Taglines: “He was so young – so eager and I was so lonely.
Autumn Leaves movie storyline. Millicent Wetherby (Joan Crawford) is a middle-aged woman whose life is devoid of love and affection. Millicent’s solitary existence changes when she encounters Burt Hansen (Cliff Robertson) 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.
Autumn Leaves is a 1956 American film noir drama film directed by Robert Aldrich and starring Joan Crawford in an older woman/younger man tale of mental illness. The film was distributed by Columbia Pictures. The screenplay was written by Jean Rouverol and Hugo Butler, though it was credited to Jack Jevne (serving as a front), since Rouverol and Butler were blacklisted at the time of the film’s release. The film was and produced by William Goetz. Aldrich won the Silver Bear for Best Director at the 1956 Berlin International Film Festival.
The title was changed from The Way We Are to capitalize on the success of the then popular tune “Autumn Leaves” as sung by Nat King Cole. (The title “Autumn Leaves” has no apparent connection with the story of the film other than sharing a vague melancholic tone. Crawford’s character is also fond of the song, but it is not identified by name in the script.) Cole’s rendition is used over the film’s title sequence.
The song’s original title is “Les feuilles mortes” with music by Joseph Kosma and lyrics by Jacques Prévert. English lyrics were written by the American songwriter Johnny Mercer (1949). The song was introduced by Yves Montand in the French feature film Les Portes de la Nuit (1946).
About the Story
Spinsterish Millicent “Milly” Wetherby (Joan Crawford) works at home as a self-employed typist. One evening in a diner, she meets a lonely Army veteran named Burt Hanson (Cliff Robertson). They share a romantic date at the beach, kissing amidst the crashing waves, but Milly tells Burt to date someone his own age. A month later, Burt is waiting for the still-lonely Milly at her home and the two celebrate his new job at a department store. He proposes to her in a movie theater, and while she initially rejects the proposal, she reconsiders when she sees him walking away.
The next day, the couple gets married in Mexico. However, on the marriage license, he lists his place of birth as Chicago, though he had earlier told her he was born in Racine, Wisconsin. Once home, Burt’s ex-wife, Virginia (Vera Miles), appears, which shocks Milly because Burt told her that he had never been married. Virginia gives her a property settlement that she wants Burt to sign and tells her that Burt is a habitual liar about his life and his past. Milly also learns that Burt’s father (Lorne Greene) is in Los Angeles to find him.
Burt is haunted by the day when he discovered his wife and father making love; he begins displaying signs of mental instability with their sudden, unwelcomed presence in his life. When he becomes violent, Milly sends him to a mental hospital. Burt’s condition improves with treatment (depicted sketchily as a montage of intravenous drugs and electroconvulsive therapy), and he severs connections with his past. Milly happily discovers he still loves her and they look forward to a brighter future.
Autumn Leaves (1956)
Directed by: Robert Aldrich
Starring: Joan Crawford, Cliff Robertson, Vera Miles, Lorne Greene, Ruth Donnelly, Shepperd Strudwick, Maxine Cooper, Marjorie Bennett, Frank Gerstle, Leonard Mudie, Maurice Manson, Bob Hopkins, Abdullah Abbas, Mary Benoit
Screenplay by: Jean Rouverol, Lews Mrltzer, Robert Blees
Production Design by:
Cinematography by: Charles Lang
Film Editing by: Michael Luciano
Costume Design by: Jean Louis
Set Decoration by: Eli Benneche
Art Direction by: William Glasgow
Music by: Hans J. Salter
MPAA Rating: None.
Distributed by: Columbia Pictures
Release Date: August 1, 1956 (New York City), August 16, 1956 (United States)
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