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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. Written by
alfiehitchie
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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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Did You Know?
Trivia
The original screenwriters, the husband and wife team of
Jean Rouverol and
Hugo Butler, did not receive screen credit as they were blacklisted at the time of production.
Jack Jevne received credit instead.
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Quotes
Burt:
Aw, Milly. You wouldn't want me to spend the rest of my life with a bubble-gum addict. Would you, Milly?
Milly:
Sorry, I goofed!
Burt:
You "goofed?" Hey, man, that's "Bop" talk! Where did you ever pick that up?
Milly:
Well, why shouldn't I pick up an expression here and there? I'm not THAT old!
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Crazy Credits
Opening credits are shown over a background of...... leaves.
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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 See more »
Joan Crawford gives a real tour-de-force as Milly, a work-obsessed, but lonely spinster who meets a handsome man, Burt (played wonderfully by Cliff Robertson), in a diner late one night. Their meeting turns into romance, and before Milly knows it, they are married in quickie Mexican nuptuals. When they return home, secrets from Burt's past began to come into the open. Before long, Burt turns into an abusive, dillusional schizophrenic. Crawford's performance is amazing (once you get past the shoulder pads and butch haircut) and Vera Miles' role as Burt's devious ex-wife is classic. Don't miss a vicious cat fight between Crawford, Miles, and Lorne Greene, in which Crawford spews at Miles, "And you, ya slut!" Director Robert Aldrich did a tremendous job of taking this melodrama, but never letting it turn into a total soap opera. Great show!