Home Before Dark (1958)

Director Mervyn LeRoy's psychological drama follows recovering mental patient Charlotte (Jean Simmons)... See full synopsis »

Director:

Mervyn LeRoy

Writers:

Eileen Bassing (screenplay), Robert Bassing (screenplay),

Stars:

Jean Simmons, Dan O'Herlihy, Rhonda Fleming

Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Jean Simmons	...	Charlotte Bronn
Dan O'Herlihy	...	Arnold Bronn
Rhonda Fleming	...	Joan Carlisle
Efrem Zimbalist Jr.	...	Jacob 'Jake' Diamond
Mabel Albertson	...	Inez Winthrop
Stephen Dunne	...	Hamilton Gregory
Joan Weldon	...	Frances Barrett
Joanna Barnes	...	Cathy Bergner
Kathryn Card	...	Mattie
Marjorie Bennett	...	Hazel Evans
Johnstone White	...	Malcolm Southey
Eleanor Audley	...	Mrs. Hathaway

Storyline

Director Mervyn LeRoy's psychological drama follows recovering mental patient Charlotte (Jean Simmons)... See full synopsis »

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Plot Keywords:

based on novel

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Taglines:

In the darkness she thought he was her husband!

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 January 1959 (France)

Also Known As:

Badz w domu przed zmrokiem

Filming Locations:

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,390,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros

Technical Specs

Runtime:

136 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The harsh winter in Marblehead, Massachusetts proved to be a problem when filming scenes outdoors. Equipment had to be de-iced quite often, and actress Rhonda Fleming took frequent breaks, complaining that her tongue was freezing.

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Soundtracks

"Fiddle Dee Dee"
(uncredited)
Music by Jule Styne
Played at the New Year's party when Charlotte and Arnold are dancing

User Reviews

A very professional effort on the part of all concerned.

I can certainly sympathize with those who have commented about the lack of a video release of this title, and their disappointment at its apparent abandonment in the archives of TV broadcasters. I saw it during its initial theatrical release, when some very positive critical notices told me I'd be in for a much-better-than-average viewing experience. Not only was I impressed with its quality but, even though I've never seen it since, I can still quite easily recall several of its key sequences and the excellent performances by everyone in the cast.

After quite a run at Twentieth-Century Fox in a long string of their CinemaScope costumers, Jean Simmons must have truly enjoyed exercising her considerable talents as an actress with the lead role in "Home Before Dark," under the steady hand of Hollywood veteran, Mervyn LeRoy. He was one director who always seemed to get the best out of his casts and had a special gift, it seems to me, of eliciting surprisingly good performances from those lovely ladies, such as Rhonda Fleming in this one, who were usually thought of merely as "glamor girls."

When this film was released I was a relatively new resident of southern California, so its effective use of Boston and other Massachusetts locations, where I'd been born and raised until almost entering my teens, may be the reason that the memory of this film is still quite vivid. Those of us who would like to see a video release might nurture a wisp of hope, what with so many more films now enjoying an entry onto the video catalogues. It's certainly worthy of a place along some of Hollywood's better psychological dramas.