Autumn Leaves (film)
- Joan Crawford: Millicent Wetherby
- Cliff Robertson: Burt Hanson
- Vera Miles: Virginia Hanson
- Lorne Greene: Mr. Hanson
- Ruth Donnelly: Liz Eckhart
- Shepperd Strudwick: Dr. Malcolm Couzzens
- Selmer Jackson: Mr. Wetherby
- Frank Gerstle: Mr. Ramsey
- Leonard Mudie: Colonel Hillyer
- Maurice Manson: Dr. Masterson
Autumn storms ( Original: Autumn Leaves ) is an American movie from 1956 with Joan Crawford and Cliff Robertson, directed by Robert Aldrich. After the film has long been classified as one of the weaker films from Aldrich, he has won in recent years of reputation as an intensive study of loneliness and despair.
Action
Millicent Wetherby is a lonely secretary who has spent her whole life in order to care for her ailing father. Now she is alone and their social contacts are limited to occasional visits from their landlord. One day she meets by chance the somewhat naive Burt Hanson know who is considerably younger than Millicent. Both develop a friendship, which gradually in love. Despite many doubts about the Dauerhauftigkeit this connection Millicent agrees to marry Burt. The two spend happy months when suddenly it comes out that Burt is a pathological liar. He has concealed an earlier marriage to Virginia. Increasingly Burt react with violence on Millicent's attempts to help him. Finally, she finds out the causes for the strange mood swings: Burt's father has him stretched out his wife and started with her having an affair. Millicent is attacked in the following by Burt throwing a typewriter for her. The treatment in a psychiatric institution promises a speedy recovery and unalloyed happiness for them.
Background
Joan Crawford was able in 1955 to sign a lucrative contract for three films with the Company Columbia Pictures, a testament to their enduring traction at the box office even after 30 active years in the film business. The first film in shackles marriage brought a lot of money but little praise from the critics. Crawford then accepted the rather unusual role in the autumn storms, in which she played a lonely secretary. This was a radical departure from the glamorous appearances that had become over the years a hallmark of the actress. The government took over in a surprising decision for many Robert Aldrich, who had been rather excited by violence-glorifying films stir. However, the bad business for his last works, forced him to take a commercial issue, if he wanted to stay in business. After the attempt failed, to interest Marlon Brando for the role of Burt, the actress opted for the largely unknown Cliff Robertson. The working title was The Way We Are, was changed in Autumn Leaves, after the eponymous song by Nat King Cole to be a hit avencierte.
Crawford was even more years later positive over the strip.
"It's one of my very favorite movies. It was, I think the best film from the genre - a younger man loves older woman - ever made. The loneliness and despair in her situation came without any exaggeration or melodrama is clear - to be honest, I took myself back a lot. Cliff Robertson was fantastic in his role, only few actors bring such conviction in such a complex Part. His psychotic scenes are unique - I am proud to have him share my own experiences of " Possessed ". Good story, believable characters, good script, good directing, in summary a good movie. "
Reviews
Lawrence J. Quirk was very impressed in the Motion Picture Herald:
"Miss Crawford [ ... ] brings in her latest role, the entire spectacle of talent, which she has collected over the 31 years of her career in the film business. "
William K. Zinsser paid tribute in his review for the New York Herald Tribune also applause:
"The film is a serious study of loneliness and mental despair. [ ... ]. Miss Crawford is attractive as ever and she brings the full range of emotions in this role [ ... ] The strength of Miss Crawford's presentation is their naturalness and controlledness. A less talented actress got more than just exaggerated in this role grateful. "
Recent reviews 've been a bit more critical.
"Dialogue Rich American marriage movie with some excruciating psychological overtones. [ ... ] Despite good performer towards the end very fatiguing. "
The lexicon of international film presented retrospective quietly from a mixed verdict.
" A well maintained staged, but tiring by the preponderance of the dialogue in the long melodrama. Excellent: the acting of Joan Crawford. "
Awards
At the Berlinale 1956 the film won a Silver Bear for Best Director.
Sources and literature used
- Roy Newquist (ed.): Conversations with Joan Crawford. Citadel Press, Secaucus, N. J. 1980, ISBN 0-8065-0720-9
- Lawrence J. Quirk: The Complete Films of Joan Crawford. Citadel Press, Secaucus, N. J. 1988, ISBN 0-8065-1078-1
- Alexander Walker: Joan Crawford. The Ultimate Star. Weidenfeld & Nicolson, London 1983, ISBN 0-297-78216-9