Autumn Leaves (1956)

Millicent Wetherby is a middle-aged woman whose life is devoid of love and affection. Millicent's solitary existence changes when she encounters Burt Hansen a charismatic younger man. As ... See full summary »

Director:

Robert Aldrich

Writers:

Jean Rouverol, Hugo Butler,

Stars:

Joan Crawford, Cliff Robertson, Vera Miles

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview:
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
Maxine Cooper	...	Nurse Evans
Marjorie Bennett	...	Waitress
Frank Gerstle	...	Mr. Ramsey
Leonard Mudie	...	Colonel Hillyer
Maurice Manson	...	Dr. Masterson
Bob Hopkins	...	Desk Clerk

Storyline

Millicent Wetherby is a middle-aged woman whose life is devoid of love and affection. Millicent's solitary existence changes when she encounters Burt Hansen a charismatic younger man. As Burt successfully woos her and wins her hand in marriage, rumors begin to surface that Millicent's newfound beau is in fact a deranged maniac. Things grow even more complicated for Millicent when a woman claiming to be Hansen's first wife shows up. As Burt begins to lose control of himself, Millicent ponders the most radical of actions against her husband.

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Plot Keywords:

marriage | swimsuit | older woman younger man relationship | loneliness | electroshock therapy | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 August 1956 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Way We Are

Filming Locations:

Brentwood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

William Goetz Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Joan Crawford was very pleased with the way the film turned out, saying "Everything clicked on Autumn Leaves. The cast was perfect, the script was good, and I think Bob handled everything well. I really think Cliff did a stupendous job; another actor might have been spitting out his lines and chewing the scenery but he avoided that trap. I think the movie on a whole was a lot better than some of the romantic movies I did in the past... but somehow it just never became better known. It was eclipsed by the picture I did with Bette Davis". ("Bob" refers to director Robert Aldrich, "Cliff" is her leading man Cliff Robertson and the picture she did with Bette Davis was What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?)

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Quotes

[after meeting Milly's landlady, Liz, who is sporting a garishly "loud" Hawaiian-type, floral shirt]
Burt: Who's the character?
Milly: [smiles] Liz Eckhardt. She's the manager.
Burt: Is she always dressed for Halloween? In the middle of the summer?
Milly: [laughs] That happens to be one of her most conservative outfits!

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits are shown over a background of...... leaves.

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Connections

Referenced in Outrageous! (1977)

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Soundtracks

"Autumn Leaves"
Music by Joseph Kosma
Original lyrics by Jacques Prévert ("Les Feuilles Mortes")
English lyrics by Johnny Mercer
Sung by Nat 'King' Cole

User Reviews

Delirious and intoxicating...

Once director Robert Aldrich got around to shaping her latter-day career, Joan Crawford did some very good films, this being one of them. Absorbing nonsense is gusty and often ridiculous...still, I wouldn't have it any other way. Crawford is quite strong here playing a single woman making her living as a stay-at-home typist; she marries much-younger Cliff Robertson, a pathological liar, and quickly discovers the many secrets he has in his murky past. Florid melodrama is filled with fruity dialogue and overheated set-ups (like the infamous thrown typewriter), fluttering hands and fluttering eyelashes. A trashy delight, and sure to please soap buffs. *** from ****