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IMDbPro

Autumn Leaves

  • 19561956
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 47m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
2.8K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
21,742
135
Joan Crawford and Cliff Robertson in Autumn Leaves (1956)
Drama
A lonely middle-aged woman meets a younger man, but their relationship is threatened when the man's troubled past reveals itself.A lonely middle-aged woman meets a younger man, but their relationship is threatened when the man's troubled past reveals itself.A lonely middle-aged woman meets a younger man, but their relationship is threatened when the man's troubled past reveals itself.
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
2.8K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
21,742
135
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Robert Aldrich
    • Writers
      • Jean Rouverol(front Jack Jevne)
      • Hugo Butler(front Jack Jevne)
      • Lewis Meltzer
    • Stars
      • Joan Crawford
      • Cliff Robertson
      • Vera Miles
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Robert Aldrich
    • Writers
      • Jean Rouverol(front Jack Jevne)
      • Hugo Butler(front Jack Jevne)
      • Lewis Meltzer
    • Stars
      • Joan Crawford
      • Cliff Robertson
      • Vera Miles
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 54User reviews
    • 26Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
    • Awards
      • 1 win

    Photos9

    Joan Crawford in Autumn Leaves (1956)
    Joan Crawford and Cliff Robertson in Autumn Leaves (1956)
    Joan Crawford and Cliff Robertson in Autumn Leaves (1956)
    Joan Crawford in Autumn Leaves (1956)
    Joan Crawford and Vera Miles in Autumn Leaves (1956)
    Joan Crawford and Ruth Donnelly in Autumn Leaves (1956)
    Joan Crawford and Cliff Robertson in Autumn Leaves (1956)
    Joan Crawford and Cliff Robertson in Autumn Leaves (1956)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Joan Crawford
    Joan Crawford
    • Milly Wetherby
    Cliff Robertson
    Cliff Robertson
    • Burt Hanson
    Vera Miles
    Vera Miles
    • Virginia Hanson
    Lorne Greene
    Lorne Greene
    • Mr. Hanson
    Ruth Donnelly
    Ruth Donnelly
    • Liz Eckhart
    Shepperd Strudwick
    Shepperd Strudwick
    • Dr. Malcolm Couzzens
    Selmer Jackson
    Selmer Jackson
    • Mr. Wetherby
    Maxine Cooper
    Maxine Cooper
    • Nurse Evans
    Marjorie Bennett
    Marjorie Bennett
    • Waitress
    Frank Gerstle
    Frank Gerstle
    • Mr. Ramsey
    Leonard Mudie
    Leonard Mudie
    • Colonel Hillyer
    Maurice Manson
    Maurice Manson
    • Dr. Masterson
    Bob Hopkins
    • Desk Clerk
    Abdullah Abbas
    • Mexican Vendor
    • (uncredited)
    Leon Alton
    Leon Alton
    • Concert Attendee
    • (uncredited)
    Frank Arnold
    • Butcher
    • (uncredited)
    Jim Backus
    Jim Backus
    • Mr. Magoo
    • (archive sound)
    • (uncredited)
    Mary Benoit
    Mary Benoit
    • Minor Role
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Robert Aldrich
    • Writers
      • Jean Rouverol(front Jack Jevne)
      • Hugo Butler(front Jack Jevne)
      • Lewis Meltzer
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In an interview for a much later documentary on Joan Crawford, Cliff Robertson recounts his first meeting with her, at her house. Already somewhat intimidated by working with the legendary Crawford, he is let in, then hears her call from poolside, where she's sunning, "Come on out, dear boy. We've been waiting for you." Robertson has nothing but admiration for Crawford's talent and incredible technical disciple. At one point, Director Robert Aldrich wanted Crawford to cry, but only slightly. A tear or two. "Which eye?" Robertson recalls Crawford asking. Then repeats the anecdote, amazed, "'Which EYE?'"
    • Quotes

      Virginia: Sure, he should be committed!

      Milly: Of course, you'd want me to commit him, get him out of your life, put him away permanently someplace where he can never again remind either one of you of your horrible guilt; how you and you had committed the ugliest of all possible sins, so ugly that it drove him into the state he's in now!

      Mr. Hanson: What kind of a woman are you to be satisfied with only half a man? There must be so...

      Milly: Even when he doesn't know what he's doing, he's a saner man than you are! He's decent and proud. Can you say the same for yourselves? Where's your decency? In what garbage dump, Mr. Hanson? And where's yours, you tramp?

      Mr. Hanson: I don't have to listen to that!

      Virginia: She's the one who's crazy!

      Mr. Hanson: She has to be crazy to put up with that weakling!

      Milly: You, his loving, doting fraud of a father! And you, you SLUT! You're both so consumed with evil, so ROTTEN! Your filthy souls are too evil for Hell itself!

    • Crazy credits
      Opening credits are shown over a background of...... leaves.
    • Connections
      Featured in Joan Crawford: The Ultimate Movie Star (2002)
    • Soundtracks
      Autumn Leaves
      (Les Feuilles Mortes)

      Music by Joseph Kosma

      French lyrics by Jacques Prévert

      English lyrics by Johnny Mercer

      Performed by Nat 'King' Cole

    User reviews54

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    A fine film and a fine performance by Joan
    Joan Crawford aged like fine wine, and even at 51 she is quite believable as the romantic lead here. She plays Millicent Wetherby, a lonely 40ish woman who has sacrificed her youth taking care of her invalid father. Now he is gone and she feels like life has passed her by until Burt Hanson (Cliff Robertson in only his second film appearance) interrupts her chicken salad one night at a diner. He practically pries open her life, and they begin dating even though he is over ten years younger than she. She tries to be practical, but he sweeps her off her feet and the two elope to Mexico. Then she starts to notice little things...he has told her he was from Racine, now he says he is from Chicago. Burt meets Joan's employer and talks about all of the battles he saw in the military when he has told her previously that he was a supply clerk and never saw action during his time in the service, but the final straw is when an ex-wife she didn't even know about shows up at her door.

    This is a hard film to characterize. It's definitely not a soaper, but it has aspects of that. It has romance, dealing with mental illness, and even elements of a thriller to it. It deals with the self-doubt we all have about the choices we have made in life. No high-camp Johnny Guitar is this film. Although, don't get me wrong, I love Joan in her campy 50's films too.

    Cliff Robertson is almost at the bottom of the bill on this one, even though he really is the male lead. This is only his second film, yet he pulls off the part of the child-like Burt like a pro. It's also good to see Ruth Donnelly as Milly's ever-supportive older neighbor twenty years after she was a contract player over at Warner Brothers. I highly recommend this film for anyone who even remotely enjoys Joan Crawford's films. You don't have to be a big fan to appreciate this one.
    helpful•21
    3
    • AlsExGal
    • Nov 18, 2009

    FAQ4

    • What is "Autumn Leaves" about?
    • Is "Autumn Leaves" based on a book?
    • How much older than Burt was Millie supposed to be?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 8, 1956 (Italy)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • The Way We Are
    • Filming locations
      • Brentwood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • William Goetz Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 47 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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