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Native Grown Turkeys & Turkey Products (and now the TV) screen? TAKE-OUT By La m o n t “Mo n t y ” He a l e y , were in a seaside location, and Cl i p p e r Co n t r i b u t o r both made a lemon pie that 781 Mildred Pierce – Coming was very popular. Duxbury’s -58 to a TV screen near you! “Mil- Ma had a daughter, who sang 5-2392 dred Pierce” the 1945 movie opera and a brilliant daugh- www.bongis.com Rt. 53, Duxbury, MA 02332 featuring Joan Crawford in ter, who was spoiled; Cain’s an Academy Award-winning Mildred had a daughter, Veda, performance based on James with both of those character M. Cain’s novel of the same traits. And last, but most sig- SEACOAST name will be reprised on HBO nificant, both lost their boy- ENGINEERING COMPANY in April with Kate Winslet friend to their daughter. t
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“Mildred Pierce” was inspired for Mildred. How often does a the title role. The book is being  by Duxbury’s Mildred A. daughter end up with a man 35 remade as a mini-series on HBO “Ma” Pierce. I can now pro- years her senior, who was her with Kate Winslet (above) as Duxbury Now Has FiOS vide more evidence, circum- mother’s boyfriend? I know Pierce. The writer believes he stantial though it may be, to things like that happen, but has discovered evidence link- ing Cain with Duxbury, and that Do You? reinforce my convictions. with all those other things and TV • Internet • Phone Let’s review the facts then ending up in Cain’s book he based Pierce’s characters on about Ma Pierce that were the one year later, come on, now! Duxbury’s Mildred “Ma” Pierce. same as those in Cain’s book. In recent months I have For example, both women ran a restaurant by themselves in a First and most evident, the read Roy Hoopes’ biography names were the same, so when seaside location, and both lost of James M. Cain, chiefly their boyfriend to their daughter. I’m referring to the book I’ll to see if he ever places Cain use Mildred, when I’m refer- in Duxbury or on the South 7. In the spring of 1930, Ma’s Ma Pierce’s daughter KINGSTON • 781-585-0003 ring to Duxbury’s Ma Pierce, Shore. First, I’d like to go two youngest daughters were Myrtle sang the lead role in I’ll use Ma. Both their hus- over some of the other in- 11 and 7. an operetta staged at Duxbury Kingsbury Plaza bands were home builders and sight Hoopes gave to the case. Cain, when young, was an High School. The school had a both husbands had left them. Cain’s book starts in the spring aspiring operatic singer un- reputation for putting on very Both women ran a restaurant of 1931, and at that time Mil- til his mother, who was also successful operettas. She also by themselves, the restaurants dred’s daughters were 11 and a singer, told him he didn’t sang at her graduation and DHS Tournament Schedule “have the voice for it.” What a went on to do some singing on blow that must have been! For a local radio station in Plym- Boys’ Basketball Girls’ Hockey the rest of his life, Cain was as outh. Myrtle was the older of Tues. March 1, 7 P.M. Wed. March 2, 4:20 P.M. much devoted to opera as he the two girls still in the area Quincy Natick/Archbishop Williams was to writing. In 1947 he mar- ALAN HURLEY If they beat Quincy during the time of Cain’s vis- Thurs. March 3, 7 P.M. Boys’ Hockey ried (his fourth wife) an opera it. In Cain’s book he has the Oliver Ames/Whitman-Hanson First round game will be played singer, Florence MacBeth, youngest daughter die of fever ROOFING whom he had admired when or flu. At first, I thought my by the weekend ROOF REPAIRS Girls’ Basketball he was younger, and they re- whole theory about Mildred Mon. Feb. 28, 7 P.M. Cheerleading mained happily married for 19 was going up in smoke when FROM ICE DAMMING @ Bishop Feehan (Attleboro) Sun. March 6 years until her death in 1966. I figured from Ma’s youngest AVAILABLE If they beat Feehan Dartmouth High School Many of his stories, including daughter’s birth date that she We Accept Credit Cards Wed. March 2, 7 P.M. “Mildred Pierce,” were about @ Medfield singers. continued on page 5 781-826-1601 alan@alanhurleyroofing.com Reach into your art at the DAA GOOLEY By Br u c e Ba r r e t t , Cl i p p e r Co l u m n i s t to make your own Nantucket basket, CONSTRUCTION L.L.C. b r u c e @d u x b u r y c l i p p e r .c o m similar to the one that won last sum- NEW HOMES rt helps us find our edges mer’s DAA’s Midsummer Art Show’s RENOVATIONS and our depths. It helps us Best in Show Award. The class runs for ADDITIONS stretch our edges and grow four Wednesdays, 6:30-9 p.m. “Learn CUSTOM INTERIOR FINISHES deeper.A The Duxbury Art Association WHAT’S GOING the art of Nantucket basket making as offers a variety of classes and work- ON HERE? we create a Nantucket bread basket 781.934.2130 shops where you can stretch yourself, for your table. Learn to shape staves, 781.733.5391 learn a skill, or just have an artsy day One starts tonight, Wednesday, weave, apply rims, and add finishing techniques as we make a beautiful • Lunch capped with something cool you get to March 2! You may be too late! The • Dinner take home with you. Much of the fol- class may be filled, so call 781-934- heirloom. Tuition includes all materi- • Bar & Lounge lowing is snagged from the DAA Web 