After Wald had submitted the treatment for Mildred Pierce to the Breen office he was forwarded a letter from Breen indicating that the PCA would not offer approval.  Breen wrote that they could not approve a story with “so many sordid and repellant elements that we feel the finished picture would not only be highly questionable from the standpoint of the Code, but would, likewise, be met with a great deal of difficulty in its release.”

    The treatment Wald had sent to the PCA contained the original ending of the Cain novel which finds Veda, Mildred’s daughter, having started an affair with Mildred’s husband, Monte. Mildred attacks Veda before reuniting with her first husband. No one dies for anyone’s sins. 

    Even with “certain important changes” Breen makes it clear that the PCA strongly advises against proceeding with the production but Wald is undeterred.