User reviews

This rather obscure little film from '51 must have been one that attracted GENE TIERNEY, given the circumstances of her private life wherein her own parentage problems came about when her pregnancy resulted in a child born mentally retarded. She puts her heart and soul into her performance here, as the obsessive wife who "must" have a child to call her own regardless of where the child comes from. Hubby RAY MILLAND is more realistic about things and wants to know the background of any infant they adopt.

While she falls completely in love with the adopted infant boy, Milland, who is a newspaper columnist, decides to do his own research into the baby's real parents. Therein, the story takes a few melodramatic turns before the domestic problems are ironed out.

FAY BAINTER is excellent as the head of an adoption agency who wants to make sure both parents are right for the child. Her scenes with Tierney are sensitively played and well scripted. Tierney looks ravishing and there is no trace of the illness which would overtake her career in a few short years.

Milland has some good moments, especially toward the end when he has his final confrontation with Bainter, insisting that he's no longer holding the baby's criminal father as a factor in not signing the final adoption papers, having met with the man in prison and realizing that heredity is not going to poison the child.

Although the presentation is an intelligent enough one, there is the flavor of a Lifetime TV movie to the production (by today's standards), and it verges on being daytime soap opera in quality more than once. But fans of Gene Tierney and Ray Milland will like their performances in this one.

A nice background score by Max Steiner helps, as does the direction of William Keighley.

If anything, this film is a good example of what it means to take something into context. There was a serious stigma of adoption around, as well as long before, the decade/century this film was made. I admire it for its attempt to debunk it.

Milland's performance is adequate, although I agree with another reviewer who finds it difficult to like his character. What surprised me is Tierney's performance. I think her range as an actress was sadly discounted, especially after the success of Laura and Leave Her To Heaven. She proves in this movie, at least to me, she was capable of just about any role; and Night And The City is excellent proof.

If you're a fan of supporting actress Fay Bainter, this is a must-see.

Uncommonly beautiful California housewife Gene Tierney (as Midge) is devastated. Doctors have told Ms. Tierney she will not be able to bear children. Being a "stay at home mom" is out of the question, so "Post" newspaper columnist husband Ray Milland (as Brad Sheridan) buys Tierney a puppy. The dog is precious, but it's not the same as having a baby. "Life is more than just babies," explains Mr. Milland, "we can be footloose." But Tierney is still teary-eyed. Milland suggests the couple adopt a child, and Tierney beams. Alas, the waiting time could take two years. Their luck changes, however, when abandoned baby John Winslow (as Danny) is mysteriously left on a police station doorstep...

Even before she sees him, Tierney is immediately attached to the baby. But Milland wants to know more about the child. His desire to investigate baby Danny's possibly unstable background puts a strain on the Sheridan relationship. Adoption specialist Fay Bainter (as Mrs. Morrow) wonders if Milland displays the proper level of fatherly love. "Close to My Heart" is a good looking production, much like a soap opera with one storyline. Director William Keighley gives it a classic look. The intriguing part of the story involves Milland pondering the "nature vs nurture" question. He hopes "bad blood" is not inherited. The resolution is satisfying and baby "Danny" delivers a cute, natural performance.

****** Close to My Heart (1951-10-10) William Keighley ~ Ray Milland, Gene Tierney, Fay Bainter, John Winslow

The length to which adoption agency, police and the newspaper man go with regard to the baby is beyond absurd - not believable. Takes it down a huge notch. Ridiculous.