Mildred Pierce (miniseries) admired the show's attention to detail and structure, but complained that the five-hour adaptation was "too damn long". He finishes with, "Winslet’s Mildred is a genuine star turn. How Joan Crawford would have loathed her." The series was shown out of competition at the 68th Venice International Film Festival in 2011. Mildred Pierce (miniseries) Mildred Pierce is a five-part miniseries that first aired on HBO on March 27, 2011. Adapted from James M. Cain's 1941 novel of the same name, it was directed by Todd Haynes, and starred Kate Winslet in the title role, alongside Guy Pearce, Evan Rachel Wood,
Mildred Pierce (film) is shot. The police tell Mildred that the murderer is her first husband, Bert Pierce (Bruce Bennett), after he is interrogated and confesses to the crime. Mildred protests that he is too kind and gentle to commit murder, and reveals her life story to the investigating officer in flashback. Mildred and Bert are unhappily married. Mildred must bake and sell pies and cakes to support the family after Bert splits with his business partner, Wally Fay (Jack Carson). Bert bitterly accuses Mildred of favoring their daughters, especially Veda (Ann Blyth), over him. Their quarrel intensifies after a phone call from