How did “Mildred Pierce” build her fortune in the 1945 movie of that name? July 13, 2020September 29, 2011 by Pamela Landy Mildred Pierce was a waitress who bought an eatery that she built into a chain of restaurants. Related Answers What was the name of Hawkeye Pierce’s (Alan Alda’s) tent on “M*A*S*H” (CBS, 1972-83)? Who directed the first version of And Then There Were None (1945)? How long has the TV game show “Wheel of Fortune” been on the air? Which took longer to build, the Erie Canal or the Panama Canal? What movie was advertised with the line, “To avoid fainting, keep repeating: “It’s only a movie, It’s only a movie”? How long were chain gangs used in America?