HBO made a solid 2011 miniseries, starring Kate Winslet and Evan Rachel Wood as mother and daughter, based on the same James M. Cain story that inspired this 1945 movie. In this film, Joan Crawford plays the maternal title role, and won an Oscar for her efforts. Ann Blyth plays the ungrateful daughter, and while this movie takes liberties with the structure and end of Cain’s story, it’s nonetheless very effective. And Blyth, with her young ferocity, matches Crawford note for note – and slap for slap.