2731, ext. 4 right away. Pam Smith als. Scrimshaw adornment available at Open 7 Days site, duxburyart.org. and Patty Campbell can teach you how additional charge.” The cost for DAA Gift Certificates continued on page 4 133 Ocean Street • Brant Rock 781-834-9144 Find help fast in the Service Directory … page 13 Wednesday, March 2, 2011 Duxbury Clipper 5 Did Duxbury woman inspire Cain’s novel? continued from page one had access to his papers and to her quite well. not so kind; some were com- would have graduated in 1941. Cain himself. He mentions a An examination of the plimentary. “To all those who Cain’s book came out in late story given to Cain by William timeline of these events is re- said that the unattractive peo- 1941, leaving little or no time Gilbert Patten in 1928, “about vealing. In 1938, Cain visits ple in Mildred Pierce simply for him to observe the difficul- two westerners who had cut the area at least once. Hoopes did not exist, Cain’s reply was: ties that the Pierce family was off a man’s head, and didn’t confirms that Cain began “I can only say, as Shaw said to endure. know what to do when it writing “Mildred Pierce” of Pinero, ‘Doesn’t this fellow Ma’s youngest daughter, started rolling around in after a visit to Cohasset meet anybody?’” Isn’t this an Nina, was a brilliant woman their wagon; Cain shift- in 1938. By 1939 he’s admission on Cain’s part that who was planning to be a sur- ed the story east, added struggling to finish his his characters were based on geon, not just a doctor, but some characters of his book. If my supposition real people? specifically a surgeon. She own, and put the story is true, he’s watching A two-day research visit to graduated from Duxbury High in the mouth of an east- the interaction of Ma, the Library of Congress, with School in three years, a feat ern roughneck.” This her daughter and Ma’s daughter Erin, poring over rarely, if ever, accomplished story about Cain’s meth- boyfriend. Ma’s daugh- James M. Cain’s papers (96 at that time. In November of ods indicates to me that ter started high school in boxes) has produced mixed 1940 she had passed her ex- if he could move a story 1937, which meant she results. Most significantly, the ams and was waiting for a from west to east, he cer- should have graduated in 1938 box is not in the collec- vacancy to enter training at tainly was not above mov- 1941. By finishing in three tion. Hoopes reports Cain’s Massachusetts General Hos- ing “Mildred Pierce” from years, graduating in 1940 secretary lost or destroyed the pital. Ma’s youngest daughter Duxbury to California. and taking up with Ma’s boy- box. That is the year that we was clearly ambitious and on a I also find it significant friend, she provided Cain with know Cain was on the South plane above her mother. that the standard fiction dis- the perfect ending to his story. Shore, and now we know that claimer in “Mildred Pierce” In the words of one of her he was here from Aug. 8 un- (in the original version) is Duxbury’s “MA” Pierce ran a classmates, “the story was all til Nov. 18, a period of three beyond the usual “…are not restaurant in town in the ‘20s over town.” months, two months after his intended to represent actual and, this author believes, served There is another possible play had closed in Cohasset. as the inspiration for James M. persons, events, or places” and Cain connection to Duxbury, Elina had gone home in early Cain’s novel “Mildred Pierce.” is preceded by “The locale of and that is the Sjostedt fam- September. Where was he and this book is California…” To starred Nancy Carrol, Sheila ily. Cain was married to Eli- what was he doing? me, Cain is deliberately lead- Barrett and Barry Sullivan. na Sjosted (the difference in Cain had been sued twice, ing the reader away from the Cohasset had somewhat spelling is probably not sig- once for “obscenity” in his people in Duxbury he is writ- limited hotel space and the nificant) Tyszecka from 1927 novel “Serenade,” and once ing about. Especially, since he nearest alternative sites in- until 1947. They were married for plagiarism, relating to a once wrote to his publisher that cluded Nantasket and Dux- during Cain’s most successful woman who claimed she had he considered such disclaim- bury, which was experiencing years, during which he wrote delivered a script similar to Nina Pierce, the daughter of ers thinly veiled announce- its own theater and tourist re- “Postman,” “Double Indem- “Mildred Pierce” to Cain’s Duxbury’s “Ma” Pierce, may ments that the story was based naissance. There was a hotel nity” and “Mildred Pierce.” N.Y. office in 1937 for advice have been the inspiration for on reality. owned by Louise Chandler St. Hoopes quotes Cain as saying, and a possible sale. Cain did the character Veda in James “By 1930 James M. George at the corner of Soule “She had a beautiful mind, not have a N.Y. office in 1937, Cain’s novel, “Mildred Pierce.” Cain the writer had clearly Avenue and Tremont Street, particularly for one writing the he did not review other au- The characters have much in emerged” in the opinion of called The things I write – thor’s work and the story was common, including running off biographer Hoopes. He wrote Shore Acres sardonic, ironic, nothing like “Mildred Pierce.” with their mothers’ beau. that “Cain liked to