon she will embrace perhaps her toughest challenge—remaking a character made iconic by none other than Joan Crawford. screen icon won an Academy Award for the title role in the 1945 classic directed by Michael Curtiz. It was based on a popular novel published in 1941 by James M. Cain, which chronicles the struggle of a Depression-era housewife to maintain her family’s social position despite numerous setbacks, including the disdain of her strong-willed daughter, Veda.
The glamorous-yet-long-suffering Mildred Pierce suffers numerous indignities in an attempt to impress her venal daughter (played in the original film by Oscar-nominated Ann Blyth). It was a showcase for Crawford and remains one of her most famous roles.
Kate Winslet in HBO's "Mildred Pierce"The silver
Writer-director Todd Haynes tackles his first television project following the critically acclaimed indie flicks “I’m Not There,” “Far from Heaven” and “Safe,” among others, and more closely follows the plot of Cain’s novel than the film adaptation.
Taking on the plum role of Veda in the mini-series is Evan Rachel Wood. A sterling supporting cast includes Hope Davis, James LeGros, Melissa Leo, Brian F. O’Byrne, Guy Pearce and Mare Winningham.
Joan Crawford as Mildred Pierce (R) with Ann Blyth as Veda (L) - Warner Bros. (1945)
Winslet said she was not discouraged by her director from studying Crawford’s spin on the material. “Todd said to me, ‘If you do want to see it, that’s completely your choice. You should know that the film is very, very different to the novel, and it’s very different to what we’re going to do.'”
After just five minutes, however, she stopped watching. “I wouldn’t have ever been able to unsee it,” she recalls. “I also knew that I had to honor the book. I had to be very true to the Mildred Pierce that is in that brilliant novel. It was not cleverer or better, but it was simply a different character, and I knew I had to hang onto my instincts about who she meant to us.”
The five-part “Mildred Pierce” mini-series is scheduled to begin airing Sunday, March 27.
CLICK HERE for the movie’s promo page at HBO.com, including a trailer and other behind-the-scenes features.
