Mildred Pierce Quotes

Context

This line is spoken by Ida Corwin, played by Eve Arden, in the movie Mildred Pierce, directed by Michael Curtiz (1945).

As you might've guessed from the title, this movie is the story of a lady named Mildred Pierce. What you couldn't have guessed from the title is that Mildred, famously played by Joan Crawford, is the long-suffering mother of a spoiled and downright evil daughter named Veda.

This acidic quip is delivered by Mildred's sharp-tongued best friend Ida Corwin, played by the amazing Eve Arden, who was nominated for an Oscar for this role. Since Veda basically tortures, uses, and betrays her mother at every possible opportunity, this might be the only case where the eating of one's young would be kind of understandable.

Where you've heard it

We're guessing you probably haven't heard this actual line lately, but the character of Mildred Pierce has gotten some recent recognition. There was an episode of Gilmore Girls where Lorelai says that Rory "Mildred Pierced" her by being ashamed of her. There was also a recent episode of RuPaul's Drag Race in which the Queen of Drag tells a contestant that she isn't "Mildred Fierce."

Of course, you might have also heard it in HBO's recent miniseries adapted from the same novel as the 1945 flick.

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

Okay, quoting old Joan Crawford movies might make you sound a little pretentious, but this line still has some quality bite.