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I am thrilled with the performance of Anna Magnani, but would love to see Joan Crawford in this, rather than in Johnny Guitar which came out the same year (as fabulous as that is). Yes, Tennessee wrote the play for Anna in 1951 (though she waited for the movie when her English was better). In later life Joan complained about being shunned by a clique of Hollywood snobs. Maybe it really was their fault or her reluctance to relinquish the conventional star glamour for a role (though she did so for Baby Jane and other horror outings later on). You want to see her sans make-up in a cheap dress keeping her men and romantic rivals in line while being elemental, direct, and fierce. Joan might have taken her basic Mildred Pierce character to the next level for heightened longing, maternal control, and romantic fireworks. And yet, she might have passed on such a role, as Ava Gardner did when asked to appear nude in the Graduate. (Wouldn't we all love to have seen Ava as Mrs. Robinson?)

Nicole just gets better. Here, she can convince as a dewy young rookie, but also as a ratchet, burned out lady with a past. She's both a good and bad cop, and a good and bad mother. Her scenes with the understandably skeptical daughter are magnificent. They should at least have earned her an Oscar nomination. Here you catch a glimpse of an L.A. cop who has seen and done it all with a thousand unsavory secrets to share, just waiting for the right time to unburden herself. It's a wrenching film that is an instant classic thanks to top-rated directing and acting. A must see.