shock his Inn, which sometimes al- The movie company paid the readers, but to write his best catered to the- most savage in woman $750 as a settlement of Cain was having difficulty he had to pretend to be some- ater people. If its comprehen- a nuisance suit, none of which writing an ending to his book. one else. Yet with his limited any of the cast sions of basic came out of Cain’s pocket. He had written four versions imagination almost everything of his play things. There These cases wore con- and each time, in Cain’s own he wrote had to be based on were staying was always her siderably on Cain. In addi- words, “almost on cue, at page personal experience or things there, it would amusing point of tion, a man named Richard 254, the thing fell apart right he had observed happening to not have been view, expressed Fuller wrote to Knopf, Cain’s in front of my eyes.” I think others.” out of the or- with this prepos- publisher, saying he was con- that he was writing about Ma’s This reliance on actual dinary for terous accent, so cerned about his wife’s reputa- Myrtle and when the other events is evident in Cain’s Cain to stay fresh, so delight- tion as her name was Mildred sister took away her mother’s “Postman Always Rings there too. The ful, that I have Pierce. Both Cain and the pub- boyfriend – boom! He had an Twice” and “Double Indem- i n t e r e s t i n g seen saleswom- lisher refused to change the ending and combined the two nity.” Both were based on the thing is, if he en in department name and Mr. Fuller finally characters. He said later that he trial of “Tiger Woman” Ruth did, he would James M. Cain’s novel has stores gather signed off. had “made Veda too smart.” Snyder and her lover, Judd be driving by much in common with Duxbury’s around her, to All of these events had Hoopes describes Cain as Gray and their murder of her Ma Pierce’s “Ma” Pierce, and the author listen a few Cain deeply worried. He for- “not attracted to the glitter- husband. Ruth purchased per- restaurant on often looked to true events for minutes and be warded his “Mildred Pierce” ing social life of New York sonal injury insurance on her the way to inspiration. His books “The entertained by papers to the lawyer in the … he preferred more serious husband and “double indem- Cohasset ev- Postman Always Rings Twice” her.” She must plagiarism case. Were the intellectual conversation with nity” in the event of his death. ery day! and “Double Indemnity” were have helped 1938 papers lost or destroyed? like minded friends.” Hoopes She instructed the postman to It should based on a real court case. with “Mildred Might Cain have destroyed continues with, “parties he deliver payment coupons only be pointed Pierce.” them himself? It seems strange attended and gave were typi- to her, ringing the doorbell out that Cain was a heavy Cain’s book was published to me that after moving across cal village affairs with often twice as a signal. So two of drinker and a notorious wom- in September of 1941. Critic the country several times that no chairs, cushions or even Cain’s most successful books anizer. I’m not suggesting that Ralph Thompson wrote, “How all his papers are in the collec- mats to sit on.” Ma Pierce’s were suggested by real life sit- he had an illicit relationship Cain could ever tangle himself tion except 1938! It appears youngest daughter, in cor- uations, why not the third? with any of these women, but up with this prodigious, in- that any concrete evidence of respondence with Margery In August of 1938 Cain’s he certainly would have been credible, preposterous child is Cain staying in Duxbury will MacMillan during prepara- play “7-11” was performed by comfortable in Ma’s kitchen. almost as hard to understand have to come from another tion of her book “Stopping the South Shore Players at the A brief description of Ma’s as Veda (Mildred’s daughter) source, and I’ll be looking. Places Along Duxbury Roads” Cohasset Town Hall (the pre- youngest daughter might be herself.” Other reviews were (1991), wrote that “…many cursor of the South Shore Mu- appropriate here. She, as did people who came to eat would sic Circus). Cain’s old drink- all of Ma’s daughters, worked ask to sit in the kitchen and ing pal Sinclair Lewis was part time at her mother’s were allowed. As mother was appearing on stage in his own restaurant. As to her being cooking, she would always play “It Can’t Happen Here.” spoiled, several contempo- entertain her guests with many Lewis’ play appeared the week raries pointed out that she stories. All were repeat guests. of July 25 and again on August wore high heels and dresses Several came from N.Y. every 8 and was postponed at least to school, while most of the year.” This would have been a once. According to the Cohas- girls wore skirts and sweaters. perfect setting for Cain. set Historical Society, Cain’s Other contemporaries have Hoopes writes about play was moved to the week described her as self-centered, Cain’s writing habits and his of August 22. Cain was here ambitious, a loner, and a per- unusual personality. He pos- for a good part of that summer son who “put on airs.” If you sibly knew Cain better than and I thought into September are familiar with Veda in the anyone, simply because he rewriting his play. Cain’s play book and movie, that describes