Goodgulf:
I wouldn't call that a spanking scene as I'm sure the girl barely felt those pats. They were no more real than that hard slap to the face that didn't leave even a trace of a mark.
HBO obviously would not really have the girl hit as the actress who plays Veda in that part of the story is only 11 years old. Actually most main stream movie scenes are faked with a few unintentional exceptions. The most famous of these is Elvis spanking 19 year old Jenny Maxwell in the 1961 film Blue Hawaii.
In that movie Jenny is pulled from the water and because her clothing was wet and clinging to her she said it felt as if she were being spanked on the bare. She further stated that Elvis, who was a strong man, spanked really hard. It took 4 takes before the director was satisfied.
Jenny said that her bottom was red for a long time after that and that she did not want to do anymore spanking movie scenes.
In Mildred Pierce I don't know if anybody else noticed but there are indications that Veda is a spanko (bottom). She takes the slap and the spanking in her stride. Also later in the film, 132 minutes into the first 2 parts, Mildred and her husband are talking about staging a cause for divorce.
Mildred says, "I guess you will have to hit me."
Her husband replies, "You sound just like Veda. She always wants to get hit."
"She does?" Mildred asks, "I guess there is some of Veda in me."
Interesting.