Autumn Leaves (1956)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Robert Aldrich

Writers (WGA):

Jean Rouverol (written by) (front Jack Jevne) &
Hugo Butler (written by) (front Jack Jevne) ...

Release Date:

1 August 1956 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

In the dark, when I feel his heart pounding against mine - is it love? or frenzy? or terror?

Plot:

Millicent Wetherby is a middle-aged woman whose life is devoid of love and affection. Millicent's solitary...

Plot Keywords:

Trauma | Mental Illness | Marital Problem | Torment | Psycho

Awards:

1 win

US TV Schedule:

Tue. July 14

7:30 AM

TCM

Cast

Joan Crawford	...	Millicent Wetherby
Vera Miles	...	Virginia Hanson
Lorne Greene	...	Mr. Hanson
Ruth Donnelly	...	Liz Eckhart
Shepperd Strudwick	...	Dr. Malcolm Couzzens
Selmer Jackson	...	Mr. Wetherby
Maxine Cooper	...	Nurse Evans
Marjorie Bennett	...	Waitress
Frank Gerstle	...	Mr. Ramsey
Leonard Mudie	...	Colonel Hillyer
Maurice Manson	...	Dr. Masterson
Cliff Robertson	...	Burt Hanson

Also Known As:

The Way We Are (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Norway:16 | USA:Approved (PCA #17762) | West Germany:16 (f) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Brentwood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

William Goetz Productions

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When Millicent goes to the hotel and asks the desk clerk for Mr. Hanson, the clerk tells her that Mr. Hanson is in suite 406. However, he tells her that she won't find him there, but rather at the pool which, he says, is right around to her left. But he points to what is actually Millicent's right, and she in fact turns to her right to head towards the pool area.

Quotes:

Virginia: Sure, he should be committed!
Milly: Of course, you'd want me to commit him, get him out of your life, put him away permanently someplace where he can never again remind either one of you of your horrible guilt; how you and you had committed the ugliest of all possible sins, so ugly that it drove him into the state he's in now!
Mr. Hanson: What kind of a woman are you to be satisfied with only half a man? There must be so...
Milly: Even when he doesn't know what he's doing, he's a saner man than you are! He's decent and proud. Can you say the same for yourselves? Where's your decency? In what garbage dump, Mr. Hanson? And where's yours, you tramp?
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in Joan Crawford: The Ultimate Movie Star (2002) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Autumn Leaves

Crawford, and do not miss

Robert Aldrich, Joan Crawford and eerie direction equal a classic film, and do not miss. In fact, I woke up at 5 A.M. to watch Crawford (for the third time) in this intriguing and provocative film.

Crawford is simply amazing, and really becomes a New England spinster, displaced in 1950's Los Angeles, who, per chance meets a young (and seemingly normal ) war veteran, well-portrayed by a dashing, yet strange Cliff Robertson.

Joan again delivers, as a woman used to living alone, working as a typist, and eventually meeting an interesting younger man.

Aldrich and his direction are superb. The cinematography, abstract camera angles at the beach, and bizarre scenes, are classic. This film was produced in the late 1950's, and very ahead of its time. Highly recommended. 9/10.